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Nutrition for the Early Years

Nutrition for the Early Years

By: Dr. Liz Daniels DO FAAP
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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?


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Episodes
  • EP 27: Top 5 Foods for Your 1-Year-Old
    Jun 29 2026

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    Could a few simple foods help close common nutrition gaps in your one-year-old’s diet? In this episode, Dr. Liz Daniels shares the five foods she wishes every family knew about as babies grow from breast milk or formula into toddlerhood. She explains why the first 1,000 days matter so much for brain growth, immune support, and long-term development, while reminding parents that perfection is not the goal. You’ll learn why fatty fish, seeds, eggs, beans, and whole milk can make a big difference, especially for nutrients like iron, DHA, vitamin E, choline, fiber, and vitamin D. With practical, budget-friendly tips, this episode helps parents feel more confident feeding their toddler well, one small step at a time.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • Why nutrition gaps can happen as babies become toddlers
    • Why the first 1,000 days are so important for brain growth
    • Which nutrients do one-year-olds often need more of
    • The top five foods Dr. Liz recommends for one-year-olds
    • Simple ways to add these foods without pressure or perfection

    Episode highlights:
    (0:00) Why nutrition gaps can happen around age one
    (1:19) Why variety matters in toddler nutrition
    (2:00) The first 1,000 days and brain development
    (5:00) Key nutrients: iron, DHA, vitamin E, choline, and vitamin D
    (10:21) Food #1: Fatty fish for iron, DHA, and vitamin D
    (13:49) Food #2: Seeds for omega-3s and vitamin E
    (18:23) Food #3: Eggs for choline and brain support
    (21:24) Food #4: Beans for fiber, choline, and iron
    (22:45) Food #5: Whole milk for vitamin D and calcium
    (25:36) How to serve these foods without pressure or perfection

    NEW COURSE! "Read the Pattern: Feeding Your Baby 0–4 Months" — because a healthy relationship with food starts earlier than most people think. Course Link!

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    29 mins
  • EP 26: Added Sugar: The Conversation Every Parent Needs to Have
    Jun 22 2026

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    Is added sugar really the problem, or is it the way it quietly shows up in everyday kid foods? In this episode of Nutrition for the Early Years, Dr. Liz Daniels shares clear, caring guidance for parents who want to understand added sugar without fear or shame. She explains why babies under two do not need added sugar, how sugar can affect teeth, gut health, appetite, and long-term health, and why the weekly donut date may not be the biggest concern. You’ll hear where added sugar often hides, including flavored yogurt, drinks, cereal bars, pouches, applesauce, and snacks. Dr. Liz also shares simple ways to talk with kids about sweets, special treats, and food choices that help their bodies grow and feel good.

    Dr. Liz Daniels is a nutrition-focused pediatrician and host of Nutrition for the Early Years. She helps parents feel more confident feeding their babies and kids without shame, guilt, or fear.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • Why is added sugar not recommended under age two
    • How added sugar can affect teeth and cavities
    • Why sugary drinks can be especially hard on little mouths
    • How added sugar may shift gut health and appetite
    • Where added sugar hides in common kid foods
    • How to think about treats without labeling foods as “good” or “bad”
    • Simple swaps that can lower added sugar without stress
    • How to talk with kids about food in a calm, helpful way


    Episode highlights:
    (1:04) Why added sugar can feel like a tricky parenting topic
    (1:36) The weekly donut date question from a parent
    (2:42) Added sugar guidelines for babies and toddlers
    (4:34) Sugar, cavities, and oral health
    (5:58) How added sugar can affect gut health
    (7:11) Early sugar habits and possible long-term protection
    (8:17) Long-term health risks linked to early sugar patterns
    (9:40) Why the full diet matters more than one treat
    (14:04) Sugary drinks and hidden added sugar
    (15:18) Flavored yogurt as a common source of added sugar
    (16:24) Bars, snacks, pouches, and “veggie” labels
    (19:21) Honey, maple syrup, and other natural added sugars
    (20:31) How to talk to kids about sugar without shame
    (21:49) Simple swaps for yogurt, drinks, and snacks
    (23:31) How much added sugar older toddlers may be getting
    (26:03) Portion size ideas for special treats
    (30:22) Talking with school-age kids about sweets and peer foods
    (35:00) Why food language matters as much as sugar amount
    (36:05) One simple first step for reducing added sugar

    NEW COURSE! "Read the Pattern: Feeding Your Baby 0–4 Months" — because a healthy relationship with food starts earlier than most people think. Course Link!

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    37 mins
  • EP 25: The “Are They Getting Enough?” Spiral: Newborn Feeding, Weight Checks, and When to Get Support
    Jun 15 2026

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    Is your newborn getting enough milk, or are you stuck watching every feed, diaper, and sleepy stretch with worry? In this episode of Nutrition for the Early Years, Dr. Liz Daniels shares clear, caring guidance for parents in the first days and weeks of newborn feeding. She explains why advice can change from day to day, what normal newborn weight loss looks like, when milk usually comes in, and why very sleepy babies may need extra support. You’ll hear how jaundice, latch, wet diapers, poop, weight checks, and supplementation all fit together. Dr. Liz also talks about triple feeding, why it should have an exit plan, and how breastfeeding, formula, or combo feeding can all support a growing baby.

    Dr. Liz Daniels is a nutrition-focused pediatrician and host of Nutrition for the Early Years. She helps parents feel more confident feeding their babies and kids without shame, guilt, or fear.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • Why one feeding does not tell the whole story
    • What newborn weight loss can look like in the first week
    • How to know if milk is coming in
    • Why jaundice and sleepiness can affect feeding
    • When supplementation or lactation support may help
    • How to think about triple feeding without burning out
    • Why your feeding goal can still change with love and care


    Episode highlights:
    (2:47) Why newborn feeding advice changes day by day
    (4:55) Normal newborn weight loss and early growth patterns
    (6:18) Jaundice, sleepiness, and feeding concerns
    (7:00) How to know if milk is coming in
    (9:51) When supplementation may help protect feeding and growth
    (11:33) Weight trends, follow-up visits, and lactation support
    (13:02) Wet diapers, poop, and what output really means
    (15:52) Triple feeding and why it should not be a forever plan
    (18:30) Setting your personal feeding goal
    (20:00) Stories of breastfeeding, combo feeding, and letting go of guilt
    (26:34) How to feel more grounded when feeding feels uncertain

    NEW COURSE! "Read the Pattern: Feeding Your Baby 0–4 Months" — because a healthy relationship with food starts earlier than most people think. Course Link!

    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
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