+ One of my issues with feeding my family is that my kids seem to love and refuse to eat (are learning!) very different things. I have three children. How can I be able to make one meal for my family- with love it, like it, and learning it choices - if they have such different likes?

Yes, you can use this framework to make one meal for the whole family. In fact, that is part of its whole point! Take it from this mom of three from a previous Academy session, who shared:

"I appreciate how this program provides framework and practical steps for improving our family eating. I have three little kids, each with very different tastes, and I was pulling out my hair trying to make sure everyone was eating. I feel better equipped to not run our house like a restaurant anymore, but make sure everyone is fed. I have hope now, and a plan for how to guide my kids from refusing foods to being brave enough to try new things. I wanted to shout for joy when my pickiest kid picked up broccoli and actually licked it. That’s progress in only a few weeks. I look forward to having more peaceful, enjoyable family meal times."

Like this mom experienced, The Academy helps you apply best-practice feeding approaches across all ages, feeding stages, and food preferences so that no matter your family size or the extent of picky eaters you are managing in your home, you can calmly and confidently coordinate a single meal everyone learns to like.

+ I am pregnant and due soon (or newly postpartum). Is now a good (or terrible!) time to sign up?

First of all, congrats on expecting your sweet child soon (or recently!)! I totally understand asking about if and how this would fit, especially based on the obvious transition it will already be for your growing family!

Providing parents with accessible resources on their own time frame was also one of the key motivations to creating The Academy LIVE. This is a great option if you would like to try to tackle an older child's picky eating prior to the arrival of a sibling and can be started immediately by signing up here.

For those interested in the live option, I asked a mom from a previous Academy LIVE session if I could share her testimonial. I knew she was in similar shoes and yet valued the chance to get in-person support each week (as she often had her little one in view on our video calls!). She shared, "It’s actually perfect to do while on maternity leave with a second baby because I had that tiny bit of mental space without worrying about work to think only about my family, and my husband was home earlier than usual to allow for more family dinners. Plus it was ok to hold or nurse a baby during the calls, or have the option to catch up later."

This mom also emailed me after it was over to share this three month update:

"If you recall I had 3 goals foods that I wanted my 2.5 year old daughter to learn to like - peanut butter sandwiches, pasta, and grilled cheese. Almost 3 months later, PB sandwiches are part of our regular menu for her, and she's taken several bites of plain pasta (I wanted to throw a party the first time she actually tried it). Still working on the grilled cheese. Last night (which prompted me to email you), I was husking corn (learning it) and asked her to help me get the "hairs" off. She put it to her lips and I told her she could take a bite if she wanted, and she took several! Just goes to show if you keep working the framework, you will have random, unplanned breakthroughs that make it worth it to keep going and not just offer the same love it foods constantly."

Something that has come up with this mom and many others in the group (including doctors with crazy schedules, families amidst relocations and living out of boxes, etc.) is that there is never a "good time" to tackle picky eating. But the stress of trying to feed a child with apprehensive eating amidst those seasons can become exponentially harder, especially if/when you are trying to delegate what/when/where to feed your child often to someone who's say, not feeding a baby, or you are accepting meals that may or may not align with your child's preferred foods. By working through this approach for 8 weeks (and then on), you get to then launch into your postpartum window "ahead" versus later having to still tackle it 3, 6, 12 months later when the bad habits can be that much harder to break.

This mom went on to talk about how after the Academy, as she then got ready to introduce solids to this baby (who was almost 6 months by the time she sent me a 3 month follow up email), she felt that much more confident in how to feed her subsequent child because of all she had learned from the Academy with her first. This mom knew she wouldn't "repeat the same mistakes" so to speak and could more confidently handle feeding her family with both children being raised with a better feeding foundation now.

+ Are the meals allergen-friendly?

Yes, each menu can be modified for necessary food allergies. Ashley is happy to assist with this via one-on-one calls, as needed.

+ Are the meal ideas each week vegetarian?

No, these meals include animal-based proteins. The framework and course could easily be done though with meatless substitutes, as the goal is for practice menues to be adaptable to a family's dietary needs and preferences. Ashley is happy to help advise parents through via one-on-one calls, as needed.

+ If my kid is under one, is this still a good fit for my family?

The Love it, Like it, Learning it Academy can give any parent and family the tools they need to be successful in planning, offering, and managing family meals. Parents of multiple children may benefit from being proactive instead of reactive when applying this approach for their family as a whole, including with younger children who parents might wish to "do differently with" when it comes to feeding. However, parents with a child younger than two years of age may find that some of the struggles and scenarios shared by fellow group members do not yet ring familiar to them. This information may still be useful to adding to a parent's feeding and nutrition toolbox however, particularly if a parent already sees signs of apprehensive eating (i.e. pickiness) presenting before age two. Please note that majority of Academy members are 18+ months, so majority of the advice is geared towards toddlers up to adolescence. The principles apply to all ages, but the manner in which such feeding principles are approached and communicated may vary with older or younger children.

+ When and where does this group meet?

There is no in-person meeting for the Academy. All of it is conducted online through pre-recorded trainings and/or live Q&A calls via zoom (for those in The Academy LIVE).

+ What are the dates of upcoming Academy LIVE sessions?

The Academy Summer session is being offered in place of the LIVE program. The Fall session of The Academy LIVE is currently scheduled to start on September 12th, 2020.

+ What kind of direct access to Ashley do we get?

For members of The Academy LIVE, members get access to Ashley in a few forms. In the Facebook group, Ashley will be able to respond directly to each individual’s questions and posts on the public forum. There will also be a live Q&A each week for you to ask questions. If you feel you need additional one-on-one consulting, Ashley may be available for private one-on-one counseling sessions (for an additional charge).

+ What if we don’t have Facebook?

Facebook is not required to participate in The Love it, Like it, Learning it Academy. However, having access to the private Facebook community will allow you to have a greater level of engagement, accountability, support, and opportunity to share your struggles and successes with other parents. This is where majority of the community support, camaraderie, and encouragement happens for those in the LIVE program, since it seems to be the platform most people prefer to post, comment, share, and overall interact on. However, all course materials are provided and accessible off of Facebook so you do not need to have Facebook to access course content if you choose not to.

+ How long do we have access to The Academy program materials?

As long as Ashley continues to host The Academy (LIVE or Summer Session), you will continue to have access to the course materials. Any updates to the program will also be made available to past Academy members.

+ How long do we get access to the private Facebook group?

With a paid membership to The Love it, Like it, Learning it Academy LIVE, you receive lifetime access to the private Facebook group.