Anna and I are back with Podcast Episode 98! In this latest episode, we share our Sunny Side Up Nutrition Feeding Framework—our five-pillar framework at the heart of feeling more confident about feeding your kids. You’ll walk away with actionable steps you can take today to stress less about meal times.

* Support Yourself: Simple ways to reduce your own mealtime stress.

* Foster a Positive Environment: Practical tips to destress meal times.

* Trust: Trust your child to eat and grow.

* Respond: Why we encourage tuning out diet-culture and tuning into and responding to your kid’s cues.

* Model Behavior: How your own beliefs about food impact your child’s relationship with food.

Resources & Links

* Take the Frenzy Out of Feeding Membership:Get full access to all 12 modules, power tools, scripts, and more

* Feeding Framework Blog Post:Want to read more about our feeding framework?

* Pinney Davenport Nutrition, PLLC

* Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy

Join the conversation—leave a question or comment below.

Thanks for listening! Be sure to share this episode with friends, family, and colleagues.

Podcast Transcript

[00:00:43] Host: Hi, Elizabeth. Hi, Anna. I’m excited to be here.Elizabeth: I am too. I’m so excited.

Anna: Today we’re talking about our Sunny Side Up Nutrition Feeding Framework. As a reminder, we took a little hiatus from recording the podcast, and now we’re back—starting off with a sneak-peek at some of the topics in our Take the Frenzy Out of Feeding membership. One of our modules covers this framework, so I wanted to ask you, Elizabeth: why did we develop it in the first place?

Elizabeth: I love it because it organizes everything we teach—both for parents and for us as providers—into five simple keywords. With so much noise out there about how you “should” feed your kids, this gives a quick go-to list moms and dads can pull up on their phone: Support, Foster, Trust, Respond, Model.

Anna: Exactly. We actually discovered these five themes while writing our modules—each one wove through every lesson. And if parents ever feel overwhelmed, they can just pick one keyword to focus on at a time.

1. Support Yourself

Anna: This one feels like the foundation. If feeding your family feels stressful to you, it’s going to feel stressful to them. You don’t have to tackle all five elements at once—just start by thinking, “What do I need to make meals less overwhelming?”

2. Foster a Positive Mealtime Environment

Elizabeth: Think about what makes mealtimes pleasant for everyone. Maybe one child needs to stand or fidget quietly. Maybe you set a 15- to 20-minute timer so they don’t feel stuck at the table forever. Avoid tense topics or food commentary while you eat—especially with selective eaters.

Anna: Ask your kids what helps them feel safe: a favorite toy, a weighted lap blanket, even a quiet corner if smells are hard for them. Mealtime doesn’t have to be a picture-perfect family dinner—it can be breakfast, a snack, or even a sandwich on your lap.

3. Trust Yourself & Your Child

Anna: We’re bombarded with messages that we’re responsible for our kids’ weight or that picky eating never ends. But most children instinctively eat what they need to grow—if we can tune out the outside noise and trust both ourselves and them, feeding gets easier.

4. Respond to Cues

Elizabeth: Every child has their own eating style. Some have big appetites; some hardly notice food. Respond by offering what they need: more structure for one kid, more freedom for another. Just like you’d accommodate a sensory-sensitive child at a loud party, you can make simple tweaks at the table to help them succeed.

5. Model a Positive Relationship with Food & Body

Anna: Kids learn by watching us. If we label carbs “bad” or obsess over diets, they will too. Showing a balanced, flexible attitude about food and bodies teaches them to respect theirs.

Elizabeth: You might notice that none of these pillars actually say what to serve—that’s intentional. What matters most is how we feed, not just what we feed. The right environment and mindset will naturally support kids in trying more foods and eating enough.

Anna: Parents who use this framework often tell us mealtimes feel calmer, fights about food happen less, and picky kids expand their plates—without any extra pressure from mom or dad.

Elizabeth: That’s exactly why we started Sunny Side Up Nutrition—to cut through diet-culture stress and help families trust themselves and their kids again. If you want to dive deeper, check out our Take the Frenzy Out of Feeding membership—twelve modules packed with tools, scripts, and power tools to help you feel truly supported.

Anna: Thanks so much for listening!

Elizabeth: Thanks, Anna—this was fun. Bye, everyone!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit snutrition.substack.com