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

08/05/2026

Mealtime stress is real and so is the question so many parents quietly ask themselves: is this just a picky phase, or could it be something more?

In this post, I walk through the difference between typical picky eating and more significant feeding challenges, plus when therapy or professional support might help.

https://fromthestartnutrition.com/is-my-childs-eating-just-picky-or-something-more-understanding-feeding-challenges-therapy-and-when-to-seek-help/"

08/04/2026

I didn't become a dietitian to tell people what they can't eat. I became one to help people figure out what they CAN eat while feeling confident around food without guilt or fear.

08/03/2026

Looking for sustainable nutrition strategies instead of another quick fix? Browse my latest nutrition resources and blog posts.

Learn about nutrition, disordered eating recovery and tips and tricks for families with picky eaters. Written by Dietitian Nutritionist, Beth Conlon.

08/03/2026

🚨 THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION ABOUT WORKING WITH A DIETITIAN…

…is that you’ll leave your first appointment with a meal plan.

In reality, that’s usually not what happens.

Before we talk about what to eat, we spend time understanding you.

✔️ Your health history

✔️ Your eating habits

✔️ Your relationship with food

✔️ Your lifestyle and daily routines

✔️ Your stress

✔️ The challenges that make eating feel harder than it should

Because lasting nutrition changes don’t come from a generic meal plan.

They come from understanding the whole person and creating a plan that is realistic, personalized, and sustainable.

Whether you’re trying to improve your health, support your child through feeding challenges, recover from an eating disorder, or simply feel more confident around food, nutrition counseling is about so much more than telling you what to eat.

Many nutrition counseling visits are now covered by insurance, making personalized support more accessible than many people realize.

💬 What surprised you most about this? Did you think working with a dietitian was mostly about getting a meal plan? Tell me in the comments.

❤️ Follow Beth Conlon, PhD, RDN | Pediatric & Family Dietitian for practical, evidence based nutrition tips that help you build healthier habits for yourself and your family.

08/03/2026

You don't have to "earn" a fresh start every Monday. Every meal is another opportunity to nourish your body. Progress is built through consistency, not perfection.

08/02/2026

✨ It’s kinda chic to raise kids who have a healthy relationship with food.

Not because nutrition doesn’t matter.

But because how children think and feel about food influences what they eat for life.

It’s kinda chic to...
🧁 Let your child enjoy the cupcake.
🍪 Serve dessert without making them earn it.
🍽️ Create structured meals and snacks without pressure.
❤️ Stop labeling foods as “good” or “bad.”
👧 Trust your child to listen to their hunger and fullness cues.

As a pediatric dietitian, I know parents want to help their children eat well. But building healthy eating habits isn’t just about getting kids to eat more vegetables. It’s also about fostering a positive relationship with food which entails identifying and core motivators for why children eat so that we can help them build a strong foundation.

Whether you’re navigating picky eating, feeding challenges, ARFID, or simply trying to raise confident eaters, small shifts in how we talk about and serve food can have a lasting impact.

At From the Start Nutrition, you’ll find evidence-based nutrition tips, practical feeding strategies, and realistic family nutrition advice that supports both your child’s health and their relationship with food.

✨ Because raising confident eaters is always in style.

💚 Follow for:
• Child nutrition tips
• Picky eating strategies
• Family nutrition guidance
• Feeding therapy education
• Evidence-based nutrition you can trust

👇 Which slide spoke to you the most? Save this post for the next time you need a reminder that raising healthy eaters is about so much more than what’s on the plate and be sure to give us a follow!

08/02/2026

Is it picky eating, or something more? As a pediatric dietitian (and mom of 4!), I break down the spectrum from typical pickiness to feeding disorders and when it's time to reach out for help. https://fromthestartnutrition.com/is-my-childs-eating-just-picky-or-something-more-understanding-feeding-challenges-therapy-and-when-to-seek-help/

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As a registered dietitian nutritionist and a mom, I know just how stressful family mealtimes can become when your child refuses to eat certain foods—or

08/01/2026

Nearly 3 in 4 high school students don’t eat breakfast every day. 😳

Here’s what concerns me most: this pattern often doesn’t end after high school.

When an adult tells me, “I’m just not a breakfast person” or “I’m never hungry in the morning,” one of the first questions I ask is, “How long has that been true?”

More often than not, we trace it back to their teenage years, or even earlier. That’s when they started skipping breakfast for various reasons.

Here’s why that matters: our hunger cues are adaptive. When we consistently ignore morning hunger or skip breakfast, our bodies may begin to reduce those hunger signals over time. The morning appetite that once came naturally can become much quieter.

That doesn’t mean someone is “broken.” It means their body has adapted to a long-standing pattern.

For teens, skipping breakfast isn’t just about missing fuel for learning, sports, growth, and concentration today. It may also reinforce habits that carry into adulthood.

So if you’re encouraging your teen to eat before school, remember this: don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

The goal isn’t a picture-perfect breakfast. The goal is simply to help them eat something.

✨ A granola or protein bar
✨ A homemade muffin
✨ Sausage or bacon
✨ An English muffin with peanut butter
✨ Yogurt, fruit, or a smoothie

Simple is enough.

Consistently eating something in the morning is often far more beneficial short- and long-term than skipping breakfast because it isn’t “healthy enough,” and your child leaves the house on E.

Small habits today can shape a healthier relationship with food for years to come. 💛

📚 Source: CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2021.

07/31/2026

Stop waiting for Monday to “start over.” ✨

If your family spends the week trying to eat “perfectly” and the weekend feeling like anything goes, you’re not building healthy habits - you’re reinforcing an all-or-nothing cycle.

And here’s the truth: your kids are learning from that pattern, too.

Children don’t just learn what to eat. They learn how to think about food by watching the adults around them.

Instead of aiming for perfect weekdays and “cheat” weekends, aim for consistency.

🤍 Enjoy fun foods on weekdays and weekends.
🤍 Build balanced meals most of the time - not all of the time.
🤍 Skip the guilt and get back to your next meal.
🤍 Let every day look a little more alike.

A balanced diet isn’t about making every meal perfect. It’s about showing up for yourself and your family with consistency and grace.

The goal isn’t raising kids who eat perfectly or becoming an adult who never enjoys a cookie. The goal is building a relationship with food that feels flexible, peaceful, and sustainable for every member of your family.

Because healthy habits aren’t built on Mondays.

They’re built in the small, consistent choices we make every day.

💬 Do you notice your weekends looking very different from your weekdays? I’d love to hear what one small change you’re working on.

❤️ Follow Beth Conlon, PhD, RDN | Pediatric & Family Dietitian for evidence-based nutrition tips that help kids, teens, and adults find peace with food.