About this episode

Dr. Jolene Brighten and Dr. Elisa Song discuss the connection between picky eating and nutrient deficiencies, offering strategies for parents to help their children expand their diets.

My new book, ADHD and Women, is now available for pre-order! Learn how hormones influence ADHD symptoms and get your copy here: http://drbrighten.com/adhdandwomen End picky eating with practical, root-cause strategies from integrative pediatrician Dr. Elisa Song, MD, and view the full show notes at DrBrighten.com: https://drbrighten.com. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, Dr. Jolene Brighten and Dr. Song discuss picky eating, zinc, gut health, sensory food aversions, and simple ways parents can help kids expand their diet with less stress. 👩‍⚕️ Dr. Elisa Song, MD, joins Dr. Brighten to explain why picky eating may be more than “just a phase” and how nutrient status, the gut microbiome, sleep, movement, and nervous system regulation can influence a child’s food preferences. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: - Why zinc may be a key nutrient to consider for selective eaters - How sensory food aversions may connect to nutrient insufficiencies - How to involve kids in food choices without pressure - What parents should know about zinc supplements and food sources - Why gut health matters for nutrient absorption, mood, immunity, and food preferences - How fiber, phytonutrients…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Jolene Brighten

Guest: Dr. Elisa Song

Topics covered

• picky eating
• nutrient deficiency
• gut health
• zinc
• children's diet
• parenting strategies

Keywords

• picky eating
• nutrient deficiency
• zinc
• gut health
• children's food preferences
• sensory aversions
• parenting tips

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: DrBrighten.com

Books & works: ADHD and Women

More episodes of The Dr. Brighten Show

• The IVF Missing Piece: Why Recurrent Miscarriage May Not Be “Just Egg Quality” · June 4, 2026 · 18 min
• Brain Inflammation and Food: Dr. Austin Perlmutter on the Gut-Brain Connection, Brain Fog, and What to Eat for Better Cognitive Health · June 2, 2026 · 32 min
• Endometriosis Imaging: Why Your "Normal" Results Don't Rule Out Endometriosis · May 28, 2026 · 27 min
• Estrogen and Dopamine: Why Your Brain, Motivation, and ADHD Symptoms Can Change With Your Hormones · May 26, 2026 · 29 min
• PMDD vs PME: How to Tell the Difference and Why It Changes Treatment · May 21, 2026 · 16 min
• Autoimmune Disease Management with Dr. Terry Wahls: Nutrition, Mitochondria, and Women's Hormone Transitions · May 19, 2026 · 48 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Dr. Brighten Show podcast page.