loader from loading.io

151: Solving Picky Eating in ADHD Kids with Andrea Daigle

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Release Date: 03/20/2025

170: The ADHD Meltdowns Finally Stopped - Karla Shares Her Story show art 170: The ADHD Meltdowns Finally Stopped - Karla Shares Her Story

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this week’s episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay speaks with Karla, a courageous mother who transformed her family’s life after years of chaos, tantrums, and emotional turmoil. In this episode, Karla shares her raw, emotional journey—from feeling hopeless and questioning her ability as a mother, to finally discovering the underlying stressors that were exacerbating her daughter’s outbursts and meltdowns. Spoiler alert: the answer wasn’t another parenting strategy! Dana Kay, a Board-Certified Holistic Health and Nutrition Practitioner and mom to a child with ADHD, guides...

info_outline 169: Creating Your ADHD Family Playbook with Caz Pringle-Bowden show art 169: Creating Your ADHD Family Playbook with Caz Pringle-Bowden

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay welcomes back counselor, neurodiversity educator, and yoga facilitator Caz Pringle-Bowden for a deep dive into a transformative concept for ADHD families — the Family Operational Manual. If parenting your child with ADHD often feels like chaos without a game plan, this episode offers a unique and practical tool that could change the way your household operates. Dana and Caz explore how understanding each family member’s brain wiring can shift a household from reactive to regulated. With real-life examples, creative metaphors, and small,...

info_outline 168: Lunchbox Solutions for ADHD Kids with Andrea Daigle show art 168: Lunchbox Solutions for ADHD Kids with Andrea Daigle

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay welcomes back Andrea Daigle, a seasoned ADHD coach at the ADHD Thrive Institute. Together, they delve into the challenges parents face when sending their children with ADHD back to school, especially concerning dietary needs and peer interactions. They discuss strategies to empower children to understand and advocate for their unique dietary requirements, ensuring they feel confident and included during school meals. Dana Kay, a board-certified holistic health and nutrition practitioner, is dedicated to helping families navigate the...

info_outline 167: Happiness Tools for ADHD Families with Matt O’Neill show art 167: Happiness Tools for ADHD Families with Matt O’Neill

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay sits down with happiness expert Matt O’Neill to explore one of the most transformative—but often overlooked—tools in parenting: cultivating happiness from the inside out. As a father of four, author, and the creator of The Good Mood Revolution podcast, Matt shares actionable insights into how happiness isn't just a fleeting feeling, but a skill that can be built—even in the chaos of daily life with ADHD. From managing meltdowns to reframing negative emotions like fear, overwhelm, and guilt, Matt offers science-backed...

info_outline 166: What’s Really Driving ADHD? with Dana Kay show art 166: What’s Really Driving ADHD? with Dana Kay

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Welcome to the debut episode of Crack The Code, a private podcast for parents navigating the often overwhelming world of ADHD. Host Dana Kay, Board-Certified Health and Nutrition Practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute, shares her raw, personal journey of raising a child with ADHD, and what she discovered after traditional approaches fell short. This isn’t another list of parenting hacks or behavior charts. It’s a compassionate, science-backed look into what’s really going on inside your child’s body. In this powerful first episode, Dana introduces a groundbreaking new...

info_outline 165: Genetics, B Vitamins, & ADHD: What Parents Need to Know with Dana Ka show art 165: Genetics, B Vitamins, & ADHD: What Parents Need to Know with Dana Ka

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this eye-opening episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay explores the connection between B vitamins and ADHD in children. From emotional outbursts and brain fog to poor sleep and focus issues, Dana shares why certain B vitamins—especially B6, B9 (folate), and B12—may be at the root of lingering challenges, even when parents have cleaned up their child’s diet and added supplements. She breaks down how genetics like the MTHFR, SHMT1, and FUT2 mutations can affect how kids process these nutrients and why getting the “wrong” form of a vitamin might be making things worse...

info_outline 164: Regulate Yourself to Support Your ADHD Child with Ashley Gobeil show art 164: Regulate Yourself to Support Your ADHD Child with Ashley Gobeil

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay welcomes back child and parent therapist Ashley Gobeil to dive into a game-changing conversation for families navigating ADHD. Have you ever found yourself snapping at your child and then immediately feeling guilty? You’re not alone, and it may be more about your nervous system than your parenting skills. Dana and Ashley explore what’s really happening inside your body when you’re triggered and how understanding your own regulation is the foundation for becoming the calmest person in the room, even when your child is not. Ashley brings...

info_outline 163: Homeschooling ADHD Kids with Linsey Knerl show art 163: Homeschooling ADHD Kids with Linsey Knerl

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay talks with homeschooling expert and author Linsey Knerl about how homeschooling can be a game-changer for kids with ADHD. Linsey, a mom of six and author of Homeschool Hacks: How to Give Your Kid a Great Education Without Losing Your Job or Your Mind, shares her two decades of experience and wisdom. Together, they explore the flexibility and power of homeschooling for families who feel stuck in traditional education systems that don't serve neurodivergent learners. Dana and Linsey break down common fears around homeschooling, like not being...

info_outline 162: How Concussions Mimic ADHD with Nate Pope show art 162: How Concussions Mimic ADHD with Nate Pope

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this week’s episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay uncovers a surprising root cause of ADHD symptoms that most parents and even practitioners overlook—past head injuries. Joined by neurological occupational therapist and co-founder of NCX Brain Recovery, Nate Pope, the conversation explores the profound and often hidden impact concussions can have on a child's focus, emotional regulation, and behavior. From post-concussion syndrome to powerful recovery therapies, Nate shares his expertise on how to identify these injuries and why they are frequently misdiagnosed as ADHD....

info_outline 161: Could This Gut Bacteria Be Fueling ADHD Symptoms with Dana Kay show art 161: Could This Gut Bacteria Be Fueling ADHD Symptoms with Dana Kay

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

In this eye-opening episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay explores a hidden root cause of ADHD symptoms that most parents (and even doctors) overlook—Clostridia overgrowth, specifically C. diff. If your child struggles with meltdowns, mood swings, anxiety, or sleep issues—and nothing has worked—this episode could be a game-changer. Dana breaks down what C. diff is, how it affects neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine, and why many kids are being misdiagnosed when the real problem lies in their gut. Dana Kay is an ADHD health practitioner, author, and mom who has helped...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Is every mealtime a battle with your picky eater? You’re not alone! Picky eating is a common struggle, especially for children with ADHD. In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay, an ADHD health practitioner, welcomes back Andrea Daigle, expert coach at the ADHD Thrive Institute. Together, they dive into the root causes of picky eating, including sensory issues, gut health, and nutrient deficiencies—and more importantly, how to turn it around without stress or frustration.

Andrea shares proven strategies to help parents encourage new foods, reduce mealtime stress, and break the picky eating cycle. You’ll also learn how nutrient deficiencies like zinc and omega-3s impact food preferences and simple ways to test for them at home. If you’re ready to make mealtime peaceful and expand your child’s diet, this episode is packed with practical tips you can start using today! Plus, check out the show notes for helpful resources, including a Family Food Challenge guide, a zinc deficiency test, and recommended supplements.

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Key Takeaways:
[3:21] Why Picky Eating is So Common in ADHD
[3:38] Key Causes of Picky Eating (Sensory Issues, Gut Health, and Nutrient Deficiencies)
[4:12] The Impact of Family Dynamics on Picky Eating
[7:10] Practical Strategies to Reduce Mealtime Stress
[7:20] The Family Food Challenge: A Game-Changer for Picky Eaters
[12:59] How Nutrient Deficiencies (Zinc & Omega-3s) Affect Food Preferences
[13:18] How to Test for a Zinc Deficiency at Home
[16:34] When to Seek Professional Help for Picky Eating


Memorable Moments:

"Picky eating is one of the most frustrating struggles for parents, especially those raising kids with ADHD."

"Undiagnosed food intolerances, gut inflammation, and nutrient deficiencies can actually close a child’s palate and make picky eating worse."

"When we’re stressed at mealtimes, our kids pick up on it—we hold the keys to their nervous system."

"Small changes make a big difference! Mix homemade and store-bought nuggets together, and kids often won’t notice the difference."

"The Family Food Challenge is about making mealtime fun and removing pressure—it’s not about forcing kids to eat."

"It can take kids 15 to 20 times to accept a new flavor or texture, so don’t give up after the first try!"

"If your child is gagging, panicking, or avoiding entire food groups, it may be time to seek professional support."

"A simple zinc assay test at home can tell you whether your child is deficient in zinc, which impacts taste and appetite."

"One of our team members’ sons went from eating 5 foods to over 200 just by addressing food sensitivities and using these strategies!"

"Remove the pressure from mealtimes—focus on connection, not control, and watch the stress disappear."r

Dana Kay Resources:

🔗WEBSITES:

👋SOCIALS:

📕INTERNATIONAL  BEST SELLING BOOK:

💻FREE MASTERCLASS

⭐COURSES & PROGRAMS