From the Start Nutrition, Pediatric & Family Dietitian in New Jersey

07/25/2025

The weekend is the perfect time to get cooking with kids! Here are 10 benefits of cooking with kids in the kitchen:

I still remember the flour cloud that erupted the first time my toddler insisted on stirring the cake batter. Cooking with kids can be messy. But it was that

07/25/2025

Sound familiar? 👉🏼 “They only eat beige foods.”
👉🏼 “I gave them a snack 10 minutes before dinner.”
👉🏼 “We had waffles again.”

Feeding your child can feel overwhelming — especially when it seems like everyone else has it figured out (trust us, they don't).

But here’s the truth:
✅ You care.
✅ You show up.
✅ You’re doing the best you can with what you have — and that matters more than perfect meals.

Feeding is not a test you have to pass. It’s a relationship you’re building — one meal, one moment, one small step at a time.

💛 If meals feel hard right now, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to figure it out alone either.

👉🏼 Our team of pediatric and family dietitians and nutrition experts are here to support you with individualized nutrition counseling and real-life meal planning guidance — no shame, no overwhelm.

🔗 Tap the link in our bio contact us or learn more about how we can support your family.

07/22/2025

This recipe is one of our family favorites!
Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Shredded Beef 🥘

This family-friendly slow cooker shredded beef recipe is easy, tender, and perfect for tacos, sandwiches, or rice bowls. Great for meal prep or leftovers!

07/22/2025

✨ True progress lies in small, consistent steps forward.

Here are some “small wins” from a feeding perspective that are absolutely worth celebrating.

🍽️ Tolerating a new food on their plate, even if they don’t eat it.
🍽️ Helping you in the kitchen, like stirring ingredients or setting the table.
🍽️ Touching or smelling a food they usually refuse.
🍽️ Sitting at the table for a few minutes, even if they don’t eat much.
🍽️ Using descriptive, neutral words for food instead of “yucky,” or, “bad.”

Keep championing those small victories. They matter more than you think and are the building blocks for a lifetime of healthy and happy eating!

What’s a small mealtime win you’ve celebrated this week? Share it in the comments!

Want more personalized support? From the Start Nutrition offers expert pediatric and family nutrition counseling. If you’re looking for a Registered Dietitian in NJ, our team is here for you. We have an office in Warren, NJ and also provide services online via telehealth to families in NJ, DE, IL, MD, and FL. We are in-network with major insurance plans. Visit the link in our bio to book your session and bring peace back to your dinner table.




07/19/2025

Your child is asking for ANOTHER snack… 😩

Is this normal? YES.
Does it mean you’re doing something wrong? NO.
Are giving in or giving up your only options? NO!

Oftentimes parents just need to try different strategies.

Here’s how to handle a child constantly asking for snacks with less stress ⬇

🍽 1. Set a flexible snack schedule
Most kids do best with a rhythm they can count on—like mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Let them know when snack time is coming:
📣 “Snack is after quiet time!” or
📣 “We’ll eat again in 30 minutes!”
Pick a snack time that works for you and then create a +|- 30 minute window to give you some flexibility to account for those day-to-day variations.

🚪 2. Use “The kitchen is closed” (with kindness 💙)
It’s okay to have boundaries around food access - in fact, it’s what most experts recommend. Say it gently:
📣 “The kitchen is closed right now, but it’ll open again for snack at 3!”
This keeps you in the lead without turning it into a fight. Then, try some redirection (see #3)

🎨 3. Redirect with other options instead of saying a direct, “no.” So instead of, “You can’t have a snack right now,” try:
📣 “Snack time is at 3, in a little while (or for older ones you can give them the exact time away). Want to [color, read, go play outside etc.] with me until then?”
Redirection respects their request without shaming hunger or shutting them down.

✨ You’re not alone—and if your child is constantly asking for a snack it doesn’t mean you’re failing.

This is the kind of support we talk through in our 1:1 appointments for pediatric nutrition.

💛 Need more low-stress, realistic food strategies? Double tap this post & follow us

07/16/2025

Struggling with your child’s eating habits, growth, or mealtime challenges?

At From the Start Nutrition, we offer personalized pediatric nutrition services designed to give families practical, evidence-based support—from managing picky eating and sensory sensitivities to promoting healthy growth, reducing mealtime stress, and navigating eating disorders.

We provide:
📍 One-on-one in-person sessions in Warren, NJ
💻 Virtual telehealth consults in NJ, DE, IL, MD, and FL
🩺 In-network coverage with several major insurance plans

Let us help you build healthy, lifelong habits and make mealtimes more peaceful.

✨ Visit www.fromthestartnutrition.com or send a DM to get started.
Your child’s nutrition journey starts here!

07/16/2025

It’s the little things that are big. Love this client win 🎉

"Beth really took the time to help us. She provided simple strategies to improve meal planning for our child. We feel less worried as we now know that our child is getting enough nutrition for their health while we work on getting them to eat more foods.”
-Parent of a Picky Eater

07/14/2025

The start of the school year is our busiest time of year, and we still have appointments available! Schedule today before we fill up. With Fay, my colleague Reiko and I are ready to assist clients across multiple states, and we are proud to be in-network with major insurance plans. We look forward to working with you!

Beth Conlon, RD. Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Schedule an appointment today. Book Now. Pricing.

07/14/2025

Fill in the blank: I wish more people knew about ________________.

My answer: I wish more people knew about the impact of family meals on children's nutrition and emotional well-being. Eating together helps kids develop healthier eating habits and strengthens family bonds.

What’s yours?

07/14/2025

July is National Picnic Month! 🧺☀️🍓

We love enjoying a meal outdoors with the family—just don’t forget that food safety along with your sandwiches! Whether you’re headed to the park, beach, or backyard, here are some simple tips to help keep your picnic safe, fresh, and stress-free:

✅ Keep it cool: Use plenty of ice packs or ice cubes to maintain a cold temperature in your cooler—think layers of chill!

✅ Pack last, not first: Wait to load your cooler until right before you head out. This helps everything stay at a safe temperature longer.

✅ Separate and seal: Store raw meats, poultry, or fish in tightly sealed containers or zip-top bags. This keeps any juices from leaking onto other foods and reduces the risk of cross-contamination.

✅ Temperature check: A cooler should stay below 40°F to prevent harmful bacteria from growing. Consider tossing in a thermometer if you’ll be out for a while.

A little planning goes a long way toward a fun, family-friendly picnic that’s both delicious and safe.

Learn more here:

Properly packing a cooler can not only help save space, but can also keep your food safe longer.

07/14/2025

It’s great to see research from Marquette University aiming to standardize pediatric feeding schedules. The first 1,000 days are a critical window for neurodevelopment, and defining feeding milestones helps us identify children who need support sooner. This is at the heart of what we do in feeding therapy.

Dr. Amy Delaney is working to better define feeding stages, particularly between pediatrician visits.

07/12/2025

July is the perfect time for a DIY family salad bar! 🥗 Let kids pick their favorite seasonal veggies and fruits—and set-up a salad bar. Round it out by Including a source of protein, grain/starch, and healthy fats! Hit like and follow to get inspired with more summer family nutrition tips ✨