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    • Sep 10, 2022
    • 3 min read

Gut-Brain Relationship

Understanding the role of food on our gut-brain axis (especially for children) is crucial. It is also exhausting to figure out how to do this when we also have kids that "don't like" this or "don't want" that. Yeah, we all have that at some point or another with one food or another.


Today, we are learning and understanding the role of our gut health more and more and how significant it is to our overall health. The ENS or enteric nervous system "can operate autonomously. It normally communicates with the central nervous system (CNS) through the parasympathetic (e.g., via the vagus nerve) and sympathetic (e.g., via the prevertebral ganglia) nervous systems". This is why the foods we eat/drink play a role on how we think, behave and react- and this is especially significant for children. We are finding out that more and more diseases of the body have root causes from the health of our gut. Most of this gut bacteria is formed at birth and is grows with us. It is "fed" from the food we eat, so what we introduce is significant.



It is our role to provide a healthy home (in their intestines) for good health to thrive. This information about gut health is crucial for physical and mental health. It is a lot to take on with all that we have going on. This is just 1 of the modules in the Family Meals Workshop. It is helping you simplify this information to know how to help that good gut bacteria thrive in your child.


One of the best ways to help this bacteria grow is to eat a diverse range of foods that include vegetables, fruit, beans and legumes. Another is to eat a diet rich in prebiotic and probiotic foods. One of the best ways to get foods that are high in both of these are to eat organic foods, that have also been grown in healthy soils. Soils that are high in microbiotic conditions where natural fertilizers, compost and even manure are applied allow for healthy plants rich in nutrients and good bacteria. This is not always accessible to everyone, but when you can seize the opportunity to eat locally, seasonally, and organically.


This course is ever evolving as I learn more. It is set up so you can ask questions, participate, and get recipes based on your interest. I help you go over weekly check lists to maintain all the learning and take on just one small task at a time. It is not meant to overwhelm you and no you will not wind up cooking a 5 course meal. This is about planning, prepping and finding ways to make easy healthy meals when you don't have time to. I will show you how to create simple meals, get your family involved and feed that gut microbiome for a healthier body and mind.




I've been super disappointed in ordering out- but yes it happens. The quality of the food and portions are no longer the same. More and more restaurants are cutting back on quality ingredients and using cheaper substitutions. Vegetable and seed oils are cost effective and often used in most restaurants to cook, saute and fry. Over time, these sit in our gut and create inflammation that causes bloat, lethargy, join pain and general feelings of lethargy. Quite often, I feel like crap after eating out. It is always a regret (and I say this on a Friday knowing we will order in). Life happens.

Have a great weekend, and I hope I can connect with a few of you over the next few weeks before launching the next session of Family Meals Workshop Mid October. Check out the link below for more information and follow @homegrownurban on Instagram for more food ideas and much more.





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