[Podcast #284] Eating in Color with Jennifer Anderson

Brave Writer Podcast

Feeding kids has become a high-stakes game, but it doesn’t have to be.

In this Brave Writer podcast episode, we explore responsive feeding, joyful food marketing, and how to ditch fear-based nutrition rules in favor of:

  • connection,
  • variety,
  • and common sense.
Jennifer Anderson
Jennifer Anderson

Jennifer Anderson of Kids Eat in Color helps us rethink what it means to nourish our children without the stress.

Listen in to discover how food can be an invitation to connection, not control—and why it’s okay to let your child skip the broccoli sometimes.

Show Notes

Feeding children has become a loaded topic. From debates about seed oils to pressure around baby-led weaning, parents are inundated with conflicting messages about the “right” way to nourish their kids. But at Brave Writer, we’re all about approaching parenting—and education—from a place of trust, curiosity, and compassion. And that includes the way we feed our children.

There’s No One “Right” Way

One of the most liberating ideas we’ve encountered is the notion that there is no one right way to feed your child. What matters more than rigid food rules is responsive feeding—paying attention to your child’s hunger cues, offering variety, and trusting their body’s signals. This might look like letting go of the one-bite rule or choosing not to stress when your child passes on a particular dish. And it definitely includes resisting the impulse to turn mealtimes into battlegrounds.

Food as Function, Not Morality

Instead of labeling foods as “good” or “bad,” we can invite kids into a conversation about what food does in their bodies. Red foods support the heart. Orange foods help you see in the dark. Green foods boost immunity. These bite-sized messages help children make their own connections and develop a positive relationship with food—free from shame or pressure.

Yes, You’re the Marketing Department

Food marketing uses characters and fun names to entice kids, and guess what? We can use those same tools to our advantage at home. Rename feta as “rock cheese” and suddenly it becomes cool. Make a “yogurt sundae” station and watch your child enjoy a food they might’ve otherwise rejected. Framing matters, and so does play.

Picky Eating Isn’t Permanent

Another powerful insight: kids’ eating habits change over time. A picky eater at four might be the one experimenting with complex flavors at 14. Our job isn’t to control every bite they take but to create a safe, consistent environment where exploration is encouraged, not forced. We can focus on making one family meal with at least one safe food for each child and let go of the short-order cook pressure.

Nutrition Trends vs. Evidence-Based Eating

And when it comes to nutrition trends that spark fear—like the current obsession with seed oils—it helps to remember that these debates are often more about identity than evidence. Fads can create a sense of belonging, but they can also induce anxiety and misinformation. Instead of spiraling into fear over the latest headline, we can return to what we know: a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, fiber, and shared meals around the table has lasting, measurable benefits.

Trust Yourself and Your Child

Ultimately, feeding our kids well means meeting them where they are. It’s about building trust, offering choices, and modeling curiosity rather than control. We can give ourselves permission to step back from the noise and trust the quiet, ongoing work of raising confident, capable, and nourished kids.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Connect with Melissa

Produced by NOVA

Brave Writer Podcast

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