Pommetta Nutrition (2025)

20/09/2023

I know. Many of you are here for the tips and strategies to help make feeding your families easier. (And of course, my dry sense of humour and sarcastic wit 😉)

But here’s the thing…

Food. Nutrition. Health. And yes Feeding Kids. These issues can’t be addressed without looking at the wider social and political context. Our beliefs about how we treat children and more vulnerable populations impacts how we nourish them as well.

Many LGBTQ+ youth face unique challenges that impact their body image and relationship with food. They are at higher risk of unsafe home environments, homelessness, and eating disorders. Providing safer school environments is one small thing we can do as a community.

Q***r kids and families are celebrated and supported here. Protesting someone’s existence will never lead to better health.

15/09/2022

Hi 👋🏼 I’m Jay, registered dietitian and parent to 2 school age kids.
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Do your kids want a snack as soon as they walk in the door? Mine sure do!

I have no problem with my kids having cookies for after school snack. But I know that if they just have a cookie (or a bunch of cookies) they will be asking for more snacks soon afterwards.

I try to offer nutrient dense snacks that have protein, fibre, and fat.

For example, offering a cookie with yogurt and berries helps normalize the cookie, puts all foods on the same playing field, and helps with satiety.

I like to think of snacks as just another eating opportunity. Dinners are often tricky and some kids eat better right when they come home from school. That’s OK.

What do you offer your kids as an after school snack?

21/07/2022

We’ve all got preferences when it comes to food (eating and preparing).
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I cooked in restaurant kitchens and I’ve definitely seen lots of requests from diners. And I’ve seen an endless amount of chefs who have very specific ways of prepping (food and their work stations).
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One thing that I’ve noticed is that many cooks and chefs refused any substitutions to their dishes (because they had already decided the best way to serve it.) And if they did agree to substitutions there was often a lot of grumbling and swearing. The person making the request seen as someone with an inferior palate. And so often this uncompromising attitude was seen as admirable by others in the kitchen. Showed “real culinary genius.”
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My question was always “why can’t we make the substitution?” I mean really, what is the big deal? Just because I like something made a certain way or certain foods combined together doesn’t mean everyone else does too.
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Isn’t this why there are endless food options? What if there was only one type of pizza? Or one flavour of cake? Or gasp if there was only one way to order a coffee?
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Ok…you’re probably wondering where is she going with this?
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My guess is that a lot of you have your own specific culinary quirks…
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I like melted cheese on my pancakes WITH syrup. I think raw onions are something the dark lord created to ruin meals (and a person’s breath.) After I clean my kitchen, I have a really hard time convincing myself to cook because I love the stark cold crisp edges of an immaculate counter. I need to have bread with my soup or I don’t want to eat it. I only like white plates. I’m convinced that coffee cups with rounded sides make my coffee taste bad. (Oh and I have so many more!)
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What makes us decide that certain food preferences and accommodations at meals are OK while other ones are bad?
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All this to say…if you bristle when your kid has specific food preferences or thrives with mealtime accommodations…ask yourself is this a me problem?
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Sure I want kids to be able to nourish themselves well. But so very often when I work with families I help them embrace adjustments to how they serve food to their kids. Accommodations can be a powerful thing.

24/03/2022

I get really sad when parents come to me so worried that they have *failed* at baby led weaning.
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I know that there is the message out there that baby led weaning is the only way that you can support introducing solids in a way that promotes intuitive eating.
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Well I disagree. RESPONSIVE FEEDING is the way to introduce solids to promote intuitive eating. And this can be done though spoon feeding, self-feeding or a combination of both.
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The keys is to observe and respond appropriately to your baby’s cues. If you are spoon feeding and your baby turns their head away or clamps their mouth shut that is a pretty good indication that they don’t want more food. If your baby leans forward towards the spoon and opens their mouth that is a pretty good sign that they want more food.
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On the flip side it is also possible to do baby led weaning in a way that doesn’t promote intuitive eating. Sure you might not be putting food into your baby’s mouth but any form of pressure can interfere with their hunger and satisfaction signals. For example, too much encouragement or trying to get them to eat certain foods or not allowing them to eat as much as they are hungry for.
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Also, not all babies are able to do baby led weaning.
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So, what it comes down to is there are many ways to feed your baby in a responsive way that supports their internal cues.
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If you need more help figuring this out...this is something I help parents with every single day. No judgement. Just support.
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Psst. I just opened up some more spots for Discovery Calls and 1:1 appointments. Head to the link in the bio to book
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22/03/2022

Many feeding experts that I work with classify both rewards and praise as “pressure-to-eat.” Rewards usually fall into the “coercive and controlling” category in feeding literature and praise usually falls under the “autonomy promoting” category.

Now, you are probably reading this and thinking to yourself, “coercive and controlling” that sounds bad but surely “autonomy promoting” is a good thing when it comes to feeding. Well, the answer isn’t so simple…

“Pressure-to-eat” has been studied quite a lot…And guess what?

Rewards. These have been shown to increase the intake of specific foods initially but they are not shown to have a lasting impact on continuing to eat those foods. In fact, it has been shown that long term, the use of pressure (aka rewards) can decrease a person’s desire to eat a specific food. It has also been shown that people may have a lasting dislike for the food that they were pressured to eat even into adulthood.

Praise. This one is a bit trickier. In one study it was shown praise was used more often for children that were generally considered to eat a wide variety of foods and less frequently for children who were identified as “picky eaters”. This study concluded that in the latter group, praise helped these kids increase food selection. However, the study concluded that for “picky eaters,” praise did not result in increasing food selection.

So, you want to know what these results mean for your family.

I don’t think rewards are ever a strategy to be used in feeding. The potential for negative impact is fairly clear once we stop to think about it critically. Feeding is a long game so any strategy that only results in short term outcomes is at best useless and at worst harmful.

I would argue that praise is fine to be used sparingly IF your child does not have any hesitancy when it comes to exploring new foods and ONLY IF using praise does not negatively impact a child’s feelings toward those foods or themselves. BUT, if your child is hesitant when it comes to exploring new foods, has any worry or anxiety related to eating, THEN using praise will most likely increase feelings of worry or anxiety when it comes to eating.

18/03/2022

As my 10yo has “pocket change” to spend this week at the “snack bar” aka candy and slushy central at skateboard camp this week…I’ve been sitting with my own feelings about sugar intake. I thought this was a good post to revisit (for myself) and maybe helpful for some of you too.
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It is normal to feel worried that if we let our kids have sugar that it will be the only thing they will want to eat.

The truth is that if we as parents have set up a positive and structured food environment our kids will learn to eat and enjoy a variety of food.

A few helpful tips:
-Set regular and consistent meal and snack times
-Offer balanced meals and snacks that include familiar and less familiar foods as well as favourite foods and not-so-favourite foods
-Minimize mealtime distractions
-Make mealtimes enjoyable
-Model a positive relationship to food and eating a variety of foods
-Avoid creating binaries around food like good/bad, healthy/unhealthy, good eater/bad eater, adventurous eater/picky eater
-Normalize learning about new foods and feeling uncomfortable trying new things
-Decrease pressure around food
-Don’t use food as a reward or prize
-Work on your food and body language (this is a never ending process, yes for me too)
-Call sugary foods by their name: lollipop, chocolate, cake, ice cream, cookie instead of “treat”
-Provide empathetic support for times when kids overeat and feel ill (this is a great learning opportunity)
-Let them know they don’t have to eat a food if they don’t want to and they don’t have to finish a food either (this applies to foods we think of as both “healthy” and “less healthy” ... It is tempting to congratulate a child for not eating all of their dessert when they say they are full but to insist that they eat more of their veggies when they tell us they are full)

And above all, remember there is not one perfect or right way to feed a child. It is all about nuance and balance and figuring out what works for your family.

Instagram posts can’t give you all the answers. If you are finding that sugar (or really any aspect of feeding) is causing you stress and making you feel anxious, then it is probably time to get a bit of extra support.

17/03/2022

Before you dismiss the use of the word “picky” as a minor thing, let’s talk it through.

In the feeding and nutrition world “picky eating,” “picky eaters,” and “picky kids” comes up again and again. It is terminology that is used in textbooks, in research studies, in parenting guides, and on social media. “Picky eater” is a common Google search, so, many of us with businesses that focus on feeding families have been told to use this term frequently to capitalize on SEO and for marketing purposes.

However, over the years of working with families who struggle to feed their kids - having a child myself who struggled to eat - I’ve come to realize that it often isn’t kind or caring or appropriate to refer to a kid as a “picky eater.”

If you are using the word “picky” to describe kids…I’m not judging. I’m simply inviting you to get curious about why and how you are using it.

Here are a few questions that I’ve asked myself:

▪️Are there examples in our society where “picky” is a compliment or is it always used as an insult?
▪️How would a child feel if they heard themselves referred to as “picky?”
▪️How would you react if you heard your child call another child “picky?”
▪️The definition of “picky” suggests that a person is being exceedingly specific on purpose, is that true of kids who have a difficult time eating?
▪️If a child starts seeing themselves as “picky,” how does that impact their ability to learn to eat and feed themselves?
▪️Is there a difference between using “picky eater” vs. “picky eating?”
▪️How would you feel if someone referred to you as “picky?”

Upon self-reflection, I came to the conclusion that it’s time to stop labelling kids as “picky eaters” or “picky kids.”

I understand that as a parent it can be frustrating, exhausting, and overwhelming to feed a child that has a limited selection of foods. I’m not minimizing this challenge. But I am wondering - what would happen if we supported kids with learning to eat in a way that was more affirming? Removing the label “picky” opens us up to acknowledging that kids learn to eat at their own pace, that mealtime accommodations can be empowering, that it is not adults vs. kids.

15/03/2022

Parents often ask me how to have “the talk” about “health” with their kids. And I get it. It feels like you can talk about “health” a few times, explain your family views and your kids should be able to grasp it.

This isn’t how it works.

Conversations about health are often most impactful when they are organic, evolving, and frequent.

Ever single person I know has a different definition of health. And for most people that definition shifts and changes over time and during different periods in their life. How do you explain this to a child?

Here is an example from our family. Don’t worry…there is no such thing as a perfect conversation about health. The important thing is to provide space for your kids to explore this topic in a setting where they feel safe and supported.

11/12

I could have swooped in and given my 5yo a firm answer but instead I let him and his brother work through it. Of course, I was acting as facilitator and ready to jump in if things took a bad turn. But Really, they mostly just needed space to explore.

12/12

This is how we teach our kids skills to think critically about messaging around food and bodies.

This is how we help them to learn what works for their own body.

This is how we support them in building resilience to diet culture and weight bias.👊🏼

04/02/2022

Thank you for being here. ❤️

I appreciate each and every one of you.

Every day I am filled with gratitude to all the individuals and families that welcome me to join a small part of their journey to feed themselves and to feed their families well.

29/11/2021

We had a pretty epic weekend.
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On Sunday night, I always ask the kiddos what they liked about their weekend.
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Last night, both kiddos had their Covid vaccines at the top of their list. And I have to say I breathed a big sigh of relief when they both finished getting their first dose. We’re still going to be masking and mostly hanging with friends outdoors but this feels like one more step towards letting them have some more connection in their lives. And gosh does that feel good.
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My kids have heard a lot about the vaccine from both people who support the vaccine and those who don’t. They’ve been asking lots of questions. They’ve been talking about the vaccine with their peers for months. They both wanted to get it to protect themselves but also to protect friends, family, and their community. I’m really proud of them.
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Just to give you some context as to what the vaccine was competing with…
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Sushi dinner on Friday.
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Movie night in my bed with popcorn and smarties (they are never allowed to watch or eat in my bed lol).
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Skateboard session at CJs (picked out new boards for Christmas present).
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Got and decorated our Christmas tree.
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Neighbours across the street put up an incredible light show on their giant tree.
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First snowfall of the season.
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Parents against kids snowball fight.
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Tobogganing with friends.
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Hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate chips cookies.
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No homework. No cleaning.
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All fun and games.
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Stay safe. Stay healthy. Let’s be supportive of one another. ✌🏼

25/11/2021

Holiday Season is upon us.

I’ve had quite a few conversations lately about gifting special foods and parents have asked me if it makes sense to give their kids “treats” as a present.

My answer might surprise you.

I do acknowledge and understand that gifting food is a vital part of a lot of family/spiritual traditions and norms. I recognize that many of us use food as a way to show love and appreciation.

My own family has many food traditions and yes my kids get gifted “treats.”

I am not taking this away from you.

I’m merely inviting you to consider whether or not this is working for your family and your kiddos.

24/11/2021

Information Overwhelm. It is real.

Parents tell me several times daily that they feel stuck, paralyzed, and unsure about how to feed their children well.

They tell me that they have read a bunch of books, follow a ton of social media accounts, listen to various podcasts, are members in multiple online communities, have bought feeding apps etc etc etc

Many of the families that I work with 1:1 are not lacking in information about how to feed their kids. In fact, they are often sinking or even drowning in all of the feeding information that they are consuming.

Here’s what I tell them.

Of course you feel overwhelmed by all this information. Of course it is difficult to make decisions about feeding your kids. Of course you want to do what is best for your child.

And you can trust yourself when it comes to feeding your family. There are many ways to feed a family well. You just need to pick a method that resonates with you.

No matter how many times someone suggests a certain feeding method, if it doesn’t fit in with your family beliefs and lifestyle, it likely won’t work for you.

The problems, concerns, difficulties, lived experiences, and daily realities that each family faces are unique. So it makes sense to acknowledge that there is not one solution for everyone.

Part of what I do as a Registered Dietitian is help parents cut through all the noise and figure out how to feed their unique child, their unique family well.

05/11/2021

Are you ready to learn how to get your little one consistently sleeping 11-12 hours at night so you can be a functioning human?
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Friend to friend- I’m teaming up with Eva Klein of who created a free class on this specific topic so that we could hang out LIVE this week and chat about it!
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But instead of chatting about just anything, we’ll be chatting about Eva’s 4 part system that helps exhausted moms get their babies consistently sleeping through the night, establish a peaceful and enjoyable bedtime routine, and unlock the secret to a proper schedule for their little one.
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Implementing this system allows you to get a consistent night’s sleep and wake up feeling refreshed each morning!
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Sound like something you want to chat about?
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Grab a spot in the link in my bio to register!
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Hope to see you there!
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And if you know another parent who could use the help, invite them too.

03/11/2021

Yes I talk about mealtime boundaries a lot. I definitely think that they are important. But I do believe that it is also important for each family to decide what mealtime boundaries make sense in their house.
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This post isn’t about saying no to foods. If your kid asks for a specific food and it feels good for you to give it to them, go ahead and do that.
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But if you are struggling with mealtime battles, or feeling like a short order cook, or avoid taking your kids to places where they will ask for “treats” then I want you to know that it is OK to implement some kind, clear, consistent boundaries about food.
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Let me help you with that.

03/11/2021

Hey! I’m Jay. Registered Dietitian. Parent Of Two. Diet Culture Disruptor. Food Lover. Belly Laugh Advocate. Your Hype Girl When It Comes To Feeding Your Family Well.
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I am thrilled that you are here.
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In fact, this is what I look like as I lean forward and settle in to hear more about your story. I want to know all about your challenges when it comes to feeding your family. I also want to know all about your successes.
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I’m here to support you in your journey to raise embodied, intuitive, connected, and competent eaters. There is not a one size fits all approach to nourishment. Helping you figure out the sweet spot when it comes to feeding yourselves, your child(ren), and your family is what I do best.
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So go on, drop me a comment and tell me something about your food story… your relationship with food, your feeding challenges, your feeding successes, your favourite food, a food you can’t stand, what you want your kids to learn about food and bodies… really, I want to hear it all.

02/11/2021

This is my secret sauce when it comes to nutrition feeding interventions.
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Ok, maybe not so secret because I talk about it ALL the time, to parents, to doctors and paediatricians, to other RDs...OK to pretty much anyone who will listen.
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I feel really strongly that any nutrition intervention that doesn’t look at is missing a major piece of the puzzle.
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We often get so focused on just feeding our kids...almost as if that is something that happens in a vacuum. Well, it doesn’t...
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The way a parent or caregiver feeds a child is directly influenced by how they themselves feel about food, how they were fed growing up, how they feed themselves, the language they use around food, their beliefs about food, nutrition, and bodies.
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If you have more than one adult who is feeding a child it is invaluable to have some conversations to figure out your family’s approach to food, bodies, and feeding.
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Defining your family’s food culture is such an important step in helping your children do well with food. And yet, this step is so often overlooked or missed.
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So tell me...what are the cornerstones to your ?
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For our family we want food to be delicious. We want mealtimes to be fun. We want food prep to be inclusive. Food for us is about love, culture, tradition, celebration, sensory experiences, connection, sharing, and nourishment.
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Want help figuring out your family food culture? I’ve got just the thing for you! Head to my bio and grab our brand new Mini Course: Developing Your Dream Family Food Culture. (It’s Free for now, likely won’t stay that way for too long.$

31/10/2021

Halloween Candy is supposed to be fun and exciting. There I said it.
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If it isn’t…I invite you to explore your feelings of worry/anxiety/fear/lack of control. This is an opportunity to get curious. Offer yourself compassion. Sit with these feelings.
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And then use what you learn about your own relationship with food to support your children with their eating.
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If you need some help figuring out your family’s feeding style…I’m here. Book a free Discovery Call and let’s get the conversation started. (Link in bio).

31/10/2021

Another solid repost from awhile back.
•
It is normal to feel worried that if we let our kids have sugar that it will be the only thing they will want to eat.
•
The truth is that if we as parents have set up a positive and structured food environment our kids will learn to eat and enjoy a variety of food.
•
Here are a few helpful tips:
-Set regular and consistent meal and snack times
-Offer balanced meals and snacks that include familiar and less familiar foods as well as favourite foods and not-so-favourite foods
-Minimize mealtime distractions
-Make mealtimes enjoyable
-Model a positive relationship to food and eating a variety of foods
-Avoid creating binaries around food like good/bad, healthy/unhealthy, good eater/bad eater, adventurous eater/picky eater
-Normalize learning about new foods and feeling uncomfortable trying new things
-Decrease pressure around food
-Don’t use food as a reward or prize
-Work on your good and body language (this is a never ending process, yes for me too)
-Call sugary foods by their name: lollipop, chocolate, cake, ice cream, cookie instead of “treat”
-Provide empathetic support for times when kids overeat and feel ill (this is a great learning opportunity)
-Let them know they don’t have to eat a food if they don’t want to and they don’t have to finish a food either (this applies to foods we think of as both “healthy” and “less healthy” ... It is tempting to congratulate a child for not eating all of their dessert when they say they are full but to insist that they eat more of their veggies when they tell us they are full)
•
And above all, remember there is not one perfect or right way to feed a child. It is all about nuance and balance and figuring out what works for your family.
•
Instagram posts can’t give you all the answers. If you are finding that sugar (or really any aspect of feeding) is causing you stress and making you feel anxious, then it is probably time to get a bit of extra support.

Pommetta Nutrition

20/09/2023

15/09/2022

21/07/2022

24/03/2022

22/03/2022

18/03/2022

17/03/2022

15/03/2022

04/02/2022

29/11/2021

25/11/2021

24/11/2021

05/11/2021

03/11/2021

03/11/2021

02/11/2021

31/10/2021

31/10/2021

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