Breastfeeding doesn’t always go as planned—and when it doesn’t, many parents are left carrying unnecessary guilt, shame, and confusion about formula feeding. In this episode of The Lunchbox Reformation, I explore the emotional and clinical realities of breastfeeding struggles, supplementation, and transitioning to formula.

Drawing from my own experience as a new mom in medical training and over a decade of pediatric practice, I walk through common early breastfeeding challenges, including latch issues, tongue and oral movement concerns, head and neck restriction, breech positioning, and milk supply anxiety.

Most importantly, this episode reframes infant feeding away from performance and perfection. I offer compassionate guidance for parents who are supplementing or choosing formula, emphasizing that the “best” formula is often the one your baby tolerates well—and that a regulated, supported parent–infant dyad matters far more than meeting an idealized feeding goal.

This conversation is for anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, adopting, supplementing, or grieving a feeding journey that didn’t look the way they expected. The takeaway is clear and grounding: how you feed your baby does not define your worth as a parent—attunement, observation, and care do.

Register here for the science of breastmilk and formula masterclass!

What you eat postpartum supports the breastfeeding parent more than breastmilk itself. Dr. Liz Daniels explains postpartum nutrition, breastmilk composition, and which nutrients truly matter for recovery and infant health.

Postpartum nutrition is often framed as a way to “optimize” breastmilk—but that framing creates unnecessary pressure for parents. In this episode of The Lunchbox Reformation, we break down what postpartum nutrition actually affects when breastfeeding, and what the body regulates automatically.

You’ll learn why breastmilk composition is far more resilient than social media suggests, how carbohydrates, fats, and protein support the parent more than the milk itself, and which micronutrients—like iron, vitamin D, iodine, choline, and omega-3s—deserve attention during postpartum recovery.

This episode is for anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum, or supporting a new parent and wants evidence-based clarity without fear-based feeding advice. The takeaway is simple but powerful: your body handles milk production—nutrition supports you while it does that work.

If this resonates with you, please subscribe and/or follow for more. I would love your feedback - leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Register for the Breastmilk and Formula Masterclass here!

Feeding your kids has a way of stirring up your own childhood food memories—old wounds, fears, and the pressure to “get it right.” In this first episode of The Lunchbox Reformation, Dr. Liz Daniels shares her origin story and why pediatric nutrition must go far beyond labels, ingredients, and rigid rules.

As a board-certified pediatrician and registered dietitian, Dr. Liz reflects on formative moments from her early career—patients who taught her that food is never just food, and families navigating illness, barriers, and impossible choices. These experiences ultimately led her from nutrition into medicine, motherhood, and pediatrics, where she saw firsthand how deeply feeding decisions are shaped by systems, access, time, and emotion.

This episode lays the foundation for the podcast: real nutrition science without clickbait, compassionate conversations about barriers to health, and support for parents who want to nourish the whole child—without fear, guilt, or whiplash from conflicting advice.

If you’re a parent who:

• Feels confident reading labels but still doubts your decisions
• Wants better nutrition for your kids without diet culture
• Feels overwhelmed by nutrition claims and influencer advice
• Is trying to “rewrite” the food story you grew up with

You’re in the right place. This is where the Lunchbox Reformation begins.

Register for the Breastmilk and Formula Masterclass in January 2026 here!