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When a child struggles with food, parents are often told one of two things:

“They’ll grow out of it” or “you need to push harder.”

But what if neither of those is actually helpful?

In this episode of The Livin’Sky Podcast, I sit down with eating disorder expert, educator, and speaker Jessica Setnick to talk about what’s really happening beneath picky eating, food anxiety, and eating challenges in children.

We talk about how to recognize red flags without panicking, why ARFID is often misunderstood, how stress and family dynamics shape a child’s relationship with food, and why parents’ own food histories matter more than they may realize.

This conversation is compassionate, practical, and incredibly freeing for parents who want to raise healthy, resilient eaters without pressure, shame, or control.

In This Episode, We Talk About

• Why Jessica prefers the term “problem eating behaviors” over eating disorders in children
• The difference between normal selective eating and something more concerning
• Early red flags parents should watch for
• Why a sudden change in eating is often more important than a label
• Stress, trauma, and how they can affect a child’s eating
• Why children should not be put on restrictive diets for weight loss
• What ARFID actually is and why it is often misunderstood
• Who should be part of a feeding support team
• The role anxiety plays in food struggles
• Small, practical ways parents can reduce food stress at home
• Why food exposure does not always mean taking a bite
• How shame around food develops
• How adults’ own childhood food experiences shape family feeding patterns
• Why kids need safety, autonomy, and trust around food
• What it really means to raise resilient eaters

Key Takeaways

• Picky eating is often more normal than parents think
• A child can be healthy without eating a huge variety of foods
• Red flags are often about change, growth, stress, and function
• ARFID is a descriptive diagnosis, not a root cause
• Food anxiety can be supported without pressure or force
• Family food patterns often go back generations
• Kids need safety and autonomy, not shame, around food

Resources Mentioned

• Jessica Setnick: https://jessicasetnick.com
• Healing Your Inner Eater: https://healingyourinnereater.com
• Discount code from Jessica: podcast

Connect with Lena

• Website: https://lenalivinsky.com/
• Podcast: The Livin’Sky Podcast
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lena.livinsky/
• Workshop: Beyond Picky Eating

Grab your Bon Charge gear here, code LenaL for 15% off your purchase

Grab your SIGNALS shake at 10% off with code Lena10

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes.

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In this bonus episode of The Livin’Sky Podcast, I’m sharing a replay of my Beyond Picky Eating workshop.

If your child eats a limited number of foods, refuses certain textures, or mealtimes feel stressful, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on.

You’ll learn why picky eating is often not just behavior, but a reflection of the child’s nervous system, sensory experience, gut health, and overall development.

We’ll walk through a whole-child approach to help children feel safer around food and begin expanding their food choices naturally, without pressure, bribing, or mealtime battles.

🎥 Watch the full workshop replay (available for a limited time):

[WATCH HERE]

📍 Book your Personalized Feeding Game Plan session:

[BOOK HERE]

If you’re ready to understand your child’s picky eating and get a clear, personalized plan for what to do next, I would love to support you.

This episode is only available for a limited time, so be sure to listen soon.

Grab your Bon Charge gear here, code LenaL for 15% off your purchase

Grab your SIGNALS shake at 10% off with code Lena10

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes.

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Most conversations around childhood apraxia of speech focus on one thing: speech.

But what if we’re missing the bigger picture?

In this episode, I sit down with Dhana Cohen, executive director of Apraxia Voice, to talk about a different approach, one that looks beyond speech alone and considers the whole child.

We talk about what apraxia really is, why so many families feel lost after a diagnosis, and how factors like nervous system regulation, nutrition, movement, and overall health may play a role in supporting better outcomes.

This conversation is especially important for parents who feel like they’ve been told to “just do more therapy” without being given a bigger plan.

We also dive into:

• What childhood apraxia of speech actually means in simple terms
• Why early diagnosis and awareness still need improvement
• The gap between traditional therapy and whole-child support
• How nutrition, gut health, and environment may impact development
• The role of connection, regulation, and daily habits
• A new functional health program designed to support families in a more accessible way

If you’ve ever felt like there has to be more you can do to support your child, this episode will give you a new lens to look through.

Connect with Dhana & Apraxia Voice:

• Website: https://apraxiavoice.org
• Email: info@apraxiavoice.org

🎧 Listen to more episodes:

The Livin’ Sky Podcast

✨ Join my upcoming FREE workshop:

Beyond Picky Eating – April 9, 2026 6pm EST

https://lenalivinsky.com/workshop

📞 Work with me:

Book a free Strategy Call

Grab your Bon Charge gear here, code LenaL for 15% off your purchase

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes.