WEBVTT
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:12.960
I've been a pediatric PA for over 10 years, and one thing I've learned in pediatrics is that feeding kids is hard, and it's rarely about just needing more information and knowing what's healthy.
00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:18.719
Parents usually know that they should offer fruits, vegetables, and balanced meals.
00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:31.760
The challenge is figuring out how to make that happen in the middle of busy schedules, picky eating, sports practices, and the very different appetites of everyone sitting around the table.
00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:34.479
Welcome back to the Exam Room Nutrition Podcast.
00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:36.399
I'm your host, Colleen Sloan.
00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:44.880
I'm a physician assistant and registered dietitian, and this is the final episode in our special four-part series called Avocados in Practice.
00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:55.119
Thank you so much to Avocados Loved One Today for sponsoring this series as we've explored emerging nutrition research and practical nutrition strategies you can use with your patients.
00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:59.200
In today's episode, we're shifting our focus into family nutrition.
00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:20.000
Joining me again is Patricia Bannon, a registered dietitian, nutrition expert, and mom to talk about the nutrients families commonly fall short on, what we know about nutrition during pregnancy and infancy, practical feeding strategies for busy families, and how we can help parents raise healthy eaters without becoming short-order cooks.
00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:21.920
Patricia, my favorite topic.
00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:23.840
I'm so excited to talk to you about this.
00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:25.200
Welcome back to the podcast.
00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:25.840
Thanks.
00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:26.799
Great to be back.
00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:28.159
My favorite topic too.
00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:31.040
And it's great to talk to you about it as the expert.
00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:32.079
All right.
00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:38.879
So when we talk about family nutrition, what are some of the nutrients that families and kids are most commonly missing?
00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:43.680
And why should we, as their clinician or healthcare provider, prioritize them?
00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:44.319
Right.
00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:52.239
Well, some common nutrient shortfalls in the US diet include calcium, fiber, potassium, and vitamin D.
00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:58.400
And these needs and priorities are going to change across pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence.
00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:05.599
And we also know, as you said in the intro, you know, many children aren't getting enough fruits and vegetables, and that can decline with age.
00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:07.599
So as adults, we're not either.
00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:13.039
And at the same time, we're getting too much saturated fat and added sugars in the diet.
00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:15.039
We're exceeding the recommendations.
00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:26.560
So avocados can really address several of these needs because they provide nearly 20 vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, including fiber, folate, and unsaturated fats.
00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:31.680
You know, it's funny, you mentioned that kids aren't always meeting their fruits and vegetable needs.
00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:36.240
And parents are very quick to say, oh, yep, he doesn't eat any vegetables.
00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:41.439
And I love it because I actually flip it back on the parent and I say, Well, do you eat your vegetables?
00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:44.639
And the kids love it because they get to kind of point the finger back at them.
00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:46.960
Now mom or dad is in a hot seat too.
00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:50.719
So I think it really, when we talk about family nutrition, it is just that.
00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:52.879
It should be all about the family.
00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:56.159
And as parents, we do need to model that behavior for them.
00:02:56.400 --> 00:03:02.560
But I want to start our conversation sort of at the beginning of family nutrition, and that's the maternal diet and maternal health.
00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:08.240
And there's a growing interest in how mom's diet might influence the child's long-term health.
00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:15.039
So, what do we currently know about the relationship between nutrition during pregnancy and infant or childhood outcomes?
00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:24.000
Yes, well, we know that maternal nutrition supports fetal growth and brain and eye development and can help shape a child's long-term health.
00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:33.680
And key nutrients include what I just mentioned, you know, folate, healthy unsaturated fats, also lutein and zeoxanthin, vitamin A and choline.
00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:37.439
And avocados provide several of these nutrients in one food.
00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:40.159
There's also a really cool study I want to share here.
00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:43.439
And this is supported by the Avocado Nutrition Center.
00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:55.919
And in a 2025 observational study published in pediatric research, and it showed that infants and mothers who consumed avocado during pregnancy had 44% lower odds of food allergies after 12 months.
00:03:56.080 --> 00:04:02.879
Now, these results can't be generalized to a larger, more diverse population, but also shows an association, not a cause and effect.
00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:09.199
So I think avocados are really best positioned here as a nutrient-dense part of a varied maternal diet.
00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:15.439
Yeah, and I really love one aspect of avocados here, and that's the amount of lutein that it provides.
00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:18.560
It gives about 136 micrograms.
00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:23.759
And this nutrient is super important for the baby's eye development, especially in that third trimester.
00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:30.399
So moms are usually really in tune and very interested about what foods they can eat to promote a healthy pregnancy.
00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:34.000
And avocados is one of my favorites to recommend.
00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:36.639
Okay, so let's talk about once baby arrives.
00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:41.279
This is my favorite part because I get to snuggle up to all these cute babies in clinic.
00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:47.360
And one of the first questions that parents often ask is about complementary feeding and those first foods.
00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:52.879
So let's unpack what characteristics make a great option for infants' starting solids.
00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:54.959
Yeah, so first foods.
00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:58.240
You know, I think three main characteristics are really important.
00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:00.240
And that's nutrient density.
00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:06.639
It's also developmentally appropriate texture for the child and a mild or neutral flavor.
00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:17.920
So when we're talking about nutrient density for those first foods, you know, it meets the infant's high needs for energy, healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals during this really rapid growth, right?
00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:24.639
And then the texture should be soft and safe, such as creamy, tender, pureeed, mashed, or ground.
00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:27.519
And then it progresses as the baby's skills progress.
00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:29.920
And that mild neutral flavor is also important.
00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:36.319
Offering foods that aren't just sweet can help the babies become more familiar with a wider range of flavors.
00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:41.199
So avocados check all three of these boxes, Colleen, because they're nutrient dense.
00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:49.519
They have a smooth texture and they have a neutral flavor that can be pureeed, mashed, sliced, or cubed as developmentally appropriate.
00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:52.160
All right, let's move on development a little bit.
00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:54.319
We've talked about maternal health and pregnancy.
00:05:54.399 --> 00:05:56.480
We've talked about kind of that infancy stage.
00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:08.800
Let's talk about, I think, probably the most stressful aspect of parenting, and that's this like school age time, because life is busy and dinner time tends to be really, really uh stressful and overwhelming.
00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:14.000
And this is usually when kids start to get more selective and maybe even make their own food choices.
00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:18.639
So, what are some of your go-to strategies as a dietitian and busy mom yourself?
00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:20.639
Yeah, so some of my go-to strategies.
00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:25.040
So today is my nine-year-old daughter's first day back at school.
00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:29.680
So we're shifting back into that routine and how we're gonna get dinner on the table.
00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:35.279
And so one thing is I like to try and lower the pressure and focus on repeated exposure.
00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:40.079
And I know this can get exhausting when you're constantly repeating things, but you know you're the expert.
00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:41.920
It can take up to 10 times, right?
00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:47.360
Of repeated exposure for a child to try something or to realize that they like it.
00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:50.319
The other thing is making it a family affair, right?
00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:56.879
Um, and finding those foods that are a quick win that you already know the kids are gonna like and then building the meal around that.
00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:08.959
So maybe it's rice, chicken, avocado, you know, starting with that, and then maybe adding a few different things that other people in the family might like or they might be willing to try and eventually see if they like it.
00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:13.199
You mentioned one of the most powerful things earlier, which is modeling, right?
00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:15.279
Are we as parents doing it?
00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:21.360
And that really plays into, you know, the influence that we're putting on the table in terms of what we're eating.
00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:28.959
And snacking can be a great option as well because it kind of lowers the pressure, it allows an opportunity to try out different foods.
00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:38.000
And the great thing about avocados and why I often recommend them is because they they come in so many familiar forms and they can be developmentally appropriate, as we talked about.
00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:46.720
You know, guacamole, smoothies, scrambled eggs, pasta sauces, baby mashes are great, such as an avocado and sweet potato mash.
00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:48.240
And you can also freeze them, right?
00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:53.439
When you have too many avocados getting ripe at the same time, many people don't realize you can freeze them.
00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:56.879
And I believe in the show notes there's a guide on how you can freeze them.
00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:02.720
And that's a great way to add them to those purees, to those smoothies, to those baby mashes.
00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:11.279
And freezing them, I mean, avocados are already creamy and a smoothie, but freezing them just takes it to another level because then you don't even have to use ice, and it is delicious.
00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:21.120
Now, I want to talk about something that a lot of families are navigating, and that is like different palettes and different dietary patterns that a family might be consuming.
00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:26.160
So I'm thinking of a family who maybe the dad is an athlete, so he's eating differently.
00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:30.480
Maybe the mom is on her own weight loss journey, so she might be eating differently.
00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:38.080
We've got a toddler who's going through their very selective independent phase, and a teenager who grunts at you from their bedroom.
00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:42.480
And so it feels like you have to cook separate meals for everyone in the family.
00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:52.080
But I would love if you can give us some ideas and how we can create family meals that meet the needs of different ages and stages of life without becoming a short order cook.
00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:54.000
Yes, so important.
00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:56.879
It takes so much effort just to get dinner on the table.
00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:59.600
We don't want to put five different dinners on the table, right?
00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:04.639
So flexible family meals, I think, are great that build your own approach can be really fun.
00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:10.960
Even if you just do this a few times a week, like having pizza night where you add your own toppings or taco bowls or grain bowls.
00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:15.039
You know, pasta dishes are great with this, especially with younger kids, because they can enjoy that.
00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:20.080
And then what you put on it can be a little bit more customized to that family member, what they prefer.
00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:27.600
You know, adjusting the texture, the spice level, the toppings can help change it up rather than changing the entire menu.
00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:37.039
And that flexibility is one reason I often go to avocados because it can work across multiple ages and stages without requiring parents to prepare separate foods.
00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:38.799
So avocados is a good example.
00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:46.720
They're mashed for baby, as we talked about, sliced for a toddler, and added to tacos or bowls for children and adults.
00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:53.200
Patricia, this is such helpful advice for all my overwhelmed, stressed-out parents trying to get dinner on the table.
00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:55.440
You've really kind of taken that burden away from them.
00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:58.000
And I really appreciate you sharing all these insights.
00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:00.960
But thank you so much for joining me on this entire mini-series.
00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:02.799
I've really learned so much from you.
00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:04.559
Thank you so much for having me.
00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:05.919
It has been wonderful.
00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:11.360
And thank you so much to Avocados Love One Today for sponsoring Avocados in Practice.
00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:17.200
I hope you'll go back and catch any episodes that you missed, and be sure to check the show notes for helpful resources.
00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:22.000
And I'll be back next week with another episode of the Exam Room Nutrition Podcast.
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:12.960
I've been a pediatric PA for over 10 years, and one thing I've learned in pediatrics is that feeding kids is hard, and it's rarely about just needing more information and knowing what's healthy.
00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:18.719
Parents usually know that they should offer fruits, vegetables, and balanced meals.
00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:31.760
The challenge is figuring out how to make that happen in the middle of busy schedules, picky eating, sports practices, and the very different appetites of everyone sitting around the table.
00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:34.479
Welcome back to the Exam Room Nutrition Podcast.
00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:36.399
I'm your host, Colleen Sloan.
00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:44.880
I'm a physician assistant and registered dietitian, and this is the final episode in our special four-part series called Avocados in Practice.
00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:55.119
Thank you so much to Avocados Loved One Today for sponsoring this series as we've explored emerging nutrition research and practical nutrition strategies you can use with your patients.
00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:59.200
In today's episode, we're shifting our focus into family nutrition.
00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:20.000
Joining me again is Patricia Bannon, a registered dietitian, nutrition expert, and mom to talk about the nutrients families commonly fall short on, what we know about nutrition during pregnancy and infancy, practical feeding strategies for busy families, and how we can help parents raise healthy eaters without becoming short-order cooks.
00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:21.920
Patricia, my favorite topic.
00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:23.840
I'm so excited to talk to you about this.
00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:25.200
Welcome back to the podcast.
00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:25.840
Thanks.
00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:26.799
Great to be back.
00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:28.159
My favorite topic too.
00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:31.040
And it's great to talk to you about it as the expert.
00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:32.079
All right.
00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:38.879
So when we talk about family nutrition, what are some of the nutrients that families and kids are most commonly missing?
00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:43.680
And why should we, as their clinician or healthcare provider, prioritize them?
00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:44.319
Right.
00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:52.239
Well, some common nutrient shortfalls in the US diet include calcium, fiber, potassium, and vitamin D.
00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:58.400
And these needs and priorities are going to change across pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence.
00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:05.599
And we also know, as you said in the intro, you know, many children aren't getting enough fruits and vegetables, and that can decline with age.
00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:07.599
So as adults, we're not either.
00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:13.039
And at the same time, we're getting too much saturated fat and added sugars in the diet.
00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:15.039
We're exceeding the recommendations.
00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:26.560
So avocados can really address several of these needs because they provide nearly 20 vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, including fiber, folate, and unsaturated fats.
00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:31.680
You know, it's funny, you mentioned that kids aren't always meeting their fruits and vegetable needs.
00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:36.240
And parents are very quick to say, oh, yep, he doesn't eat any vegetables.
00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:41.439
And I love it because I actually flip it back on the parent and I say, Well, do you eat your vegetables?
00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:44.639
And the kids love it because they get to kind of point the finger back at them.
00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:46.960
Now mom or dad is in a hot seat too.
00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:50.719
So I think it really, when we talk about family nutrition, it is just that.
00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:52.879
It should be all about the family.
00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:56.159
And as parents, we do need to model that behavior for them.
00:02:56.400 --> 00:03:02.560
But I want to start our conversation sort of at the beginning of family nutrition, and that's the maternal diet and maternal health.
00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:08.240
And there's a growing interest in how mom's diet might influence the child's long-term health.
00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:15.039
So, what do we currently know about the relationship between nutrition during pregnancy and infant or childhood outcomes?
00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:24.000
Yes, well, we know that maternal nutrition supports fetal growth and brain and eye development and can help shape a child's long-term health.
00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:33.680
And key nutrients include what I just mentioned, you know, folate, healthy unsaturated fats, also lutein and zeoxanthin, vitamin A and choline.
00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:37.439
And avocados provide several of these nutrients in one food.
00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:40.159
There's also a really cool study I want to share here.
00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:43.439
And this is supported by the Avocado Nutrition Center.
00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:55.919
And in a 2025 observational study published in pediatric research, and it showed that infants and mothers who consumed avocado during pregnancy had 44% lower odds of food allergies after 12 months.
00:03:56.080 --> 00:04:02.879
Now, these results can't be generalized to a larger, more diverse population, but also shows an association, not a cause and effect.
00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:09.199
So I think avocados are really best positioned here as a nutrient-dense part of a varied maternal diet.
00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:15.439
Yeah, and I really love one aspect of avocados here, and that's the amount of lutein that it provides.
00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:18.560
It gives about 136 micrograms.
00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:23.759
And this nutrient is super important for the baby's eye development, especially in that third trimester.
00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:30.399
So moms are usually really in tune and very interested about what foods they can eat to promote a healthy pregnancy.
00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:34.000
And avocados is one of my favorites to recommend.
00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:36.639
Okay, so let's talk about once baby arrives.
00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:41.279
This is my favorite part because I get to snuggle up to all these cute babies in clinic.
00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:47.360
And one of the first questions that parents often ask is about complementary feeding and those first foods.
00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:52.879
So let's unpack what characteristics make a great option for infants' starting solids.
00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:54.959
Yeah, so first foods.
00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:58.240
You know, I think three main characteristics are really important.
00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:00.240
And that's nutrient density.
00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:06.639
It's also developmentally appropriate texture for the child and a mild or neutral flavor.
00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:17.920
So when we're talking about nutrient density for those first foods, you know, it meets the infant's high needs for energy, healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals during this really rapid growth, right?
00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:24.639
And then the texture should be soft and safe, such as creamy, tender, pureeed, mashed, or ground.
00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:27.519
And then it progresses as the baby's skills progress.
00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:29.920
And that mild neutral flavor is also important.
00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:36.319
Offering foods that aren't just sweet can help the babies become more familiar with a wider range of flavors.
00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:41.199
So avocados check all three of these boxes, Colleen, because they're nutrient dense.
00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:49.519
They have a smooth texture and they have a neutral flavor that can be pureeed, mashed, sliced, or cubed as developmentally appropriate.
00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:52.160
All right, let's move on development a little bit.
00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:54.319
We've talked about maternal health and pregnancy.
00:05:54.399 --> 00:05:56.480
We've talked about kind of that infancy stage.
00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:08.800
Let's talk about, I think, probably the most stressful aspect of parenting, and that's this like school age time, because life is busy and dinner time tends to be really, really uh stressful and overwhelming.
00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:14.000
And this is usually when kids start to get more selective and maybe even make their own food choices.
00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:18.639
So, what are some of your go-to strategies as a dietitian and busy mom yourself?
00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:20.639
Yeah, so some of my go-to strategies.
00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:25.040
So today is my nine-year-old daughter's first day back at school.
00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:29.680
So we're shifting back into that routine and how we're gonna get dinner on the table.
00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:35.279
And so one thing is I like to try and lower the pressure and focus on repeated exposure.
00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:40.079
And I know this can get exhausting when you're constantly repeating things, but you know you're the expert.
00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:41.920
It can take up to 10 times, right?
00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:47.360
Of repeated exposure for a child to try something or to realize that they like it.
00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:50.319
The other thing is making it a family affair, right?
00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:56.879
Um, and finding those foods that are a quick win that you already know the kids are gonna like and then building the meal around that.
00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:08.959
So maybe it's rice, chicken, avocado, you know, starting with that, and then maybe adding a few different things that other people in the family might like or they might be willing to try and eventually see if they like it.
00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:13.199
You mentioned one of the most powerful things earlier, which is modeling, right?
00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:15.279
Are we as parents doing it?
00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:21.360
And that really plays into, you know, the influence that we're putting on the table in terms of what we're eating.
00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:28.959
And snacking can be a great option as well because it kind of lowers the pressure, it allows an opportunity to try out different foods.
00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:38.000
And the great thing about avocados and why I often recommend them is because they they come in so many familiar forms and they can be developmentally appropriate, as we talked about.
00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:46.720
You know, guacamole, smoothies, scrambled eggs, pasta sauces, baby mashes are great, such as an avocado and sweet potato mash.
00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:48.240
And you can also freeze them, right?
00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:53.439
When you have too many avocados getting ripe at the same time, many people don't realize you can freeze them.
00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:56.879
And I believe in the show notes there's a guide on how you can freeze them.
00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:02.720
And that's a great way to add them to those purees, to those smoothies, to those baby mashes.
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And freezing them, I mean, avocados are already creamy and a smoothie, but freezing them just takes it to another level because then you don't even have to use ice, and it is delicious.
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Now, I want to talk about something that a lot of families are navigating, and that is like different palettes and different dietary patterns that a family might be consuming.
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So I'm thinking of a family who maybe the dad is an athlete, so he's eating differently.
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Maybe the mom is on her own weight loss journey, so she might be eating differently.
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We've got a toddler who's going through their very selective independent phase, and a teenager who grunts at you from their bedroom.
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And so it feels like you have to cook separate meals for everyone in the family.
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But I would love if you can give us some ideas and how we can create family meals that meet the needs of different ages and stages of life without becoming a short order cook.
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Yes, so important.
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It takes so much effort just to get dinner on the table.
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We don't want to put five different dinners on the table, right?
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So flexible family meals, I think, are great that build your own approach can be really fun.
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Even if you just do this a few times a week, like having pizza night where you add your own toppings or taco bowls or grain bowls.
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You know, pasta dishes are great with this, especially with younger kids, because they can enjoy that.
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And then what you put on it can be a little bit more customized to that family member, what they prefer.
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You know, adjusting the texture, the spice level, the toppings can help change it up rather than changing the entire menu.
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And that flexibility is one reason I often go to avocados because it can work across multiple ages and stages without requiring parents to prepare separate foods.
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So avocados is a good example.
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They're mashed for baby, as we talked about, sliced for a toddler, and added to tacos or bowls for children and adults.
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Patricia, this is such helpful advice for all my overwhelmed, stressed-out parents trying to get dinner on the table.
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You've really kind of taken that burden away from them.
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And I really appreciate you sharing all these insights.
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But thank you so much for joining me on this entire mini-series.
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I've really learned so much from you.
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Thank you so much for having me.
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It has been wonderful.
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And thank you so much to Avocados Love One Today for sponsoring Avocados in Practice.
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I hope you'll go back and catch any episodes that you missed, and be sure to check the show notes for helpful resources.
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And I'll be back next week with another episode of the Exam Room Nutrition Podcast.
