Feeding kids can feel… loud. Hot takes on sugar, sneaky veggies, clean plates, “never this,” “always that.” As registered dietitian moms—and the women behind Bloom Boost—we’ve learned that raising confident eaters isn’t about rules. It’s about consistent, compassionate patterns that help kids trust their bodies and enjoy food.
These are the 18 feeding philosophies we live by at home and teach in our practice.
1) We give our kids sugar.
Learning to enjoy all foods—without guilt or obsession—is part of a healthy relationship with food. Treats are included, not earned.
2) We don’t make separate meals.
Everyone eats the same main meal. We build in at least one safe food so picky eaters can participate without a battle.
3) We don’t let our kids snack all day.
Loose structure (predictable meals + snacks) helps kids arrive at the table hungry and ready to eat.
4) We decide the what and when; they decide the if and how much.
Hello, Division of Responsibility. Kids learn to listen to hunger and fullness cues when we don’t micromanage bites.
5) We sometimes serve dessert alongside dinner.
Taking dessert off a pedestal reduces “forbidden food” power and the all-or-nothing thinking that can come with it.
6) We let them stop when they’re full.
Forcing bites doesn’t build self-regulation. Trust does.
7) We use neutral food language.
“This is candy” lands better than “junk food.” Neutrality lowers shame and opens curiosity.
8) Every meal includes a safe food.
Familiar favorites help kids feel safe enough to try something new. Some common examples of safe foods would be foods like bread, rice, pasta, or other grains. Similarly, fruit is a common safe food.
9) We keep mealtimes about connection, not control.
We share stories, talk about our day, and keep the mood light so everyone looks forward to coming to the table.
👉 “When it comes to picky eating, the biggest gift we can give our kids is consistency. Serving safe foods, keeping mealtime calm, and continuing to offer new foods (without pressure) teaches kids they can trust us — and builds curiosity at their own pace.”
10) We speak kindly about all bodies—including our own.
Kids absorb how we talk about bodies. We model respect, not comparison.
11) We don’t micromanage portions.
We offer; they choose what their body needs. Remember, kids' appetites can vary greatly day to day. Some days, kids eat more than we do! Other days, it seems like they hardly eat anything. This is very normal -- let their appetite guide them! (of course, your parenting instincts will kick in if low appetite persists and is accompanied by other symptoms! If this is the case, please check in with your doctor.
12) We talk about function, not morality.
Food isn’t “good” or “bad.” We say, “This helps your brain focus,” or “This gives you energy for soccer.”
How to Talk About “Less Nutritious” Foods Without Morality
One of the trickiest parts of feeding kids is how to talk about foods that aren’t as nutrient-dense — the chips, cookies, candies, or fast-food items that are a very real part of life.
Here’s what we’ve learned as dietitian moms: labeling these foods as “bad,” “junk,” or “forbidden” almost always backfires. Kids either feel guilt for wanting them or become more fixated on them. Instead, we practice neutrality and curiosity:
- ✅ Use their names. Call foods what they are — “this is candy,” “this is a cookie,” “this is broccoli.” It keeps the power struggle out of it.
- ✅ Talk about frequency, not morality. We might say: “These are sometimes foods. We don’t eat them all the time because our bodies need lots of foods that help us grow and feel good.”
- ✅ Connect to function gently. “Cookies give us quick energy, but they don’t help us stay full for long. That’s why we usually have them alongside a meal or snack.”
- ✅ Model balance. We eat the cookie, enjoy it, and move on — showing kids that it’s just food, not a test of willpower.
This way, kids learn that food exists on a spectrum of nutrition, not morality. Some foods help us grow and fuel us; others bring joy and connection. Both matter.
13) We don’t use food as reward, punishment, or bribe.
Food is for nourishment and enjoyment, not earning or deserving.
14) We don’t praise or criticize based on how much is eaten.
More isn’t “better,” less isn’t “worse.” We praise listening to your body.
15) We care about the big picture, not one bite.
Health is built over weeks and months, not a single dinner.
16) We keep our tone the same for all foods.
No over-the-top praise for broccoli, no side-eye for cookies. All foods fit.
17) We think of snacks like mini meals.
Pair a carb with protein or fat to keep energy steady: crackers + hummus, fruit + yogurt, toast + nut butter.
18) We separate food talk from body talk.
We never tie eating to weight, size, or appearance. We connect food to energy, growth, mood, and joy.
How These Philosophies Shaped Bloom Boost
We created Bloom Boost because real life is busy and kids are human. Some days they’re adventurous; some days it’s plain toast. Our aim was to make nourishment doable inside these philosophies:
- It respects autonomy: you’re not hiding or forcing; you’re offering an easy add-in to foods your family already loves.
- It supports consistency: one scoop adds fiber diversity, omega-3s, and gentle protein to smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, muffins, applesauce—without changing the taste or turning meals into a battle.
- It fits our “snacks like mini meals” mindset: pair carbs + protein/fat + fiber to steady energy and support digestion.
Bloom Boost isn’t about “perfect eating.” It’s about real-food scaffolding that makes balanced choices simpler on real-life days.
Quick Help: Snack & Meal Ideas (Most of the Time 😉)
- Apple slices + peanut or sunflower seed butter (+ Bloom Boost sprinkled into the dip)
- Greek yogurt + berries + granola (stir in Bloom Boost)
- Crackers + hummus + cucumbers
- Oatmeal made with milk, nut or seed butter,+ banana (bloom boost whisked in)
- Turkey/cheese roll-ups + whole-grain crackers + cherry tomatoes
Gentle Scripts You Can Borrow
- “Your job is to listen to your tummy; my job is to make sure food shows up.”
- “Dessert is part of dinner tonight, no need to ‘earn’ it.”
- “This food helps your body run fast / think hard / feel full longer.”
- “You don’t have to eat it. You can try it when you’re ready.”
- “All bodies are good bodies. We take care of ours with food, rest, and kindness.”
More scripts to borrow:
On candy:
“This is candy. It tastes sweet and gives our body quick energy, but it doesn’t help us stay full. That’s why we usually enjoy it with meals or snacks.”
On chips or fries:
“These are crunchy and yummy! They don’t have the protein or fiber that help our bodies feel full, so we don’t eat them all the time.”
On cookies at dinner:
“Dessert is part of the meal tonight. You can choose when to eat it — before, after, or during dinner.”
On balance:
“Our bodies need lots of different foods. Some give us energy, some help us grow strong, and some are just for fun. All of them can fit.”
On comparisons (when a child says ‘cookies are bad’):
“Cookies aren’t bad. They’re just different from carrots or chicken. Each food does something different in our body.”
FAQ (for SEO + real life)
Isn’t sugar bad for kids?
Sugar isn’t a nutrient to chase, but forbidding it tends to increase fixation. We include sweets calmly while making sure meals and snacks offer protein, fat, and fiber most of the time.
What if my child only eats the safe food?
That’s okay sometimes. Keep serving the family meal with a safe option and vary the safe food over time. Curiosity grows with repeated, pressure-free exposure.
How many snacks should kids have?
Most toddlers/preschoolers do well with 3 meals + 2–3 snacks spaced ~2–3 hours apart. Predictability helps appetite regulation.
Should I ever require a “no-thank-you bite”?
We skip required bites. Touching, smelling, licking, or helping cook counts as exposure and keeps trust intact.
What happens if we have dinner and then 15 minutes later, my child is asking for a snack?
This is one of the most common challenges we hear from parents — and we’ve lived it, too. Here’s the approach we use (and teach):
-
Set the boundary at dinner.
Before clearing the table, gently remind:
“The kitchen will be closed after dinner until bedtime snack (or breakfast, depending on the schedule). If your tummy is still hungry, now’s the time to eat.” -
Stick to the routine.
If bedtime is a few hours away, we plan for a structured bedtime snack — something that’s part of the routine every night, not a negotiation tactic. -
Make the bedtime snack filling, but not thrilling.
The goal is to satisfy hunger without turning it into the “fun food” event of the evening. Think: Toast with nut/seed butter Banana and a glass of milk Whole-grain crackers with cheese Yogurt with a sprinkle of Bloom Boost. These are nourishing, steady foods that meet true hunger needs but don’t encourage kids to skip dinner just to “save up” for treats. - Toast with nut/seed butter
- Banana and a glass of milk
- Whole-grain crackers with cheese
- Yogurt with a sprinkle of oats
✨ Kid-friendly script:
- At dinner: “After this meal, the kitchen will be closed until bedtime snack. If you’re still hungry, fill up now.”
- At snack time: “Here’s our bedtime snack. It helps our bodies sleep well until morning.”
Why dessert with dinner?
Occasionally serving a portion of dessert alongside dinner reduces scarcity thinking and teaches self-regulation.
How does this help with picky eating?
Consistency is everything. Picky eating often peaks between ages 2–6, and research shows that kids may need 15–20 exposures to a new food before trying it. These philosophies (safe foods, neutral language, no pressure, structured meals/snacks) help parents ride out those phases without turning meals into a power struggle. Over time, consistency — not pressure — is what helps kids expand their diets.
How does this help with picky eating?
Consistency is everything. Picky eating is often a phase, and research shows kids may need 15–20 neutral exposures to a new food before they’ll eat it. These philosophies are designed to make those exposures safe and stress-free:
- A safe food means kids always have something to rely on.
- No pressure means their trust in food — and in us — grows.
- Neutral language keeps curiosity alive instead of attaching guilt or reward.
- Structure with meals/snacks ensures kids come to the table hungry and ready.
When families stick with these approaches, picky eaters gradually learn to try new foods without battles — and mealtimes feel lighter for everyone.
Want More Support?
Our Toddler Feeding Course dives deeper into these philosophies with scripts, schedules, grocery lists, and troubleshooting for picky eating—designed by two dietitian moms who live this every day.
→ Join the Toddler Feeding Course (gentle, practical, evidence-based)
With you at the table,
Natalie & Brittni — Registered Dietitians & Moms, Co-founders of Bloom Boost
