When you’re raising kids, it feels natural to want to teach them about “healthy" or "better" choices or to guide them with categories like sometimes foods, growing foods, or good vs. bad foods.

While those labels are well-intentioned, they can create worry, guilt, or even rebellion around food... and that disrupts our kids’ ability to trust themselves and eat in balance.

In this episode of The Intentional Table, I’m breaking down the concept of neutrality when it comes to food. I’ll share how our words shape the way kids see food and themselves, why judgment backfires, and what to do instead.

You’ll hear:

• Why kids are especially vulnerable to black-and-white food labels
• The real consequences of calling foods “good” or “bad” (fear, guilt, rebellion, restriction)
• A personal story about my son in kindergarten and how a “pizza is unhealthy” lesson created unnecessary stress
• The kinds of language that create judgment (and why it doesn’t work)
• Practical ways to talk about food neutrally - using food names, groups, and qualities instead of arbitrary categories
• The three key areas where neutrality matters most in everyday life

By the end of this conversation, you’ll see how shifting your language builds trust, reduces food anxiety, and lays the foundation for your child to enjoy a variety of foods without shame or fear.

Want to connect? Send us a text!

CONNECT with Nicole:

- Instagram: @nicolecruzRD
- Book a FREE Eating Alignment Call with Nicole to learn more about our approach and how we can work together: Eating Alignment Call

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Thank you for tuning in and see you next week!