Best Jen Belanger MS RD LDN Podcasts (2024)

1
Practical Tips for Applying the Mediterranean Diet to Your Family 37:41

2d ago37:41

37:41

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? This week we are continuing our discussion about the Mediterranean diet with some practical applications of the diet. We are going to be talking about some easy swaps you can make for your family today. Then we look at a dietary recall from one of Jen’s picky eating clients and talk about how we would make chang…

1
The Mediterranean Diet for Kids 35:07

9d ago35:07

35:07

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? The Mediterranean diet is all the rage right now but is it healthy for our kids? This week we break down the Mediterranean diet, its benefits, if it is safe for your child, and some of the most important things to consider if you do choose to make the switch for your child. During this week’s product review of "…

1
Easy Weeknight Meals 32:08

17d ago32:08

32:08

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? This week is all about easy weeknight dinner ideas. These super quick and easy meals are perfect for those late nights when you are running around between practices, recitals, games, and any other afterschool activities you might have filling up your schedules. Additional Resources: Find Jen’s A Month of Meals h…

1
Why is My Child Rejecting Foods and What to do About it 34:16

24d ago34:16

34:16

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? If your child has been dropping foods or refusing to try new foods, we are here to help! This week we are discussing food rejections, why they happen, and what you can do to stop the refusals. Then we review Welches strawberry and banana protein smoothie. Additional Links and related episodes: Read more about Fo…

1
Feeding Practices That Make Us Cringe 37:30

1M ago37:30

37:30

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Everybody and their mother has a different opinion about the best way to get your kids to eat. The internet is completely saturated with ideas, tricks, "hacks," and promises of "just do THIS and your kid will eat broccoli!" We'll break down the most cringe worthy feeding practices that Jen hears, and why these w…

1
Allergy Friendly Food Products and Ideas 37:12

1M ago37:12

37:12

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? This week we are highlighting some brands and food products that are allergen-free. We also have some tips for eating out when you have allergies and phone apps that can be helpful if you or your child is living with food allergies. Then Jen shares her delicious and easy stuffed pepper soup recipe. Links: Learn …

1
Lunch Ideas for School and Daycare 28:41

2M ago28:41

28:41

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Need some new ideas for what to pack your little one for lunch at school or daycare? Well, this week Jen and Izzy are giving you loads of ideas, all nut-free so they are safe for those with allergies and school-friendly. Then Jen talks about her lemon poppyseed energy bites that are the perfect sweet snack to pa…

1
Navigating Restaurant Menus With Your Kids 25:09

2M ago25:09

25:09

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? This week Jen and Izzy talk about the best tips for eating out with your child. It might feel overwhelming to go out to a restaurant with your family, but using these tips will help ease some of that stress and allow you to enjoy your meals out with your family where you don't have to cook! Then Jen talks about …

1
Portion Guidelines for Kids 28:01

2M ago28:01

28:01

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Have you ever wondered how much your child needs to eat? This week Jen and Izzy talk about portions for children, and how much food your child really should be eating. They talk about how to build a balanced plate for your little one using the right portion sizes for them. Then Jen talks about her pumpkin pancak…

1
Food Chaining: The Picky Eating Lifesaver 31:13

2M ago31:13

31:13

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? If you have a picky eater who will only eat a couple of foods then this one is for you! This week Jen and Izzy are talking all about food chaining which is a proven method to help selective eaters widen their accepted foods list. This method can be super helpful for parents who have foods they want their child t…

1
Making a Menu and Sticking to it 29:20

2M ago29:20

29:20

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? We have talked countless times about the importance of menu planning and how beneficial a feeding schedule can be for children, so today in our episode we talk about how to create a feeding schedule and what menu planning might look like for your family. Then Jen talks about her super easy salmon recipe and give…

1
Common Meal Time Struggles: Advice and Strategies 34:09

3M ago34:09

34:09

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Do you have a hard time getting your child to the dinner table? Do you feel like a short-order cook? Ever wonder if your child should get dessert if they don’t eat their dinner? Does your child stay at the table and eat if they are hungry but get up and play if they aren’t? If any of these questions are somethin…

1
A Conversation on Body Image and Body Dysmorphic Disorder 34:28

3M ago34:28

34:28

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? This week Jen and Izzy talk about body dysmorphic disorder in adolescents, the signs to look out for, and what you as a parent can do to help your child if you feel they might be struggling with this disorder. They also discuss body image and how as a parent you can help your child grow up with a healthy body im…

1
Infant and Toddler Feeding Must-Haves 33:11

3M ago33:11

33:11

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? This week Jen and Izzy dive into some of the most popular baby and toddler products related to feeding and tell the listeners if it is a must-have or if you should pass on the product. Jen also shares some of her top tips for feeding little kids and babies who are doing baby-led weaning. Lastly Izzy talks about …

1
What You Need to Know About Binge Eating Disorder 37:04

3M ago37:04

37:04

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? *this episode contains discussions about eating disorders that may be triggering to some individuals* This week we are continuing our education on eating disorders and focusing on Binge Eating disorder, plus our thoughts on air fryers! We talk about what you need to know about BED and we highlight the signs to l…

1
Nourishing Your Family When You Hate Cooking 28:57

4M ago28:57

28:57

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? If you hate cooking but want to make sure your family is getting all the nutrients they need to grow and be healthy, well this week we are giving you all our tips to minimize cooking while still creating balanced and healthy meals. Jen also shares one of her easiest recipes; Black Bean and Sweet Potato Quesadill…

1
Signs of Anorexia and Bulimia for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 32:55

4M ago32:55

32:55

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? *This episode does contain conversations about eating disorders and behaviors associated with them that may be upsetting to some people* Since this week is eating disorder awareness week, we wanted to make an episode talking specifically about anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. These two eating disorders are …

1
Constant Requests for Snacks: Food Obsession or Something Else? 35:51

4M ago35:51

35:51

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Many parents often wonder if their child has a sugar or food obsession based on their actions or behaviors that child has around a certain food. If you have ever wondered if you child has a food obsession this one is for you. Jen and Izzy talk about signs of “food obsessions,” some causes for a child to act this…

1
Nutrition for ADHD 24:48

4M ago24:48

24:48

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? There are so many myths out there about the best nutrition or diet plan to follow if you have a child with ADHD. Artificial dyes? Omega 3s? Sugar? This week we break down what you need to know about nutrition’s impact on ADHD and how best to fuel your child with ADHD. Then Jen talks about one of her delicious si…

1
Does My Child Need to Lose Weight? 32:52

5M ago32:52

32:52

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Children who live in larger bodies are, unfortunately, destined for ridicule by society at large. Many children are very aware of their own body size and as a parent, you may feel like you need to help them shrink their body or eat in a particular way. In this episode we'll dive deep into how to help children li…

1
Kids Who Eat Emotionally and What You Can Do About It 28:26

5M ago28:26

28:26

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? We are taking a deep dive this week into emotional eating in kids and some of the signs that your child might be eating emotionally. We'll walk you through some ways that you can help your child work through emotional eating and some tips to help prevent it in the future. Jen also shares with us her delicious Wi…

1
Fueling for Sports and How We Feel About Sports Drinks 27:09

5M ago27:09

27:09

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? This week’s episode is a quick guide to help you feed your child before, during, and after exercise. Whether your child is doing a sport all year round or only plays sports for certain seasons it is very important to make sure that they are fueling properly to support their activities. We give lots of pre and po…

1
Tip and Tricks for Helping your Child Gain Weight 26:58

5M ago26:58

26:58

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? In this week’s episode, we're here to help you figure out healthy ways to help your underweight child gain weight. We also give some sample snack ideas that are great balanced options to support your child’s weight. On Jen, What’s Cooking? this week it's all about the smoothies, rich in healthy fats and fruit th…

1
Pelvic Floor and Constipation with Guest Experts Alyssa and Bree Almeida 41:54

5M ago41:54

41:54

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? We are so excited to share with you our very first guest expert interview! Dr. Alyssa Almeida and Dr. Brianna Almeida from Renew Health Pelvic Health and Wellness are here to school us on all things pelvic floor health. This episode we hear all about the importance of pelvic floor health and how a weakened pelvi…

1
Helping Kids Eat More Fruits and Veggies 32:12

6M ago32:12

32:12

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Happy New Year! This week's episode is all about fun and easy ways to bump up your fruit and veggie intake in 2024. New year's resolutions can be hard to stick to or fail after January, but this episode will help you stay on track with your fruit and veggie goals. At the end of the episode Jen shares her yummy e…

1
Dealing with Food and Body Comments at the Holidays 34:37

6M ago34:37

34:37

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? In this episode, Jen and Izzy talk about the best ways to respond to comments on food and body during the holidays. This time of year can be very stressful and it is usually centered around food, so to help ease your anxiety we are giving you some fool proof responses to help shut down the conversation from the …

1
Combat Picky Eating: The Division of Responsibility 34:02

6M ago34:02

34:02

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? In this episode Jen takes a deep dive into The Division of Responsibility, a feeding model coined by Ellyn Satter and one of the most important things to do when you've got a picky eater. Jen talks about all four aspects including the parent deciding what food is being served, when that food is being served, the…

1
The Problem with the "Clean Plate Club" 26:50

6M ago26:50

26:50

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Do you ever find yourself begging your child to "just take a bite"? How about "try it, you'll like it!" Or maybe you yourself had a "clean plate club" family growing up. These are all forms of pressure, that can actually make eating WORSE for children who struggle to eat! If you find yourself in this boat, you m…

1
What are Macros? 32:19

7M ago32:19

32:19

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? If you go on social media at all, some fit-fluencer is talking about macros. But what is a macro? This episode will break it down for you and let you know if you need to be worried about yours or your child's macros. Then, we're talking coconut oil on Jen, Is This Healthy? Disclaimer: Any information that I disc…

1
MyPlate! 33:52

7M ago33:52

33:52

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? We've talked about so many nutrition topics on this podcast so far, but we haven't dug into the basics of MyPlate! This is the healthy eating guide that replaced the old Food Pyramid. I don't think I've done a single counseling session without referencing it. On Jen, Is This Healthy we'll get into rice cakes and…

1
Baby Led Weaning: Part 2 29:30

7M ago29:30

29:30

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? In Part 2 of our BLW episodes, we take a deeper dive into the specifics of what you can offer your baby as far as foods, textures, allergens, and more! Starting solids can be so overwhelming, especially for new parents. Let us ease your mind! Disclaimer: Any information that I discuss on this podcast is for educ…

1
Baby Led Weaning: Part 1 28:38

7M ago28:38

28:38

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Here's a little insight into Jen's day-to-day: she's in the thick of BLW right now! Jen started offering her 6 month old strips of steak, soft cooked apple wedge, and even peanut butter, right away! BLW is a method of introducing solids to your baby that is completely, as it sounds, baby led. Many parents remain…

1
Immunity 27:06

8M ago27:06

27:06

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? We are in the thick of cold and flu season by now, so this week we're chatting all things immunity! This episode is really important for those listening with super young ones. We'll define immunity, discuss how we build our immune systems, and let you know how you can help your child strengthen their immune syst…

1
Happy Halloween! Keeping Candy No Big Deal 32:02

8M ago32:02

32:02

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Happy Halloween! Does the thought of your kiddos eating seven gazillion pieces of candy tonight make you cringe? Today we are talking about how to handle candy with your little ones on the biggest candy holiday of the year. We are also going to discuss why it is important to let your child have some candy, and k…

1
Social Media and Wellness Trends: Greens Powders 32:21

8M ago32:21

32:21

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Are greens powders really just as good as eating your veggies? Can you truly get all your vitamins and minerals from that tiny scoop of green dust? Will they make you "healthy" and end all your gastrointestinal issues? Many brands of similar products have been circulating on social media for the past year or mor…

1
Social Media Food Trends 33:43

8M ago33:43

33:43

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? **EDIT** In the episode I say drinking a gallon of water is "pretty harmless" - but I correct myself! This much water intake could be problematic for some people. At the beginning of next week's episode, I'll explain more about this. When we recorded the Social Media Food Trends episode I had it in my head that …

1
Mom Series! Supplements 27:01

9M ago27:01

27:01

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Have you ever wondered if your child (or you!) could use a supplement? With so many on the market, from multivitamins to individual vitamins and all sorts of potions out there, it's confusing! On this episode we'll talk about what to look for in a supplement and when a supplement might be needed. Disclaimer: Any…

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Mom Series! Cleanses, Detoxes, and Scams Oh My! 43:00

9M ago43:00

43:00

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? It's Mom Series Episode 2! We are talking all about cleanses and detoxes [and scams]. In this episode we cut through all the noise about those expensive, trendy powders and pills and tell you the truth about if you truly need a detox or a cleanse! Then we are going to talk about one of Izzy’s favorite grab and g…

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Mom Series! Yo-Yo Dieting (AKA Weight Cycling) 38:03

9M ago38:03

38:03

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? We are doing a special MOM SERIES on the podcast! In the next few episodes we will dive into diet culture, social media trends, and all the issues we have with the way foods, supplements, and diets are presented to consumers. First up is our yo-yo dieting episode where we'll talk about the detrimental health eff…

1
Understanding Growth Patterns in Kids 24:15

9M ago24:15

24:15

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? When you take your child to their annual physical, they get their height and weight measured and are plotted on a growth chart. But what do all those little dots on the chart really mean? Today we'll explain everything you wanted to know about growth charts, and how to assess your child's growth. Spoiler alert: …

1
Health At Every Size 35:21

9M ago35:21

35:21

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? This is one of my favorite episodes so far! This week we are discussing Health at Every Size (HAES), a way to approach health that is weight-inclusive and looks at parameters beyond the number on the scale. It breaks my heart that kids are subject to weight stigma at a very young age, and we need to talk about H…

1
Should My Family Go Gluten Free? 36:27

10M ago36:27

36:27

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Are you thinking about going gluten free with your family or having your child follow a gluten free diet? Well, make sure to listen to this episode before you do so you can know all the information you need to before making this big dietary decision. We will talk about what gluten is, if it is actually bad for y…

1
Vegetarian and Vegan Diets for Kids 30:33

10M ago30:33

30:33

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? We are diving into a listener's request in this episode; planning vegetarian or vegan diets. Whether you're interested in vegetarian diets or you have a picky child and worry that they won't eat meat, won't drink milk, or don't eat enough protein, we've got some advice for you! In Jen, is this Healthy? we will b…

1
Snacking 27:48

10M ago27:48

27:48

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? This episode is all snacks all the time! We are huge snacking fans so this one was super fun to record. We'll teach you the best way to make a balanced snack that will help keep your child full until their next meal. We're full of ideas for snacks on the go and even some snacks that you can keep in the car for t…

1
Constipation and The Gut Microbiome 27:53

10M ago27:53

27:53

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Today we are talking about one of the most common GI issues for little kids: constipation! We'll break down what it means, how it happens, and how to prevent and treat it. We'll dive into gut health and what all the microbiome buzz is about. Then we will talk about one of Izzy’s favorite snacks, Pirate’s Booty, …

1
Cooking Inspiration and Jen's Favorite Recipes 35:47

11M ago35:47

35:47

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? One of the most frequent requests I get from clients is for recipes and meal/snack ideas! In today’s episode we'll dive into some of my favorite meal prepping and planning tips and tricks, as well as ways to save you time when it comes to weekday meals. If you feel like feeding your family is an uphill battle, y…

1
Sugar 34:48

11M ago34:48

34:48

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Everyone seems obsessed over sugar these days (usually trying to avoid it or get their kids to eat less of it). But, did you know sugar is a really important part of our diet? Dive in with us as we discuss what sugar actually is, what it does for our bodies, and different kinds of sugar. We will also be touching…

1
ARFID 39:04

11M ago39:04

39:04

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? You may have heard the term ARFID floating around the internet lately, otherwise known as Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. ARFID is classified as an eating disorder that affects kids and adults alike. We referenced it in our picky eating episode, and today we'll dig into ARFID further and talk about ho…

1
Benefits of Family Meals 31:52

11M ago31:52

31:52

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? Did you know that having family meals can decrease the amount of saturated fats, added sugar, and sodium that your child consumes? This week we are talking about all of the benefits that family meals have to offer. We will discuss what a family meal can look like and some of Jen’s leading tips on how to make fam…

1
Picky Eating 101 34:32

12M ago34:32

34:32

Suggestions, Comments, or Questions? In this episode of Mom, What’s For Dinner? we are talking about picky eating! We will discuss some of the genetic factors that contribute to picky eating, along with some tips and tricks to help a picky eater eat new foods. Then we will discuss some of my tried and true tips to help prevent your child from becom…

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Jen Belanger MS RD LDN Podcasts

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