From the Start Nutrition, Pediatric & Family Dietitian in New Jersey

04/07/2026

But if I don’t pressure them, they’ll never eat their veggies!” 🥕🥦
I hear this from parents all the time, and honestly, I’ve had moments of feeling this way too.

I remember sitting at the table, watching one of my kids completely ignore the meal I worked so hard to make… and feeling that urge to say, “just take one bite!”

But here’s the thing: pressure often backfires.
It can trigger a stress response that actually shuts down appetite, making kids less likely to try new foods - not more.

When kids feel safe and not pressured, they’re more open to exploring food over time.

Here are 3 few ways to help reduce mealtime stress:

✨ Serve a safe food
So there’s always something your child feels comfortable eating.

✨ Lower the pressure
You decide what, when, and where. They decide if and how much.

✨ Stay consistent
Predictable meals and snacks help regulate hunger and reduce power struggles.

Save this for the next time dinner feels stressful 💛 You’re not alone in this.
📌 And if you’re ready for more support, visit www.fromthestartnutrition.com

04/03/2026

If your child only eats white foods, read this first:

03/27/2026

What if the goal of dinner wasn’t just getting them to eat the broccoli? 🥦

I think about this all the time—especially in the middle of a busy week, when it’s so easy to slip into, “just take one more bite,” mode.

We spend so much energy focusing on what our kids eat and how much… that we can lose sight of something much bigger.

This quote by Ellyn Satter has stayed with me since the very beginning of my career. It’s one of the reasons I do this work. Because feeding kids was never meant to feel like a daily battle - it’s meant to be a relationship we nurture over time.

And that relationship isn’t built in one meal. Or one bite of broccoli.

It’s built in the small, everyday moments:

✨ Sitting together, even when the meal isn’t perfect
✨ Letting our kids listen to their bodies (even when that’s uncomfortable for us)
✨ Creating a space where they feel safe and not pressured

To me, raising a child who is a, “joy to feed,” doesn’t mean they eat everything.

It looks like:

✨ They come to the table (most of the time)
✨ They feel comfortable around food
✨ They trust their hunger and fullness cues
✨ Mealtime feels more like connection than conflict

I’ve seen this not just in my work, but in my own home with my four kids. And I can tell you… when you shift from control → connection, something *magical* really does happen.

The pressure softens.
The power struggles ease.
And little by little, your child starts to feel it too. 💙

And that’s where the real progress begins.

This work is personal to me.

I founded From the Start Nutrition to help families create something so many of us are seeking: peace with food - for themselves, for their children, and for the moments shared around the table.

Because it’s not just about what your child eats. It’s about how your family feels at mealtime.

If you’re ready to feel more confident, supported, and at ease with feeding, send me a DM to schedule a consultation. We have several wonderful Registered Dietitians on staff providing flexible telehealth nutrition appointments and accept most major insurances.

03/16/2026

Would you feed your baby butter to help them sleep? 🧈😴

This surprising trend has been circulating online lately, and parents are understandably curious about whether it actually works.

Beth was recently quoted in an article by (Alexia Dellner) for PureWow discussing the idea of giving babies butter before bed as a “sleep hack.”

In the article, we share what parents should know:
• the truth about butter and sleep for babies
• what actually supports healthy infant feeding and sleep
• the bottom line on the butter trend

When it comes to babies, nutrition trends on social media can spread quickly, but evidence-based and safe feeding guidance matters!

Read the full article at the link in our bio or visit https://www.purewow.com/family/parents-feeding-babies-butter-trend

Follow us ➡️ evidence-based nutrition support for picky eaters, adults tired of dieting, and teens and adults in eating disorder recovery 💙

03/08/2026

Is it a magical sleep solution or social media hype (and is it safe)? Check out this PureWow article to see what our very own dietitian, Beth Conlon, PhD, RDN, has to say about feeding babies butter to help them sleep.

When I started seeing TikToks of parents handing their babies sticks of butter because it supposedly helps them sleep through the night, honestly, I didn’t judge. Butter is delicious! But is it a magical sleep solution? I needed to know.

03/02/2026

March is National Nutrition Month! Discover the power of nutrition.
Small, intentional food choices fuel growth, energy, and lifelong health 🫶🏼

02/25/2026

Wednesday Wins: What’s one way you nourished your child this week? Share below!

02/24/2026

Is your child’s food list getting shorter instead of longer?

If you’re cycling through the same few “safe foods,” know this: limited food range is rarely your or your child's fault. There is usually an underlying reason.

When pediatric dietitians evaluate feeding challenges, we look at three core areas:

1️⃣ Physiology and Medical – How your child’s body functions
This includes sensory processing (how textures, smells, temperatures, and flavors feel in their body), appetite regulation, GI comfort, and nervous system responses to food.

2️⃣ Motor Skills – Gross, fine, and oral motor development
Chewing, moving food around the mouth, coordinating swallowing, sitting posture at the table — all of these skills impact how safe and manageable food feels.

3️⃣ Behaviors – Protective patterns
Sometimes kids restrict foods because something felt uncomfortable before — maybe they gagged, choked, had reflux, felt pressure, or experienced a stressful mealtime. Avoidance can be a smart way their brain tries to stay safe (even when no threat exists).

Pediatric dietitians help families uncover the WHY behind their child's limited food range and build skills step by step.

Nutrition counseling can help your child:

✨ Strengthen underlying skills
✨ Reduce anxiety around new foods
✨ Build confidence through gradual exposure
✨ Replace pressure with practical strategies
✨ Expand variety in a way that feels safe and sustainable

Feeding challenges are real. They are not your fault. And with the right support, they are absolutely workable.

Let’s make food feel safer — one step at a time.

Ready for more peaceful plates? Book a consultation through the link in bio.

is a team of pediatric and family dietitians providing telehealth nutrition counseling and in-person appointments in Warren, NJ.

02/13/2026

💕 Drop some mealtime love this Valentine's Day.

"You don't have to eat it. It's just there for you to learn about."

This simple script is the gift your picky eater needs. Here's why it works:

It removes the power struggle. When kids feel forced to eat, their stress response kicks in—and stressed kids don't explore new foods. By taking away the pressure, you're creating a safe space for curiosity.

It shifts the focus from eating to learning. Foods become less threatening when they're just there to touch, smell, or talk about. This exposure builds familiarity over time, which is the foundation for acceptance.

It honors their autonomy. Kids are more likely to try foods when they feel in control. This script gives them permission to say no while still staying engaged at the table.

Use this at meals when introducing new or challenging foods. Show your little one some love by letting go of the pressure—and watch the tension melt away.

💬 What's one way you're showing mealtime love today? Drop a comment below—we'd love to hear!

💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕

Want more mealtime wins? Schedule a 1:1 appointment with our fabulous dietitians! Link in bio or visit 👉🏼 https://www.fromthestartnutrition.com/contact

02/09/2026

Double tap if you want mealtimes to feel more love ❤️❤️ and less mealtime battles! ✨🍽️

February is all about heart health, and we’re taking it beyond what’s on the plate. It’s about connection, joy, and simple shifts that make health and wellness feel GOOD and SUSTAINABLE for busy families.

Here are 3 ways we’re supporting our family’s wellness this month:

🥗 Enjoy Heart-Healthy Foods: Focus on adding in, not taking away. Think colorful berries, creamy avocados, and whole grains that spark curiosity.

🏃♀️ Joyful Movement: Heart health is for the whole family! Whether it’s a living room dance party or a brisk walk to the park, find what feels like play.

🤝 Connection Over Perfection: This is the big one. Mealtimes aren't about "clean plates"—they are about building trust and positive associations with food.

Which one of these are you focusing on this week? Let us know in the comments! 👇🏼

💙➡️ At , we are pediatric and family nutrition experts dedicated to helping your family thrive. If you're looking for more personalized support, schedule a virtual 1:1 consultation with us today! We are proud to accept major insurances to make expert care accessible for your family.

01/28/2026

My favorite quick and easy dishes to boost immunity as a dietitian and mom of 4👇

I’m always looking for realistic, low-stress ways to support my kids’ immune systems—without turning meals into a power struggle. These vitamin C–packed meals are family-friendly, flexible, and work well even for pickier eaters.

Why vitamin C matters:
Vitamin C supports immune cell function, helps with healing, and plays a role in fighting infections—especially during cold and flu season.

How much vitamin C kids need each day:
• Ages 1–3: 15 mg
• Ages 4–8: 25 mg
• Ages 9–13: 45 mg
• Teens 14–18: 65–75 mg

Good news: meeting those needs doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some simple and fun Vitamin C-packed meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner 👇

🍊 Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
• Ingredients: Orange juice, whole orange, banana, vanilla yogurt
• How to make: Blend until smooth. Use frozen yogurt or banana for a thicker, creamier texture. Optional to add vanilla extract for extra flavor, or your favorite add-ins.

🌮 Deconstructed Black Bean Tacos
• Ingredients: Taco shell, black beans, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese
• How to serve: Offer ingredients separately and let kids build their own. Serve with your family's favorite toppings and sides.

🍗 Oven-Baked Chicken Cutlets
• Ingredients: Chicken cutlet, rice, baked broccoli, strawberries
• How to serve: Pairing vitamin C foods like broccoli and strawberries with familiar favorites allows kids to choose what (and how much) to eat.

Small, consistent choices add up to support healthy growth and development 🌱

👉 What’s your favorite vitamin-C-packed meal or snack? Share below 👇

01/12/2026

Do kids need a multivitamin for “immune support”? 🦠✨ What the experts say ⬇️

For many children, a well-balanced diet can provide all of the essential nutrients they need - including for immune support. A well-balanced diet for immune support may include:

🍎 Fruits
- Citrus (oranges, clementines, grapefruit) for vitamin C
- Berries for antioxidants that help protect immune cells

🥦 Vegetables
- Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale) for folate and vitamin A
- Orange veggies (carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin) for beta carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A

🍞 Whole grains
- Oats, whole-wheat bread, brown rice, quinoa for B vitamins and fiber to support a healthy gut, where much of the immune system lives

🍗 Protein foods
- Eggs, poultry, meat, fish for zinc, iron, and B12
- Beans, lentils, tofu, and dairy or fortified plant milks for protein and key vitamins and minerals

*🥑 Healthy fats
- Avocado, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and fatty fish (like salmon) for vitamin E and omega-3s that help regulate inflammation

However, there are definitely some kids who benefit from a multivitamin—like those with very selective eating, medically restricted diets, certain health conditions, or documented nutrient deficiencies. In those cases, a multivitamin can help fill important gaps.

📩 Are you wondering if your child would benefit from a multivitamin? Let’s chat! Send us a DM.

Featured multivitamin: we love the Picky Eater Multivitamin with Iron! Tastes yummy 😋 (we do not have any affiliation with Renzos - just sharing something we have tried at home and recommend)