Dr Hilary Claire

Dr Hilary Claire Join me on the journey of creating healthy brains, vibrant kids, thriving families, connected communities and a happy planet.

06/04/2026

The gut can impact picky eating in several ways.

One of them is the health of the gut microbiome.
 
The microbiome is comprised of bacteria, fungi, yeasts, parasites, and all the other microbes that live in the digestive tract.

The bugs in the microbiome impact our food preferences. If there is an unhealthy balance of bugs in your child’s gut, they may crave more white, sugary and processed foods. This feeds those “bad” or less beneficial bugs.
 
There are many things that contribute to the health or imbalance of our children’s gut microbiome, including but not limited to the foods our kids eat, what they ate early in life, the microbiome of their mom, the presence of gut infections, their birth, their environment indoors and out, and the microbiome of those around them.

Follow for more picky eating info & tips.

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Parenting doesn’t need to swing between being overly strict and overly permissive. When you understand what’s driving yo...
06/02/2026

Parenting doesn’t need to swing between being overly strict and overly permissive. When you understand what’s driving your child’s behaviour, everything becomes clearer, calmer, and more manageable.
 
I am talking to psychotherapist and parenting coach Todd Sarner about transformative parenting and how to raise resilient, emotionally secure children. We cover attachment, boundaries, emotional regulation, and how small shifts in your approach can reduce daily struggles and create more connection at home.
 
Todd and I talk about:
 
• Why behaviour is often a symptom of unmet emotional needs, not defiance

• How to move away from reactive parenting and become more proactive

• What attachment-first parenting actually looks like in everyday life

• How to set firm, calm boundaries without yelling or being harsh

• What to do when your child is pushing limits, melting down, or acting out

• Why emotional outbursts are a sign your child needs support, not control

• How to support your child through big emotions without escalating the situation

• Practical strategies to help your child build resilience and emotional regulation

• Simple self-care tools to help you stay calm and respond instead of react

Search Wild & Well wherever you listen to podcasts or comment PARENTING and I’ll send the link to listen.



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Mental health isn’t just about managing symptoms. It’s about understanding the root cause, building resilience, and supp...
05/27/2026

Mental health isn’t just about managing symptoms.

It’s about understanding the root cause, building resilience, and supporting the whole person so you can actually move forward in life.

In the most recent episode of Wild and Well, I am talking to integrative psychiatrist and brain health expert Dr Hector Rodriguez about his holistic approach to mental wellness. 

We cover how to regulate your nervous system, build resilience through everyday habits, and why addressing the root cause of stress, trauma, and burnout is key to long-term healing.

Hector and I talk about:

* How to move beyond diagnoses and understand what you are actually struggling with at the root level

* Why building resilience matters more than avoiding discomfort in motherhood and life

* How your nervous system responds to stress and how to regulate it daily

* Practical ways to reduce inflammation through nutrition to support mental clarity and energy

* Why slowing down improves focus, decision-making, and emotional regulation

* How to use small daily habits to create long-term change in your mental health

* The connection between hormones, energy, and mood and why this matters for busy moms

* How to shift from feeling stuck in stress or burnout to taking ownership of your healing

* Why connection and community are essential for true emotional healing

* How to approach discipline in a realistic way that actually works in a busy life

Comment 102 and I’ll send you the links to listen.


 
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05/25/2026

Put a super tiny amount of a new food or a food they have refused or disliked before on their plate.
 
Think back to when you first started your child on solids. We start our babies on tiny servings of new foods when we first introduce solids. We focus on just letting them try the new food without the expectation that they are going to consume lots of it. We don’t pile a massive amount of any food on their plate and expect them to clear their plate.
 
Do the same even if your child is older.
 
A small amount makes it less overwhelming. It can feel more manageable for our kids to eat a very small amount of something.
 
If they eat one bite of a tiny amount of broccoli, they might have eaten the whole serving. But if they have a huge pile of broccoli on their plate, well, that one bite won’t even be noticeable.

Doing this can also help shift their perception of themselves. Taking that one bite of the tiny piece of broccoli may just help open them up to considering themselves as someone who and eats broccoli. Someday they may even grow to like it!
 
Follow for more picky eating tips.

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Picky eating, big emotions, and constant mealtime battles can leave even the most patient moms feeling overwhelmed. When...
05/23/2026

Picky eating, big emotions, and constant mealtime battles can leave even the most patient moms feeling overwhelmed. When nothing seems to work, it’s easy to assume it’s behavioural, but often there’s something deeper going on.
 
In episode 101 of Wild and Well, I am talking to paediatric occupational therapist and parent coach Effie Pomaki about how sensory processing and nervous system regulation impact how kids eat, behave, and respond to daily routines. We cover practical, realistic strategies to reduce mealtime stress, support emotional regulation, and help your child feel more comfortable in their body.
 
Effie and I talk about:
 
• How sensory processing affects your child’s ability to eat, focus, and regulate emotions

• Why picky eating is often linked to texture, smell, and visual sensitivities

• How to identify patterns in your child’s preferred foods to expand variety

• How to introduce sensory play in a low-pressure, child-led way

• Why food play outside of mealtimes reduces anxiety and increases exposure

• How to support kids who feel anxious about trying new foods

• How to use play and silliness to reduce power struggles and increase cooperation

• Why connection and safety are essential for learning and behaviour
 
                      
Comment 101 and I’ll send you the link or search Wild and Well wherever you listen to podcasts.
 
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In episode 100 of Wild and Well, we discuss several of the root causes of picky eating and how to move past these. We co...
05/21/2026

In episode 100 of Wild and Well, we discuss several of the root causes of picky eating and how to move past these.

We cover practical strategies, nervous system regulation, gut health, and how your behaviour directly shapes your child’s relationship with food.
 
Comment PICKY and I’ll send you the links to listen.
 
 
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In episode 101 of Wild and Well, paediatric occupational therapist and parent coach Effie and I explore how sensory proc...
05/20/2026

In episode 101 of Wild and Well, paediatric occupational therapist and parent coach Effie and I explore how sensory processing shapes children’s eating habits, focus, and emotional regulation, and why picky eating is often rooted in sensitivities to texture, smell, and appearance.
 
Effie also shares low-pressure strategies like sensory play, food exploration outside mealtimes, and using connection, play, and silliness to reduce anxiety, expand food variety, and increase cooperation.
                      
Comment 101 and I’ll send you the link or search Wild and Well wherever you listen to podcasts.


 
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In Episode 99 of Wild and Well, I talk with Holistic Nutritionist Nicole Inwentash about the gut health struggles she fa...
05/11/2026

In Episode 99 of Wild and Well, I talk with Holistic Nutritionist Nicole Inwentash about the gut health struggles she faced for years, and how she finally found answers that actually stuck.
 
We chat about:
 
• How early digestive symptoms like bloating and low energy can signal deeper gut issues

• Why food sensitivities like gluten and dairy can significantly impact inflammation

• What f***l microbiota transplantation (FMT) is and how it works in real life

• Why chronic stress and antibiotics can disrupt the gut microbiome

• How to recognize when bloating is not normal and what to look for instead

• Simple daily habits that support gut health including hydration, sleep, and movement

• How to make cooking feel easier and more enjoyable with simple recipes and batch prep
 
Comment GUT and I’ll send you the link to listen!

 

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05/11/2026

Low zinc levels.

Zinc is a key mineral that plays a big role in appetite, taste, and digestion. When levels are low, it can sometimes show up as fussiness around food.

That said, it’s important to test before assuming this is the cause. But if a deficiency is confirmed, adding more zinc-rich foods like pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, beef, oysters, or cashews can make a real difference.

Sometimes, it’s not just about the food. It is about what the body needs.

Follow for more simple tips for reducing picky eating.

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