Kid Food Explorers

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Kid Food Explorers

I help you talk to kids about food
Nourish bodies, 🧠, & 💭
🌈 nurture healthy relationships w/ food
Dietitian + mom of 3 I’m here to help.

You want to raise kids who feel good about food and their bodies. I’m Dani, a pediatric dietitian, mom of three, and founder of Kid Food Explorers. If you’re tired of mealtime battles, worried about picky eating, or just trying to undo some of the food and body shame you grew up with, you’re not alone. I help parents like you raise confident, curious eaters through hands-on food exploration that’s rooted in science, built on connection, and free from pressure or guilt. At Kid Food Explorers, we believe food is life’s first teacher. When kids feel safe with food, they don’t just eat better—they grow into the kind of humans who trust their bodies, try new things, and treat others (and themselves) with compassion. Let’s grow a healthier generation, one bite-sized adventure at a time.

12/10/2025

What are you thoughts?

FYI Food doesn’t actually become nourishing unless it is eaten!

Below are some *Key* nutrients to support bodies who have a cold or the flu 💜

Hydration + Electrolytes
• Water, broth, herbal tea
• Juice
• Electrolyte drinks
• Ice pops / soups
Protein
• Eggs
• Yogurt
• Beans / lentils
• Soft chicken or fish
• Smoothies with yogurt or milk
Vitamin C Foods
• Citrus
• Berries
• Kiwi
• Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Broccoli
Zinc-Rich Foods
• Beans & lentils
• Yogurt
• Nuts & seeds
• Poultry / meat
Vitamin A Foods
• Sweet potatoes
• Carrots
• Leafy greens
• Eggs
Omega-3 Fats
• Salmon
• Sardines
• Chia / flax
• Walnuts
Gentle, Easy Foods
• Toast / crackers
• Rice / pasta
• Oatmeal
• Applesauce
• Mashed potatoes
Comfort + Nourishment
• Chicken or veggie soup
• Smoothies
• Scrambled eggs
• Avocado toast
• Peanut butter + banana

11/18/2025

So many of us grew up hearing “Make a good choice” or “That’s not healthy,” and even if we meant well, those phrases can trigger guilt, second-guessing, or sneaky eating for our kids.

Here’s a gentler shift that actually helps kids build body trust:
👉 Instead of “You need to pick a healthy choice!”
try
👉 “What does your body need right now?”
This tiny swap does two big things:
✨1️⃣ It teaches kids to tune into hunger, fullness, and energy, not external rules.
✨ 2️⃣ It keeps food neutral, which means less arguing, less sneaking, and way more confidence over time.

Kids don’t need judgment to build healthy habits. They need support, safety, and a chance to learn what their bodies are telling them.

If mealtimes feel stressful, or you’re trying to raise kids with a healthier relationship with food than you grew up with… you’re in the right place. 💜

Follow for simple, shame-free scripts that help your family build lifelong confidence around food and body trust.

11/13/2025

You’re not a bad parent if your child only eats beige foods.

You’re human. Your child is learning. And beige phases are actually a sign of their nervous system trying to feel safe. 💜

Most kids stick to familiar foods because their brain and body crave predictability.
It’s not defiance.
It’s development.

But as parents, we immediately wonder:
“Am I doing something wrong?”
“Should I be trying harder?”
“Are they getting what they need?”

You’re not alone.
Every parent asks these questions.

What your child needs in these moments isn’t pressure, it’s safety, repeated exposure, predictable routines, and a calm grown-up who understands what’s happening beneath the surface.

Progress doesn’t come from pushing.
It comes from safety, curiosity, and connection.

And this is exactly why I wrote Food Positivity- to help you understand what your child’s behavior is really telling you, and what their brain and body need to feel safe enough to grow.

💜 Pre-order Food Positivity today!

Link in bio!

09/18/2025

Anyone else already burnt out on dinner ideas… and its only week two of back-to-school? You’re not alone.

📚🥴🍽️
You’re not alone.

Here’s how I’m keeping meals simple and nourishing without a side of fear-mongering from wellness girls or the pressure to serve Pinterest-level plating to my kids.

✨Beef is a brain-boosting MVP✨ and it makes dinner actually doable.

Some standout nutrients worth knowing:
🧠 Iron – carries oxygen to the brain (critical for focus + energy)
🧠 Zinc – supports memory and attention
🧠 Vitamin B12 – helps build healthy brain + nerve cells
🧠 Protein – supports growth, mood, and satiety

(And yes, kids benefit from beef even if it’s not grass-fed, organic, or hand-raised under moonlight 🌝)

Tonight’s dinner? Tacos. Served “Considerate, Not Catering” style.
✔️ One meal
✔️ Easy tweaks for different preferences
✔️ Leftovers repurposed for sliders or pasta on soccer night
✔️ No short-order cooking, no guilt

If dinnertime feels like a battleground, remember:
You don’t need a nutrition degree, a farm-to-table lifestyle, or a freezer full of fancy meat.

You need something your kids will eat. You need something that works for your family.

✨ And if you take nothing else from the reel, take this:
Your kid isn’t “picky,” they’re learning about food and about themselves…

All these tips add up to help kids feel safe, build trust, and make dinner times easier – even if they aren’t eating the beef… yet!

Please share your family favorite meals with beef or quick and easy go-to meals for busy nights ⬇️

08/31/2025

This Sunday night parenting hack rant about feeding kids is brought to you by my husband who just used “the kitchens closed” as a joke against me after he just finished cleaning the kitchen.

happy to answer any questions for you 💜

08/29/2025

Kids are literal thinkers.
So when we say things like “Eat your veggies so you’ll be strong” or “Don’t eat too much sugar, it’s bad for you”…
They don’t hear nuance.
They hear rules.
They hear shame.
They hear: “I’m good if I eat this. I’m bad if I eat that.”

They don’t need adult-level nutrition concepts cut into bite-sized soundbites.

This is why we need a whole new way to talk about food and bodies, one that matches how kids actually learn and grow.

✨ Let’s stop teaching food like it’s a test.
Let’s start exploring it like it’s a story they belong in.

Address

Franklin, TN

Website

http://www.kidfoodexplorers.com/

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