Nutrition for the Early Years
Kids & Family
About
Nutrition for the Early Years – Guilt-Free Guidance for Feeding Your Family Nutrition for the Early Years is a pediatric nutrition podcast for parents seeking evidence-based guidance on infant feeding, toddler nutrition, and child health. Hosted by dual pediatrician + registered dietitian Dr. Liz Daniels, this show explores newborn and infant nutrition, introducing solids, baby-led weaning, complementary feeding, formula feeding, multivitamins for kids, growth and development, and picky eating solutions—all through the lens of real pediatric nutrition science. From feeding anxiety and selective eating to questions about appetite, supplements, and healthy eating habits, this podcast helps parents build a confident, guilt-free feeding mindset. You’ll learn how to support your child’s relationship with food in ways that nourish growth, protect early childhood nutrition, and align with your values—without fear-based messaging or all-or-none thinking. Food goes deep. It’s often not until we begin feeding our own children that we revisit our childhood nutrition experiences—comments that shaped us, arbitrary rules, pressure around healthy eating, and the quiet guilt many of us carry. Feeding kids has a way of surfacing old narratives and challenging us to rethink what child nutrition really means. This is where the conversation begins—supporting families through toddler feeding, early childhood feeding, and raising children with a strong, positive relationship with food. Because nourishing your family isn’t about perfection. It’s about clarity, confidence, and understanding what truly matters in the early years. You are in the right place if you are asking questions like: -How do I get my child to eat vegetables? -Why does my toddler suddenly refuse to eat (or only eat one thing)? -Is my child eating enough to grow properly? -How much protein does my child actually need? -What are the best healthy snacks for kids? -How much milk should my child drink, and what kind? -How can I improve my child's immune system through food? -How can I help my child have a healthy relationship with food?
Episodes
- Episode 20: Finding the Right Fit: What Your Pediatrician Wants You to Know About Goat Milk Formula for Your Baby
This episode features pediatricians discussing goat milk formula for babies. They compare it to cow milk formula and breast milk, covering topics such as safety, FDA standards, digestion, and protein structure. The discussion aims to provi…
- Episode 19: ARFID in Young Athletes: The Picky Eating Red Flags Every Sports Parent Should Know with Katie Syvarth, RD, CSSD
This episode discusses ARFID in young athletes, explaining how restrictive eating patterns can start early and lead to issues like stress fractures. Guest Katie Syvarth, RD, CSSD, covers the signs of ARFID, under-fueling in athletes, and p…
- EP 18: Allergen Introduction for Babies: What the Science Says About Timing Prevention
This episode discusses the science of allergen introduction for babies, explaining how outdated advice increased allergy rates and detailing the LEAP trial findings. It covers the dual allergen exposure hypothesis, the link between eczema…
- Episode 17 | Body Image Issues Start at Age 5 — What Parents Can Do Right Now
Body image concerns can begin as early as age 5, emphasizing the need for parents to proactively shape their children's relationship with their bodies. This episode offers science-backed strategies for parents to foster respect, not fear,…
- EP 16: Why Kids Have Big Feelings They Can't Explain: Understanding Interoception
This episode explains interoception, the body's internal sense, and how it affects children's eating habits and emotional regulation. It highlights that children's big feelings may stem from undeveloped interoceptive awareness, and offers…
- EP 15: How to Choose Baby Formula: 3 Step Framework for Parents
Dr. Liz Daniels explains a 3-step framework for selecting baby formula, discussing breast milk composition, formula labels, and when to consider switching formulas.
- Episode 14: How Babies Learn to Like Vegetables
This episode explores how babies develop flavor preferences before birth and through breast milk, discussing the science of exposure and cultural feeding practices. It offers practical strategies for introducing vegetables, managing the 'b…
- EP 13: Decoding Diapers- Understanding Newborn Poop and Infant Nutrition
This episode of Nutrition for the Early Years discusses newborn and infant poop, covering normal variations, concerning signs like blood or mucus, and the common phase of infant dyschezia. Experts explain what to expect in the first days a…
- Episode 12: Starting Solids Part 1: 4–6 Months, Preparation and What Babies Really Need
This episode of Nutrition for the Early Years covers starting solids for babies 4-6 months old. It discusses developmental readiness, changing nutritional needs, introducing allergens like peanut and egg, and balancing purees with baby-led…
- Episode 11: When Kids Don't Like Milk: How to Meet Calcium & Vitamin D Needs Without the Power Struggle
This episode addresses how to ensure children meet their calcium and vitamin D requirements when they refuse milk. It covers why milk is a good source, actual nutritional needs, alternatives to plain milk like flavored milk and yogurt, non…
- Episode 10: Milk for Kids, Explained: Does It Really Do a Body Good?
This episode examines the role of milk in childhood nutrition, discussing its nutrient delivery, recommended amounts for toddlers and older children, and lactose intolerance. It also covers A2 milk, gut health, and compares plant-based mil…
- Episode 9: When Toddler Picky Eating Is About the Parents (Multivitamins & When to Worry)
This episode addresses parental anxiety around toddler picky eating, discussing normal selective eating phases, when to consider multivitamins with iron, and red flags for conditions like ARFID. It emphasizes understanding the developmenta…
- Episode 8: Do Babies Need Probiotics? What the Evidence Says About Infant Gut Health and Infant Nutrition
This episode of Nutrition for the Early Years examines the scientific evidence regarding probiotics for infant gut health, exploring their role in newborn nutrition, digestion, immune health, and allergy prevention. It covers infant gut de…
- Episode 7: Protein Needs for Kids: Culture versus Science in Pediatric Nutrition
This episode discusses the actual protein needs for children aged 1-8, explaining why toddlers typically consume sufficient protein and how adult high-protein dietary trends can cause undue stress around children's eating.
- Episode 6: Do Picky Eaters Need Multivitamins? What Parents Should Know About Kids’ Supplements
Pediatrician Dr. Liz Daniels explains that picky eaters don't automatically require multivitamins. The episode covers identifying true nutrient gaps, essential nutrients for children's growth, and how to support nutrition through food.
- Episode 5: Do Lactation Supplements Really Increase Breast Milk Supply?
This episode reviews scientific evidence on popular lactation supplements, exploring whether they truly increase milk supply. It highlights that frequent and effective milk removal is more critical than supplements, which are not a first-l…
- Episode 4: Baby’s First Month of Nutrition: Breastfeeding, Formula Decisions, and Letting Go of Feeding Guilt
The episode discusses newborn digestion and nutrition during the first month, covering topics like breastfeeding, formula feeding, and common concerns such as poop patterns and reflux. It emphasizes that uncertainty is normal and confidenc…
- Episode 3: When Breastfeeding Doesn’t Work: Reframing Infant Nutrition Without Shame
This episode discusses the emotional and clinical realities of breastfeeding challenges, supplementation, and formula feeding, drawing from personal and professional experience. It reframes infant nutrition, emphasizing that parental worth…
- Episode 2: Nutrition While Breastfeeding: What Moms Need to Know for Infant Growth and Milk Quality
This episode clarifies postpartum nutrition
- Episode 1: The Lunchbox Reformation Begins
Dr. Liz Daniels discusses her journey into pediatric nutrition, highlighting the need to move beyond rigid rules and focus on the holistic needs of children. The episode addresses the emotional and systemic factors influencing parental fee…