341: Emotional Eating in Children and Teenagers

Is your child reaching for the pantry every time they’re stressed, bored, or upset? 🍎🍪 We’ve all been there: seeing our kids finish a bag of chips after a hard day at school and wondering, ”Are they actually hungry, or is something else going on?” In this episode of The Impactful Parent, host Kristina Campos sits down with nutritional therapist Cammy Musabi, founder of Step Together, to dive deep into the complex world of emotional eating in children and adolescents. We often think of eating as a simple matter of willpower, but Cammy explains the fascinating (and sometimes scary) science of how highly processed foods hijack a developing brain’s dopamine system. More importantly, we discuss how our own ”parenting patterns”—like the ”clean your plate” rule or using treats as rewards—can accidentally set the stage for emotional eating later in life. In this episode, you’ll discover: The ”Why” Behind the Hunger: How to tell the difference between a growth spurt and emotional soothing. [01:42] The Boredom Trap: Why today’s digital world makes it harder than ever for kids to sit with discomfort. [05:47] The Power Struggle: Why ”policing” the kitchen usually backfires and leads to secretive eating. [22:08] Actionable Strategies: Small, ”baby step” shifts you can make in your home environment today to help your child rewire their relationship with food. [30:43] The Secretive Eater: How to bring up the topic of hidden wrappers without causing shame or guilt. [25:38] Cammy’s biggest takeaway might surprise you: the first conversation you need to have isn’t with your child—it’s with yourself. [35:28] If you’re tired of the kitchen being a battleground and want to help your child develop a healthy, lifelong relationship with food, this episode is for you. Connect with our guest: Learn more about Cammy Musabi’s work and the Step Together program at: steptogether.us Join The Impactful Parent Community: Don’t navigate the ”exhausting, confusing, and rewarding” world of parenting alone! ✨ Download the FREE Impactful Parent App: theimpactfulparent.com ✨ Subscribe for weekly tips to turn your family chaos into connection! #EmotionalEating #ParentingTeens #HealthyHabits #ChildhoodNutrition #TheImpactfulParent #StepTogether #ParentingTips