135. The 1 dinner table mistake that makes picky eating worse — with Soleina Karamali
TRIGGER WARNING: Eating disorders mentioned in the episode.
Picture this: dinner time and you’re already dreading sitting at the dinner table, because you know you’re going to be stressed about your kid not eating enough protein, or being picky about what they want, even though they probably ate that chicken nugget 2 days ago, and loved it, but today is another struggle. Today, I’m sitting down with Soleina Karamali, a registered dietician, founder of Every Eater, and a mom of two, and she is here to completely reframe how we think about feeding our kids.
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Intro
(01:47) What it was like working in pediatric feeding before and after becoming a parent
(05:14) Soleina's path to becoming a dietician: food, healthcare, and a mom who owned a café
(06:48) Soleina’s relationship with food
(07:38) Feeding your kids holds up a mirror to your own relationship with food
(08:54) Starting solids with her first son: the humbling reality vs. the expert expectations
(10:53) Why toddlers reject vegetables: the science of taste buds, neophobia, and independence
(14:03) The Canadian Food Guide: what it's actually for (and why it's not a kids' tool)
(15:17) Why your child biologically needs carbs as their main fuel source
(19:48) Diet culture at the kids' table: protein pressure, macronutrient fads, and what to stop worrying about
(23:54) Snacks as mini meals: how grazing is sabotaging dinner and what to do instead
(27:42) Hemp seeds, iron, and the little shaker trick that gets more nutrients in without the battle
(30:10) The dinner table as connection
(31:34) Why "remaining unbothered" is your superpower
(37:12) Baby-led weaning vs. purées: what Soleina actually recommends
(39:05) Responsive feeding and Soleina’s son taught her
(41:27) The milk conversation: cow's milk, plant-based options
(46:46) The peak bone-building years
(47:49) TW: Eating disorders mentioned
(48:38) The Division of Responsibility framework: how to raise kids with a healthy relationship with food for life
(51:00) Good vs. bad food: food doesn’t have a moral value
(52:51) Where to find Soleina
KEY TAKEAWAY
Sitting at the dinner table should be about connection, not intake. Your job as a parent is to decide what, when, and where food is served. Your child's job is to decide if and how much they eat. By trusting that division, you preserve the one thing that matters most: their lifelong relationship with food.
About Soleina Karamali
Soleina Karamali is a registered dietician and the founder of Every Eater, a feeding therapy practice serving families across British Columbia. With nearly a decade as a pediatric dietician at BC Children's Hospital — most of it in complex feeding care — Soleina brings serious clinical expertise to the work. She's also a published researcher and a mom of two (one adventurous eater, one very particular one), which means she gets it from both sides of the table. Her approach is science-backed, humor-forward, and built around the belief that feeding your child shouldn't feel overwhelming.
Connect with Soleina Karamali
Website | https://everyeater.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/everyeater