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Best Foods for Weight Gain in Toddlers & Kids to Support Healthy Growth
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
If you have a toddler or kid at home who struggles to gain weight, you might feel stress and pressure to get them to eat. In my experience working with ...
Top Iron-Rich Foods for Picky Eaters (Todders & Kids)
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in kids. Picky eaters, especially those who refuse whole food groups (like meat, beans and legumes) are at higher risk ...
Best Protein Powder for Kids (Top Picks from a Pediatric Dietitian)
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
If you have kids at home, especially if they tend to be picky eaters, you’ve probably wondered more than once if they were getting enough protein. You might have also ...
Pediatric Dietitian Services: Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Hey there, I'm Jessica Gust, Pediatric Dietitian/child nutritionist, and founder of Element Nutrition Kids. If you struggle with how your kids eat, you are not alone, feeding kids is hard ...
Best Yogurt for Babies: 6 months to 1 year (& beyond)
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
When you’re getting ready to start your baby on solids, there are so many things to think about. I remember my first time starting solids with my oldest like it ...
Bentgo Lunch Box Ideas for Kids (Picky Eater Approved)
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
I have a love/hate relationship with packing lunches in my house, I love knowing that I am sending my kids to school with nourishing foods for their growing bodies, but ...
Top Vegetables for Picky Eaters (Plus 5 Ways to Increase Intake)
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
If you have a picky eater at home (or any kid for that matter), they likely are not eating a whole lot of vegetables. According to a 2021 study by ...
Natural Remedies for Constipation in Kids
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Having a constipated kid is one of the more unpleasant experiences in parenthood. Constipation is uncomfortable for them, and as a result, is uncomfortable for you. Luckily, whether they are ...
Throwing Food: Why Toddlers Do It & How to Stop It
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
If you have (or have had) a toddler, you know all too well how frustrating it is to see them throwing food. I mean, do we need one more thing ...
Food Before One Is Just For Fun: Feeding Myth
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Inside this article: The saying “food before one is just for fun” is one of the most commonly thrown around terms in the feeding baby world. However, this term is ...
Best Bedtime Snacks for Toddlers & Kids (10 easy ideas)
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Inside this article: If you’ve ever wanted to pull your hair out after hearing “Mom, can I have a snack” five minutes after you cleaned up the kitchen from dinner, ...
Toddler Breakfast Ideas For Busy Mornings
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Inside this article: Mornings with toddlers can be hectic, yet breakfast is a key part of their day. This article will cover my favorite toddler breakfast ideas for busy mornings, ...
High Protein Foods For Picky Eaters (25+ Healthy Ideas)
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Inside this article: If you’ve ever wondered if your kid is getting enough protein in their diet, or if you simply need some protein ideas for a picky eater, you’ve ...
Dissolvable Solids For Baby-When to Serve Them
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Inside this article: Easily transition your baby through the starting solids process from purees to table foods using dissolvable solids as a gateway. Here I’ll review what dissolvable solids are ...
3 Easy Recipes For Constipation In Toddlers
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Having a constipated toddler is not a fun thing to experience, yet it is one of the most common issues in the early years. Because of this, parents are often ...
Probiotic Foods for Kids: What to Serve & When to Supplement
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Probiotics have been a hot topic for a while. You might be wondering if your kid needs probiotics and how to even get probiotic foods into your kids. Getting kids ...
Baby food allergens-when and how to offer them
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Starting your baby on solid foods is a huge milestone, it can be super exciting, but also pretty scary. In this post, I'll walk you through everything you need to ...
Crockpot chicken fajitas-kid friendly
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
I have been all about crockpot meals lately, but I'm also very particular about the types of crockpot recipes I use. For me, any recipe I follow needs to be ...
Healthy drinks for kids-new guidelines for parents
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Many parents are surprised that one of the first things I talk about when they come into my office is beverage choices. I generally go through a list of “how ...
30 balanced school lunch ideas for kids
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Every year right around September, my phone starts to ring like crazy. Kids are headed into the doctor's office for their back to school physicals and the referrals start pouring ...
Milk vs. milk alternatives for toddlers & kids
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
One of the most common topics that come up in my office and on my social media feed is milk, particularly when milk alternatives for toddlers. This is a popular ...
Toddler won't eat? Here is what you can do
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
A few weeks ago I had a mama in my office who was very stressed about her 3-year-old daughter who "wouldn't eat anything." She had been trying everything she could ...
The best baby led weaning foods to start with
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
One of the most common questions I get from parents when they are getting ready to start solids is about the best baby led weaning foods to start with. Baby ...
Baby-led weaning vs. traditional-which is best?
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
A few years ago I started getting lots of questions from parents about baby-led weaning. While this isn't a "new" method of feeding, it is "newer" (in the past 5-10 ...
Signs your baby is ready for solids
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend introducing solids or complementary feeding around 6 months when you see signs baby is ready for solids. Being ...
No added sugar energy bites for kids
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
I talk a lot about added sugar when I am working with families. This is mostly because kids are getting way too many added sugars in their diet. That is ...
Recommended daily sugar intake-How much should my kids have?
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Added sugar and kids As parents, we are constantly bombarded by all the things we have to know to raise our kids. Sleep schedules, car seat safety, choking risks, potty ...
Easy Pancake Recipe-Just 4 Simple Ingredients
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
My favorite way to make pancakes more nutritious is to make them from scratch and this super easy pancake recipe is exactly that! I recently posted this recipe on Instagram ...
Orange creamsicle smoothie for kids
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Whenever I am working with families, the smoothie question always comes up. With. Out. Fail. Parents always what to know the best smoothie for kids. While there isn't a "best" ...
Eat the rainbow-For picky eaters
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
The best part of a good rainstorm is always the beautiful rainbow at the end. There is something about the vibrant colors that bring life back into the world after ...
Is cereal healthy-What are the best choices for kids?
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
This is by far the most frequently asked question I get in my office. Why? well first, it is super convenient, so parents love it. Second, many are pretty sweet, ...
Carrot apple muffin recipe-kid-friendly, mom-approved
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
Have you been searching for simple breakfast and snack ideas your kids will enjoy? Then this is the recipe for you! This carrot apple muffin recipe is super easy to ...
Simple Salmon Burritos
By Jessica Gust, MS, RDN
These simple salmon burritos are a unique twist on the traditional burrito. A great way to expose your children to fish in a unique way! Salmon is also a good ...