.png)
The Intentional Table
Feeding kids isn’t just about what’s on the plate - it’s about raising them to feel confident, capable, and at peace with food and their bodies.
The Intentional Table Podcast is here to help you break the cycles of guilt, shame, and mealtime stress so you can raise kids who eat well and feel good about it.
Hosted by Nicole Cruz, a registered dietitian and mom of three who has coached thousands of parents, this podcast gives you the tools, structure, and mindset shifts to create a positive, empowered eating environment at home.
With guidance, compassion, and strategies that really work, you’ll feel more confident and less stressed while supporting your kids through 'picky' eating, 'overeating', struggles with sweets, and everything in between.
The Intentional Table
All food is not equal
When you’re raising kids, it feels natural to want to teach them about “healthy" or "better" choices or to guide them with categories like sometimes foods, growing foods, or good vs. bad foods.
While those labels are well-intentioned, they can create worry, guilt, or even rebellion around food... and that disrupts our kids’ ability to trust themselves and eat in balance.
In this episode of The Intentional Table, I’m breaking down the concept of neutrality when it comes to food. I’ll share how our words shape the way kids see food and themselves, why judgment backfires, and what to do instead.
You’ll hear:
- Why kids are especially vulnerable to black-and-white food labels
- The real consequences of calling foods “good” or “bad” (fear, guilt, rebellion, restriction)
- A personal story about my son in kindergarten and how a “pizza is unhealthy” lesson created unnecessary stress
- The kinds of language that create judgment (and why it doesn’t work)
- Practical ways to talk about food neutrally - using food names, groups, and qualities instead of arbitrary categories
- The three key areas where neutrality matters most in everyday life
By the end of this conversation, you’ll see how shifting your language builds trust, reduces food anxiety, and lays the foundation for your child to enjoy a variety of foods without shame or fear.
Want to connect? Send us a text!
CONNECT with Nicole:
- Instagram: @nicolecruzRD
- Book a FREE Eating Alignment Call with Nicole to learn more about our approach and how we can work together: Eating Alignment Call
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:
If you loved this episode, it would mean so much for you to follow, subscribe, share, or leave a review.
Your support helps us reach more conscious and loving parents who need these insight!
Thank you for tuning in and see you next week!