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Zest Pediatric Network

The first concierge-style direct pediatric care physician network.
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09/06/2026

Summer blows up mealtime structure faster than anything else.

No school lunch. Activities at all different hours. Kids who suddenly "aren't hungry" until 4pm — and then starving at bedtime.

We don't recommend rigid meal schedules for summer. We recommend anchor meals. Anchor meals are loosely timed, consistent in their existence, and predictable enough that kids' bodies stay regulated. Breakfast happens in the morning. Lunch happens at midday, give or take. Dinner is together.

The research on family meals is compelling: kids who eat with their families regularly have better nutrition, lower rates of anxiety and depression, and stronger communication with parents. You don't need a perfectly balanced plate. You need a table.

A few summer nutrition anchors we suggest:
Hydration first. Kids lose track of thirst in the heat. Water with breakfast, water before outdoor time — build it into the rhythm.
Protein at every anchor meal. Keeps blood sugar stable and moods steadier throughout the day.
One fruit or vegetable with each meal. Not a rule — a rhythm. Easy bar, high payoff.

05/06/2026

Sleep is the foundation of everything — mood, focus, immunity, growth. And it's the first thing that unravels when summer starts.

Here's what the evidence actually says:
Children ages 6–12 need 9–11 hours per night. Teenagers need 8–10. These numbers don't change in summer — but the window can shift.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends keeping a consistent wake time even when bedtime moves later. That one anchor does more for sleep quality than almost anything else.

Our approach with Zest families: shift gradually (15–30 min per week), protect total sleep duration, and keep screens out of bedrooms — for all ages, including teens.

Summer doesn't have to mean sleep deprivation. It just means intentional flexibility.

Sleep windows by age:
Ages 3–5: 10–13 hours | Keep close to school-year schedule
Ages 6–12: 9–11 hours | Up to 1-hour shift is fine
Teens: 8–10 hours | Biological shift is real — up to 2 hours, no more

02/06/2026

Routines Vs. Rhythm : What’s The difference?

Here's a reframe we love sharing with families every end of school year:
A routine says: wake up at 7am, breakfast at 7:30, activity at 9.

A rhythm says: we start our mornings slowly, we eat together, we get outside before it gets hot.

One falls apart the moment summer arrives. The other travels with you.
Research on child development consistently shows that it's not rigid scheduling that supports kids' wellbeing — it's predictable anchors. Regular mealtimes. Consistent sleep windows. Time outside. Time to wind down. Those anchors can flex around camp schedules, travel, and late-night fireflies without losing their power.

This June, we're sharing 6 posts on building a summer rhythm that actually works for real families. Save this series.

11/05/2026

Families in five new states — Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, and Utah — no longer have to wait 12 to 18 months for an autism diagnosis.

Zest Pediatric Network now offers virtual autism evaluations across 15 states, reaching nearly half of all U.S. children. Our board-certified pediatricians conduct comprehensive evaluations from the family’s home — with appointments typically available within weeks.

For ABA providers and early intervention teams in our new states: families who have been waiting for a diagnosis now have a faster path to the documentation they need to begin care.

We built this program to remove the biggest bottleneck in the autism care pathway. Expanding to 15 states means more children get answers sooner — and start the support they need faster.

Learn more: ZestPeds.com/autism

AZ · CO · FL · GA · IL · IN · MD · NE · NJ · NC · OH · PA · TX · UT · VA

10/05/2026

Happy Mother's Day to the mothers who keep the entire universe running,
especially the parts no one else sees.

In pediatrics, we are privileged to witness the countless, beautiful, "hidden things" you do.

Today, we celebrate:
— The middle-of-the-night "health checks," holding your breath so you don’t wake them.
— The art of "feeding negotiations" (Picky eaters, we see you!).
— The mental map you carry that tracks everyone's socks, shoes, practices, and appointments.
— The way you translate your child’s silence just as well as you translate their words.

Your daily acts of invisible love are the foundation of your family's health and happiness.

Today, we see you. We appreciate you. And we’re sending you all our love.

06/05/2026

🎉 Exciting news from the Zest Pediatric Network family!

Please join us in welcoming two incredible pediatricians who will be opening our 9th and 10th Zest offices this summer!

Dr. Kimberly Roth — Zest Pediatrics of Wexford, PA
Dr. Rachel Dawkins — Zest Pediatrics of St. Petersburg, FL

Both practices open August 2026, bringing the Zest model of unhurried, personal, membership-based pediatric care to two new communities.

Together, we're living our mission every day: Saving Pediatrics — one pediatrician, one family, one child at a time.

Know a family in Wexford or St. Petersburg looking for a different kind of pediatric experience? Tag them below! Or tell them the exciting news.

04/05/2026

What if we could raise children who walk into every room asking — what is remarkable about this person?

In a world where social media trains kids to compare and critique, that feels more countercultural than ever. And more necessary.

Our President, Dr. Drew Hertz, recently wrote about two books that together offer both a warning and a path forward — and some practical ideas for families at every stage of parenting.

It's a quick read, and we think it's worth your time. Link if first comment.

01/05/2026

The Zest May newsletter is out at https://mailchi.mp/zestpeds/may-zesty-announcements
Teaching our kids to see the good in others, spring allergies, tick bites, and a new nutrition offering for moms! And of course our Zest Parent Hour. Check it out.

24/04/2026

When a child’s behavior, energy, or mood seems off, the natural response is to look for what’s missing — more support, more structure, more solutions. And sometimes that’s exactly right.

But in practice, we also see the other side of that equation. Kids who are overstimulated, overscheduled, and simply exhausted by the pace of their days. Too many transitions, too much noise, not enough downtime for their nervous systems to actually reset. Children need a balance of input and rest, and when that balance tips too far in one direction, it shows up in their behavior whether we recognize it as the cause or not.

If things feel off right now, one of the most useful questions to sit with is a simple one: what could we take away?

18/04/2026

It’s easy to feel like good parenting means keeping kids stimulated, active, and moving from one enriching thing to the next. And while structure and activities absolutely have their place, something gets lost when every hour is accounted for.

Boredom gets a bad reputation. But it’s often where creativity lives. When kids aren’t being directed, they start directing themselves — and that’s where confidence, problem-solving, and self-regulation quietly develop. Unstructured time isn’t a gap in the day. It’s actually doing something.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer our kids isn’t another activity. It’s a little more space to figure things out on their own.

Address

6370 SOM Center Road

Telephone

+12162383737

Website

https://ZestPeds.com/

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