Empowering Families to Create a Healthy Relationship with Food for Optimal Health and Well-Being
From the day babies are born so is their relationship with food. It starts with breast or bottle feeding and it continues on as they eat solids and eventually go to school. It’s not just the type of foods they are fed, but how they are fed, parented, and responded to.
As a mom, dietitian, and author, I know that a healthy relationship with food is a non-negotiable part of a healthy life. But tending to this vital relationship is not easy in today’s world. That is why I tackle each developmental stage voraciously and share how to nurture a person’s relationship with food every step of the way. I do this as I’m experiencing it personally which brings passion and great detail to each book I work on.
It started with Fearless Feeding when my kids were little, a research-based bible for feeding kids. Then we hit the picky-eating stage, and my search for answers led me to write From Picky to Powerful. Getting a “kid approved” dinner on the table every night proved challenging so I revamped my approach as documented in The Family Dinner Solution. I work hard to teach my kids moderation which led to my Amazon-bestselling book, How to Raise a Mindful Eater. And as my first child hit puberty, I knew I needed to help her appreciate her body and not fall prey to body dissatisfaction and dieting. My Body’s Superpower: The Girls’ Guide to Growing Up Healthy During Puberty just does that. Next up, I’m tackling the stage of midlife for myself!
My mission is to prevent unhealthy attitudes towards food and one’s body that typically develops during the lifespan. If you want to learn more about my approach, subscribe to my newsletter and get you’ll my e-book, “The Landmines of a Healthy Relationship with Food.” Being a subscriber will keep you informed of my latest books, blog posts, and podcast episodes.
I also blog on a regular basis, sharing my own challenges, sneak peeks from my latest book project, and what my family is eating for dinner. Don’t miss the “Healthy Family Podcast,” where I pick the brain of top experts to help you “parent for health” in the 21st century. Feel free to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
More About Me
I’m a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. I’ve worked my share of jobs: outpatient counselor, clinical dietitian, nutrition educator, and corporate dietitian. Midway through these jobs, I discovered my love for writing and secretly hoped to be a writer someday. In 2009, this dream was born and now it’s what I do professionally. I’ve written for Cookinglight.com, The New York Times, Huffington Post, WebMD, MindBodyGreen, She Knows and have appeared on Good Morning America. Through it all, I’m committed to my writing career through my blog and books and do not work with industry. That’s why I call myself “The Indie Author RD.”
On a personal note, I have two kids (Big A who is 12 and Little D who is 10) and a husband who prefers I don’t write about him. I enjoy running, hanging out with friends and family, and practicing mindfulness. I believe emotional health is as important as physical health and love chocolate as much as I love salads. I’m late with learning how to cook and still feel insecure about it; although sometimes I catch myself thinking I’m a really good cook. My friends and family call me Mare (rhymes with hair), and my most important ― and hardest ― job is being a mom.
I focus on families because a healthy relationship with food (or not) is passed down from generation to generation. As parents, we can choose to create a healthier way of relating to food, our bodies, and ourselves, and then teach it to our children. If we can do that, the world will be a healthier and happier place.
I’m glad you’re here!
