Jill Castle and Dr. Yum Team Up for Kids
Taking a new approach to child health
Moving Day
Leaving our beloved building to expand our mission nationwide
A Nurse Practitioner's Childhood Obesity Mission
Kitchen Garden Update: Lessons Learned
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
“From anxiety to cancer, the evidence against ultra-processed food piles up” Dr. Yum is helping turn the tide
2024 Community Changemaker Award Recipient Xavier Richardson
Starting Seeds Indoors
Starting plants from seeds can be a fun project to do with your family and may save lots of money as you plant your outdoor garden
Looking for a Business Development Manager for the Adventure
Breakfast Pitfalls and Solutions
Here are some great ways to boost your breakfast. Check out what the Dr. Yum Project team is cooking up in their homes for breakfast and some tips for using what you have to create a yummy meal to start your day!
8 Heart Healthy Recipes to Make in February
February is American Heart Month! These heart healthy recipes are perfect for this time of year.
New Year Reflection
Let's take a moment to reflect on the progress we had in 2023.
Dr. Yum Celebrates 10 Years
We are thrilled to be featured in our local newspaper, the Free-Lance Star, as a non-profit with national impact and born and raised in Fredericksburg.
Cooking in Costa Brava
While in Costa Brava, the coastal area of northeastern Spain, my family and I had the most amazing cooking experience. Here are some things we learned.
10 ways to get your kids in the kitchen (no matter their age!)
11 Time-Saving healthy cooking tips
5 Money-Saving Healthy cooking Hacks
A Pediatrician’s 10 Tips for Packing a Nutritious Lunch
It’s easy to want to pack the same things repeatedly because we know our kids like them. However, exposure to a variety of different foods is what grows an adventurous eater.
Five Pots and Pans We Can Not Live Without
Baby Food Contaminants? Pediatrician Breaks It Down
Picky Eater Tips from Dr. Yum
Here are some tips to help your preschool to young school aged child become less hesitant about trying new foods.
Getting Started Feeding and Making Your Own Baby Food
When your pediatrician says that you are ready to start solid foods, usually between 4-6 months, you may have a lot of questions about how much food to give, what kids of food to give, and in what order food should be introduced.
Christmas Tree Veggie Appetizer with Lemony White Bean Hummus
A great healthy family holiday activity!
Snacky Susan: A Great Tip for Picky Eaters
5 Produce Items at the Store Right Now and How to Use Them
Knowing how to shop for, store, and prepare a wide variety of foods will make your meals tastier and help reduce your stress around meal-time.
Parents, Skip the Juice and Offer Whole Fruits Instead
While it may be fine to let a kid have a juice box at a birthday party, I tell parents they should consider NOT buying juice or bring it in the home. Here are my reasons why.
Our Favorite Pantry Staple Recipes (With Substitution tips!)
Sometimes, a good recipe that relies on pantry staples can be a life saver
5 Tips on Feeding Toddlers
Feeding toddlers doesn’t have to be stressful. At my office I talk to parents of toddlers all the time about the frustrations of feeding their picky, unpredictable and stubborn little ones. Here are a few points to keep in mind when feeding toddlers:
6 Reasons to Stop Feeding your Kids “Kid Food”
At the Dr. Yum Project we often say, “Most food is kid-friendly. Kids just need to learn how to eat it!” Kids who are taught healthy eating habits, which include eating a variety of healthy foods, will be far better off now and in the long run. They will be learning healthy habits that will last a lifetime
5 Ways to Create a Garden Classroom at School or at Home
There are so many ways families can start gardening together, and you don’t have to have a lot of outdoor space or resources to get started.
Teaming Up to Fight Food Insecurity
Imagine coming from a family dealing with food insecurity which is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Those common barriers to preparing healthy food can often seem insurmountable
Sugar Hides in Sneaky Places
A high sugar intake is associated with higher risk for obesity, but so many parents may not realize what the recommended limits for sugar are for kids and how much sugar is in the foods their kids regularly eat.
GERD (Gastroesphageal reflux disease) in Children
Diet modification is very important in getting control of symptoms of GERD. Triggers for GERD can to some extent vary from patient to patient.
5 Tips for Feeding Snacks to Kids
Here are five simple French-inspired rules regarding snacking for kids Many of these can also be applied to adults too!
The Meal o Matic Makes Dinner Fast
The Dr. Yum Project is determined to bust through the barriers families face when trying to cook healthy meals at home with their one-of-a-kind free website tool, the Meal o Matic.
Why the Kurbo App for Kids Misses the Big Picture
After spending time in the app exploring features and tracking meals, we have many concerns about how the app could impact the health and well-being of the children who use it. Thankfully, the choice isn’t between using Kurbo or doing nothing at all.
7 Tips for Making Super Soups!
I love to make soups for my family because the possibilities are endless! Maybe you think of making a soup recipe when someone in your family has a cold or maybe when the weather is gloomy, but I believe every type of day is a great day for making soup. Here are my seven tips for making super soups at home!
Container Herb Garden with Kids
A container herb garden is a great way to dabble in growing herbs and get the kids involved with gardening.
10 Ideas for Finger Foods for Babies and Toddlers
Finger foods are a great way for babies to learn independence, develop their fine motor skills, and try a variety of more grown-up tastes and textures.
Dr. Yum's Class Party Toolbox
In response to teacher requests, we suggest the following recipes that can be used in classroom parties as a substitute to more processed, sugary treats.
Dr. Yum’s “No Cavity Club”
Over the years I have seen a lot of kids with tooth decay. For kids to be healthy eaters, they need a healthy mouth and teeth!
7 Reasons to Bring Dr. Yum’s Preschool Food Adventure to Your School
We know that school is a big part of a kid’s day and it’s a perfect place where they can learn about food too. That’s why we created Dr. Yum’s Preschool Food Adventure, a researched-backed curriculum that’s proven to positively impact attitudes and behaviors around new foods.
Building a Satisfying Meal or Snack
Putting together a meal or snack that is tasty and nutritionally balanced doesn't have to be complicated. Use this simple framework to make it happen.
22 Thanksgiving Recipes
Here are our recipe picks for the Thanksgiving table. We hope you’ll enjoy some of these as a part of your spread this year!
No More Boring Lunches! Our Favorite Lunch Packing Recipes
Packing lunches can feel monotonous, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Here are some of our favorite recipes for lunch packing.
Meals and Calendars Task Force Presents Recommendations to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam
Dr. Yum Project Dietitian Sarah Moran attended a presentation of recommendations for culturally inclusive school meals and calendars to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam.
Our Biggest News Yet
The big news! After years of hard work we have been invited to partner with the National Head Start Association! This partnership means that we have the opportunity to reach even more Head Start classrooms across the country.
10 Tips to Save Money on Groceries
Here are some tips that take very little time and put more money in your wallet without any intricate system.
Dr. Yum Project Dietitian Sarah Moran Joins Virginia Task Force on Culturally Inclusive School Meals and Calendars
The task force will identify best practices and make recommendations to school divisions and higher education institutions.
17 Fresh and Tasty Summer Recipes
When we think of summer cooking at the Dr. Yum Project, we think of simple recipes that make the most of fresh produce. Try adding some of these Dr. Yum Project recipes to your menu this summer!
5 Kitchen Tools We Can’t Cook Without
When you’re cooking, having the right tools for the job makes a huge difference. They can make your time in the kitchen easier and more efficient as well as help you get the most out of the food you buy. These are some of our favorite tools here at the Dr. Yum Project.
Fostering a Love of Cooking
May is National Foster Care Month. Here are a few tips to involve everyone in your household in planning, preparing, and partaking in meal time. This list is tailored to foster care-involved families, but can be adapted for any type of family!
Take the Mindful Mealtimes Pledge
Many of us make resolutions to eat healthier at the start of the year. However, you and your family can make a commitment to healthier, happier mealtimes at any time of the year. Just use our “Mindful Mealtimes Pledge” and get started today.
It’s Not That Easy Being Green...or is it? 20+ Green Food Recipes
At the Dr. Yum Project, we LOVE the color green because so many of our favorite fruits and vegetables are beautiful and various shades of green. But adults and kids may have a hesitation when it comes to green foods. One thing we DO know is that building familiarity, cooking, and practicing can turn any yuck into a yum!
Food Passports Help Sample the World From Home
Food Explorer Passports are a great way to “travel” without having to leave home.
Getting Teens in the Kitchen
Getting teens in the kitchen has multiple benefits!
Dr. Yum’s Ban on Picky Eaters
Several times a week, I’m faced with the frustration of a parent of a picky eater, either in my pediatrics practice or in the Dr. Yum Project Kitchen where our team teaches families to cook. These parents are tired, worn out, and out of answers...