Crunch Bites

With so much focus on what to feed our kids, have you ever stopped to think about the importance of how we feed them? In this episode Mikala dives into food parenting practices with Dr Kathryn Walton from Guelph University. They chat about how to set up positive mealtimes and the importance of parents being on the same page when it comes to the family table and beyond.  This one’s a meaty episode so grab your carrot sticks and get comfy.  Topics covered:      The division of responsibility (when to serve and what is on offer)       Appetite regulation and listening to hunger cues       Parents roles in establishing feeding patterns        How to set up positive mealtimes       Where to get more information. Episode links       Guelph family study cookbooks       Guelph family study website

The range of baby and toddler foods on the market has exploded over the last decade, with more pouches and puffs available every day. But are these really foods we want to be feeding our kids? Join Mikala as she chats with Andrea Schmidtke, public health lawyer and researcher at the Food for Health Alliance, about the impact these foods are having on our children as they begin developing their eating habits. Mikala and Andrea also discuss the need for stronger regulations around what goes into baby and toddler foods as well as how they are marketed to families. Topics covered:What is in baby and toddler foods and why we should be mindful of what we choose Marketing and the many tactics companies use and how to see through themThe need for tighter regulations to protect familiesHow families can navigate the toddler food aisle and what to avoidEpisode links:Kids are sweet enough campaign.Parent resource for navigating the baby and toddler aisle resourceChoosing food for babies and young children - Food For Health Alliance – various languages (Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Dari, Punjabi, Vietnamese).Beyond the Label report

The traditional family model is changing, as many families now juggle both parents working outside the home. Grandparents are increasingly stepping in to offer support and perform a regular childcare role. Join Mikala as she speaks with Professor Michelle Jongenelis about her research examining this changing landscape and the important role grandparents play in shaping children’s habits, such as what they eat and how much they move their body.  Topics covered:-         The changing family model-         Grandparents role and impact on children’s nutrition and physical activity-         The importance of consistent and clear communication between parents and grandparents-         Valuable resources and tools for grandparents and families to support children’s health and wellbeing Episode links:Dr Michelle Jongenelis website and factsheets  Grandparents as healthy eating champions factsheet  Fussy grandchild  Healthy eating activity cards  Crunch&Sip websiteLiveLighter website

Following Mikala’s detailed conversation with Dr Joanna McMillan about her book The Fibre Factor, join us for this bonus bite-sized episode where we summarise the info in a quick 20 questions, easy to digest format.  Episode links    The Fibre Factor    Dr Joanna McMillan’s website

Find out what your gut wants you to know about fibre as Mikala talks with Dr Joanna McMillan about her latest book The Fibre Factor. In this engaging conversation they discuss why fibre leads to more than just healthy digestion, the different types of fibre and why diversity matters, how fibre can improve the whole body and lots of family-friendly and practical ways to include more fibre in the diet.  Topics covered:     The fibre dream team – diversity counts      The role of fibre in the body and the many benefits beyond the gut    Practical ways you can increase fibre every day    Why starting low and going slow is the key to increasing fibre, rather than “fibre maxxing” Episode links    The Fibre Factor    Dr Joanna McMillan’s website    @the.guthealthdietitian 

How do we support our emerging athletes as they juggle the demands of school and sports?  Join Mikala as she talks about sustaining snacks and meals that maximise nutrition with Julie Meek, performance specialist and Sports Dietitian. Julie shares her top tips when it comes to juggling a full training schedule and ensuring kids find time to fuel up on the food needed for healthy growth and development. Hear ways to boost iron, pack in protein and the importance of considering calcium for growing skeletons. Topics covered in today’s episode:How to fuel kids with busy sports schedulesWhen to eat and how to tackle tricky timing when juggling late games or early starts Which nutrients are needed mostThe importance of allowing children to regulate their appetite and develop a positive relationship with foodBeing mindful of marketing around foods that are high in proteinWhen to reach for a sports drink Episode links:Julie Meek websiteEat for Health websiteBetter Health Channel – understanding lactose intoleranceTranscript

Join us as we yarn about bush foods with Dale Tilbrook, a proud Wardandi Bibbulmun woman. Mikala and Dale explore bush foods and discuss some common examples, where you can find them and how to weave them into your weekly cooking.  Topics covered in today’s episode: What are bush foods Where you can find bush foodsThe rules of foraging The importance of supporting Aboriginal owned companies  Links Dale TilbrookMaalinup aboriginal gallery Transcript

Engineered to eat: A chat about ultra processed food  We know food processing can be beneficial for safety, nutrition, and convenience, but can it go too far? In this episode, Mikala and Nicole explore food processing in detail and how different foods are categorised. They discuss how industrial methods used to make ultra processed foods can contribute to poor health and highlight the importance of understanding how to read food labels. Topics covered in today’s episode:       What is food processing, and how are foods categorised?        Easy ways to recognise an ultra processed food.        The emerging concerns around regular consumption of ultra processed foods.        Ways to limit consumption of ultra processed foods in the home. Episode links:        Nova classification system        Label reading episode Transcript