Beyond Food: A New Way To Look At Picky Eating And Mealtimes with Dr. Deborah MacNamara

Friends, you don’t want to miss this episode. The one and only Dr. MacNamara joins Jess and Scott to dive deep into the topic of food.

Discover why nourishment is far more than just calories—it’s about love, care, and the rituals that bring families together. Dr. MacNamara shares compelling research and personal stories that reveal how non-coercive, provider-led approaches can turn picky eating into a journey of growth and connection. 

Hear more from Dr. MacNamara in her books:
Nourished: Connection, Food, and Caring for Our Kids (And Everyone Else We Love)

Rest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (Or Anyone Who Acts Like One)

Get 10% OFF parenting courses and kids' printable activities at Nurtured First using the code ROBOTUNICORN.

We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Robot Unicorn? Send us an email: [e-mail]. 

Credits:

Editing by The Pod Cabin 

Artwork by Wallflower Studio 

Production by Nurtured First 

Learn more about the Solving Bedtime Battles course here.

Creators & Guests

JV

Host

Jess VanderWier

Co-Founder and CEO of Nurtured First

SV

Host

Scott VanderWier

Co-Founder and COO of Nurtured First

What is Robot Unicorn?

Join me, Jess VanderWier, a registered psychotherapist, mom of three, and founder of Nurtured First, along with my husband Scott, as we dive deep into the stories of our friends, favourite celebrities, and influential figures.

In each episode, we skip the small talk and dive into vulnerable and honest conversations about topics like cycle breaking, trauma, race, mental health, parenting, sex, religion, postpartum, healing, and loss.

We are glad you are here.

PS: The name Robot Unicorn comes from our daughter. When we asked her what we should name the podcast, she confidently came up with this name because she loves robots, and she loves unicorns, so why not? There was something about the playfulness of the name, the confidence in her voice, and the fact that it represents that you can love two things at once that just felt right.