End the Mealtime Meltdown: Using the Table Talk Method to Free Your Family from Daily Struggles over Food and Picky Eating

Description

"For parents who are committed to raising a generation of healthy eaters, this is an important tool!" --Susan Albers, PsyD, New York Times bestselling author of Eating Mindfully Restore joy at your dinner table using the innovative Table Talk Method! But I made it just the way you like it. If you eat your broccoli, you'll grow up big and strong. No dessert unless you finish your dinner! Sound familiar? If you're the parent of a "picky eater," you've likely tried everything to get your kiddo to eat their veggies. And like many other parents, you might have noticed these ideas fail. Your child may not become a gourmand overnight, but the good news is there are ways to help them explore new food--and restore some much-needed mealtime peace. Written by a dietitian and mindful eating expert, End the Mealtime Meltdown serves up the familiar yet largely unexamined phrases parents say to kids at mealtime, and shows that what you say to your kids can actually sabotage your efforts to instill healthy habits. With this practical guide, you'll discover the communication skills you need to end conflict at the dinner table--for good. In the book, you'll find: Specific guidance on what NOT to say to kids as they eat Acknowledgement that conflict at the dinner table is a normal part of parenting Specific words, scripts, and detailed instruction on how to encourage conversation that positively impacts eating behavior and development Real-life stories showing how the Table Talk Method can ease parent distress Instructions on how to tailor this approach to fit your individual needs Tools to help kids develop a healthy relationship with body and food that will last a lifetime If you're craving better ways to deal with turmoil during meals and instill a healthy curiosity about food in your family, this go-to guide is your lifeline.

Stephanie Meyers, MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of Families Eating Well, a nutrition practice training parents to coach healthy eating habits in kids. She is nutrition coordinator in The Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and a former instructor in the graduate nutrition department at Boston University. She presents seminars worldwide on mindful eating, family nutrition, and cancer survivorship. Foreword writer Carla Naumburg, PhD, is a clinical social worker and author of three parenting books; including Ready, Set, Breathe and How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t with Your Kids.

"Meals with a child, especially a picky eater, can feel like a battleground, but Meyers (a registered dietitian nutritionist) argues that dialogue, or 'table talk, ' can be the key to solving many of parents' and kids' mealtime woes. She warns that the common communication strategies parents might currently be utilizing (repetitive instruction, begging, bribing, pleading) could contribute to meltdowns and tension for all family members.... Meyers instead suggests techniques like having parents model proper eating behavior, being fully present with a child at mealtime, actively engaging in storytelling around the topic of food, and asking questions rather than making demands or commentary.... Chock-full of journal prompts, conversation starters, meditation exercises, and sample questions, this book may just be a lifeline for parents facing mealtime drama. VERDICT: Highly recommended action-packed guide on a topic of interest to many parents." --Library Journal starred review-- "Library Journal" "End the Mealtime Meltdown is a unique guide to avoiding food fights with your child. In a calm and reassuring tone, Stephanie Meyers provides tips, tools, and strategies that make eating with kids more peaceful for everyone involved. Meyers's Table Talk Method replaces parental prodding and cajoling with an open communication style that lays the foundation for a child's healthy relationship with food now, and in the future." --Elizabeth Ward, MS, RDN, author of Expect the Best--Elizabeth Ward, MS, RDN "As a former English teacher, I am keenly aware of the power of words to shape our thoughts and feelings. Meyers offers practical language tweaks for parents and guardians who want to foster a healthy relationship with food and enjoy more peaceful family meals." --Oona Hanson, MA, MA, educator and parent coach, and family mentor at Equip Health--Oona Hanson, MA, MA "For parents who are committed to raising a generation of healthy eaters, this is an important tool! The book provides creative, stress-free techniques for reducing common but frustrating food struggles at mealtimes. Her practical advice and realistic expectations show parents how to effectively communicate with children to create enjoyable, peaceful mealtimes at last!" --Susan Albers, PsyD, psychologist, and New York Times bestselling author of Eating Mindfully, 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food, Eating Mindfully for Teens, and Hanger Management--Susan Albers, PsyD "One of the most important things I've learned from this book is that helping kids have a healthy relationship with food involves encouraging curiosity around new and different types of food. Stephanie shows you how engaging your children with questions around the way ingredients look, taste, or feel can be a gateway to having them accept that food." --Leigh Belanger, author of My Kitchen Chalkboard--Leigh Belanger "Refreshing and revolutionary! This book is a gift for families as it brings joy, curiosity, and connection back to mealtime. Stephanie Meyers's approach is brilliant--grounded in evidence and practical experience--weaving together her deep knowledge of nutrition counseling, mindfulness, and parenting to break old, unhelpful habits and replace them with new, healthy ways of relating and eating that can last a lifetime." --Susan Bauer-Wu, PhD, RN, president of the Mind & Life Institute, and author of Leaves Falling Gently--Susan Bauer-Wu, PhD, RN "Where was this thoughtful book twenty years ago when I was raising my kids? This much-needed resource should be on every parent's and grandparent's reading list to prepare for the years of joyful family mealtime gatherings ahead of them. Food should be loved, embraced, and enjoyed, and Meyers nailed it in this soon-to-be classic for raising healthy eaters." --Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, FAND, Boston University nutrition professor; author; media personality; and host of the nutrition and health podcast, Spot On!--Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, FAND