But did it ever actually fit?
So much of what we were taught about health, weight, and nourishment has shaped how we care for children—and ourselves. But if you’ve ever felt like those rules never quite matched the real world, this conversation is for you.
In this episode of Solving for Joy, I sit down with Jill Castle, pediatric dietitian, parent coach, and author of Kids Thrive at Every Size. Together, we explore what happens when we move beyond fixing—when we stop trying to perfect or control—and instead start truly seeing the children, parents, and patients in front of us.
Jill is the creator of The Nourished Child framework and host of The Nourished Child podcast. For decades, she’s helped families release shame and confusion around food and find a more grounded, joyful way to nourish their kids and themselves.
We talk about how expertise meets humility, how joy and health can coexist in every body, and why supporting parents often begins with healing the stories we inherited about our own.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
• What The Nourished Child teaches about compassionate, shame-free care
• How to help kids “thrive at every size” while supporting both physical and emotional health
• Why family culture matters more than perfection or portion sizes
• How you can move beyond fixing toward curiosity, connection, and trust
• What it means to reclaim joy—in feeding, in medicine, and in how you care
If you’ve ever felt the tension between evidence and empathy, or wondered how to hold multiple truths at once, I hope this conversation invites you back to curiosity, compassion, and joy.
More from Jill Castle:
Website: https://jillcastle.com
Podcast: The Nourished Child https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nourished-child/id1149940384
Book: Kids Thrive at Every Size https://a.co/d/f1FuNSR
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidnutritionist
Stay connected with me:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd
Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/solvingforjoypodcast
Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com
🎧 Full transcript and more: https://www.solvingforjoy.com
Physician Coaches:
www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com
Music by Denys Kyshchuk (AudioCoffee): https://www.audiocoffee.net
Next week on Solving for Joy:
Psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Ardeshir Mehran joins me for a conversation about emotional suffering—not as something to fix or mask, but as a pathway back to meaning, connection, and a life that feels truly well lived.