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Nutrition for the Early Years
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Nutrition for the Early Years

Author: Dr. Liz Daniels, DO, RD, FAAP

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© 2026 Nutrition for the Early Years

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Nutrition for the Early Years – Guilt-Free Guidance for Feeding Your Family


Nutrition for the Early Years is a pediatric nutrition podcast for parents seeking evidence-based guidance on infant feeding, toddler nutrition, and child health. Hosted by dual pediatrician + registered dietitian Dr. Liz Daniels, this show explores newborn and infant nutrition, introducing solids, baby-led weaning, complementary feeding, formula feeding, multivitamins for kids, growth and development, and picky eating solutions—all through the lens of real pediatric nutrition science.

From feeding anxiety and selective eating to questions about appetite, supplements, and healthy eating habits, this podcast helps parents build a confident, guilt-free feeding mindset. You’ll learn how to support your child’s relationship with food in ways that nourish growth, protect early childhood nutrition, and align with your values—without fear-based messaging or all-or-none thinking.

Food goes deep. It’s often not until we begin feeding our own children that we revisit our childhood nutrition experiences—comments that shaped us, arbitrary rules, pressure around healthy eating, and the quiet guilt many of us carry. Feeding kids has a way of surfacing old narratives and challenging us to rethink what child nutrition really means.

This is where the conversation begins—supporting families through toddler feeding, early childhood feeding, and raising children with a strong, positive relationship with food. Because nourishing your family isn’t about perfection. It’s about clarity, confidence, and understanding what truly matters in the early years.


You are in the right place if you are asking questions like:

    -How do I get my child to eat vegetables?

    -Why does my toddler suddenly refuse to eat (or only eat one thing)?

    -Is my child eating enough to grow properly?

    -How much protein does my child actually need?

    -What are the best healthy snacks for kids?

    -How much milk should my child drink, and what kind?

    -How can I improve my child's immune system through food?

    -How can I help my child have a healthy relationship with food?


11 Episodes
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Episode 11: When Kids Don't Like Milk: How to Meet Calcium & Vitamin D Needs Without the Power Struggle

Episode 11: When Kids Don't Like Milk: How to Meet Calcium & Vitamin D Needs Without the Power Struggle

2026-03-0933:40

What do you do when your kid refuses milk? Milk is one of the easiest ways to deliver calcium, protein, and vitamin D to growing kids. But kids are kids—and sometimes they just don’t like it. In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly how I approach this situation in clinic with families. Because the goal isn’t forcing milk. The goal is meeting your child where they are while still covering the nutrition they need to grow well. I share the story of a toddler from my practice who a...
Episode 10: Milk for Kids, Explained: Does It Really Do a Body Good?

Episode 10: Milk for Kids, Explained: Does It Really Do a Body Good?

2026-03-0233:04

Milk for kids: does it really “do a body good”? In this episode, I break down the science behind milk in childhood nutrition so you can support your littles growth with ease. We’ll talk about: Why I ask about milk at every well-child visitThe nutrients most kids are actually low in (hint: it’s not protein)Why vitamin D and calcium matter for bone growth, immune regulation, and muscle functionHow milk delivers fat, protein, calcium, and vitamin D efficiently in a small appetite windowWhat amou...
Episode 9: When Toddler Picky Eating Is About the Parents (Multivitamins & When to Worry)

Episode 9: When Toddler Picky Eating Is About the Parents (Multivitamins & When to Worry)

2026-02-2325:46

Your toddler won’t eat meat. They push away vegetables. They live on fruit, crackers, milk, and the occasional bite of something random — and now you’re wondering if they’re getting enough protein, enough iron, enough for their brain development. Maybe your pediatrician mentioned a multivitamin with iron. Maybe you’ve already Googled “iron deficiency in toddlers”. In this episode, I take you behind one very common question I hear in clinic: “My toddler is picky. Should I give a multivitamin?”...
Episode 8: Do Babies Need Probiotics? What the Evidence Says About Infant Gut Health and Infant Nutrition

Episode 8: Do Babies Need Probiotics? What the Evidence Says About Infant Gut Health and Infant Nutrition

2026-02-1624:39

Do babies need probiotics? In this episode of Nutrition for the Early Years, I’m breaking down what the evidence actually says about probiotics in infancy, newborn nutrition, and infant gut health. I get asked about this all the time — especially in those early weeks when babies are gassy, fussy, stooling differently, or just hard to read. Parents want to support digestion, immune health, growth and development, and allergy prevention. But the claims around probiotics can feel confusing. This...
Episode 7: Protein Needs for Kids: Culture versus Science in Pediatric Nutrition

Episode 7: Protein Needs for Kids: Culture versus Science in Pediatric Nutrition

2026-02-0943:21

Protein is everywhere in kids’ food—but how much do children actually need? In this episode of The Lunchbox Reformation, I explain pediatric protein needs from ages 1–8, why toddlers often get enough protein without trying, and how adult high-protein trends can create unnecessary stress around kids’ eating. If you like this, join my FREE newsletter for exclusive encouragement and pro tips every week. No sleazy salesy stuff- just good info that supports your family nutrition goals. If you'd l...
Episode 6: Do Picky Eaters Need Multivitamins? What Parents Should Know About Kids’ Supplements

Episode 6: Do Picky Eaters Need Multivitamins? What Parents Should Know About Kids’ Supplements

2026-02-0225:00

Picky eaters don’t automatically need multivitamins—and in this episode of The Lunchbox Reformation, pediatrician and dietitian Dr. Liz Daniels explains how to tell the difference between real nutrient gaps and normal toddler eating patterns. Learn which nutrients actually matter for kids’ growth, what multivitamins typically miss, and how everyday foods can support nutrition without added stress or guilt. If you like this, join my FREE newsletter for exclusive encouragement and pro tips ever...
Episode 5: Do Lactation Supplements Really Increase Breast Milk Supply?

Episode 5: Do Lactation Supplements Really Increase Breast Milk Supply?

2026-01-2621:16

If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, pumping, or worried about your milk supply, this episode is for you. Lactation supplements—foods, herbs, and products marketed to increase breast milk—are everywhere. From lactation cookies and brewer’s yeast to fenugreek teas and moringa capsules, parents are often told these supplements are the key to making “more milk.” But do lactation supplements actually work? In this episode of The Lunchbox Reformation, I walk through what the science really says abou...
Episode 4: Baby’s First Month of Nutrition: Breastfeeding, Formula Decisions, and Letting Go of Feeding Guilt

Episode 4: Baby’s First Month of Nutrition: Breastfeeding, Formula Decisions, and Letting Go of Feeding Guilt

2026-01-1931:44

In this episode, I explain newborn digestion and feeding in the first month of life, including breastmilk, formula, poop patterns, reflux, and why uncertainty is normal. Learn what’s developing inside your baby’s gut and how confidence comes with time—not perfect tracking. 00:00 – Welcome & Why the First Month Feels So Confusing Why tracking feeds, poop, and sleep helps identify patterns—but rarely provides day-to-day certainty in the newborn stage. 03:30 – You’re Not Doing It Wrong: Newb...
Episode 3: When Breastfeeding Doesn’t Work: Reframing Infant Nutrition Without Shame

Episode 3: When Breastfeeding Doesn’t Work: Reframing Infant Nutrition Without Shame

2026-01-1222:41

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 lat...
Episode 2: Nutrition While Breastfeeding: What Moms Need to Know for Infant Growth and Milk Quality

Episode 2: Nutrition While Breastfeeding: What Moms Need to Know for Infant Growth and Milk Quality

2026-01-0520:19

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 regu...
Episode 1: The Lunchbox Reformation Begins

Episode 1: The Lunchbox Reformation Begins

2025-12-3019:29

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 nav...
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