Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens

If mealtimes in your home feel like a power struggle, or you're exhausted from worrying whether your kid is eating well, this episode will come as a relief. Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan revisit their conversation with Dr. Reshma Shah, a Stanford-affiliated pediatrician, public health expert, and co-author of the award-winning book “Nourish: The Definitive Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for Families.” With over 20 years of experience in academic and clinical pediatrics and a deep commitment to family-centered approaches to food and wellbeing, Dr. Shah offers a low-pressure, evidence-based roadmap for helping kids develop a healthy relationship with food. 💡 YOU'LL LEARN: - Why what you model at the table matters far more than what you say, and how your own relationship with food shapes your child's more than you realize - Why "clean your plate" rules and other tension-raising practices can backfire (and what a low-stress mealtime actually looks like in practice) - How the language you use around food shapes your child's relationship with eating, and why ditching "good" and "bad" food labels makes a real difference - How to expand your kid's palate and involve them in food choices and preparation in ways that actually work - Why family meals (even brief, imperfect ones) have lasting benefits for your child's nutrition, wellbeing, and your relationship with them It’s not about eating perfectly—it’s about creating a healthy food environment. ________________ GET DR. DAMOUR'S FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Guidance, strategies, and tips delivered straight to your inbox → ⁠https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/⁠  DR. DAMOUR'S BESTSELLING BOOKS - Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood – ⁠https://bit.ly/UntangledBook⁠ - Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls – ⁠https://bit.ly/UnderPressuretheBook⁠ - The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents – ⁠https://a.co/d/cbOmTKp⁠  UNTANGLING 10TO20 MEMBERSHIP Premium courses & resources for teens and the adults who care for them → ⁠https://lnkd.in/gr52MB-F⁠  VISIT DR. LISA'S WEBSITE → ⁠https://drlisadamour.com/⁠ ________________ Today's sponsors: Goodr: Get $10 off your first order at https://www.goodr.com/ASKLISA Unwaffle: Use the promo code ASK LISA to get 15% off your first order at https://www.eatunwaffle.com. Warby Parker: Buy one prescription pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional prescription pairs at ⁠https://www.WarbyParker.com/ASKLISA ⁠⁠ Momentous: Get up to 35% off your first order with promo code ASKLISA at ⁠https://www.livemomentous.com⁠ ________________ Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges.  Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday. ________________ Episode keywords: help kids healthy relationship with food, teen nutrition tips, tween nutrition tips, how to get kids to eat vegetables, picky eater teenager help, reduce food battles with kids, stop food power struggles, kids sugar addiction help, teen junk food obsession, how much protein do kids need, healthy snacks for teens, fueling teen athletes, family dinner benefits for teens, positive food language for kids, stop labeling foods good or bad for kids, plant-based family meals, raising kids with healthy body image Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is your teen’s snark just “normal attitude”… or could it be something more serious? If you’re walking on eggshells around a constantly irritable, sarcastic teenager and wondering whether this is just adolescence or a red flag not to ignore, you’re not alone. In this episode of Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, Dr. Lisa Damour helps parents make sense of the exhausting, confusing reality of teen snark and explains when it may actually be a sign of depression that needs real attention. Drawing on decades of clinical experience working with adolescents and families, Dr. Lisa breaks down why depression often looks very different in teens than it does in adults, and how easy it is to miss when irritability gets written off as “typical teen behavior.” Alongside co-host Reena Ninan, she offers clear, grounded guidance for parents who are worried, worn down, and unsure what to do next. 💡 YOU’LL LEARN: - Why teen depression often shows up as snark, hostility, and irritability - How to tell the difference between normal teen attitude and mood changes that are concerning - How phone use and sleep deprivation and can worsen or mimic depression - Why meaningful busyness and structure can improve mood and reduce irritability - When it’s important not to “wait it out” and move toward professional evaluation and support If you’re dealing with a snarky teenager, this episode will help you feel more confident, informed, and grounded in your next steps—while keeping your teen’s long-term wellbeing front and center. ________________ Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday. ________________ Episode keywords: teen snarky behavior, snarky teenager, irritable teen, teen irritability, why is my teen so snarky, why is my teenager so rude, is teen snark normal, teen attitude vs depression, teen depression irritability, depression in teenagers signs Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices