Parent Resources

White bowl of green pumpkin seeds on marble, seen from above
Why Choose Pumpkin Seeds: A Parents Best Friend
The first time my step-daughter found pumpkin seeds hiding in her trail mix, she held one up between her fingers and asked “What’s this?” with a crinkle in her nose.Usually,... Read more...
Pink heart-shaped puff with callouts: kids love the taste, no additives or fillers, cold processed
Why Our Sprouted Seed Blend Isn’t Just Another “Healthy Sprinkle”
How many times have you walked by the seed aisle at the grocery store and thought “This is the week I will add in these crunchy tiny nutrition bombs on... Read more...
Two children holding bags of FoodNerd Mega Puffs in Wild Blueberry Currant and Beet Apple
Not All Baby Puffs Are Created Equal.
Think all puffs are the same? Think again. Mega Puffs are made with real fruits, veggies, and sprouted seeds—because your kids deserve more than empty crunch. Why Mega Puffs Are Not Just... Read more...
FoodNerd and Tops logos with a row of cartoon fruit and vegetable characters
Buffalo-Based Food Brand Launches Nutrient-Dense Baby Snacks in Tops Stores
FoodNerd’s clean-label, SNAP-eligible Mega Puffs now available in 50 Tops locations across New York State! Read more...
Self-Care for Moms: Essential Tips for Daily Balance
Why Self-Care is Essential for Moms What Is Self-Care and Why It Matters? As a doula and someone who’s spent years supporting families, I can tell you with full confidence: you can’t pour from an empty cup. Self-care isn’t a luxury or something that has to wait until the kids are older. Nor does it need to be a time consuming or expensive task.  It’s a daily act of preservation and love for yourself, with the added bonus of benefiting your family. When you feel more grounded, you parent with... Read more...
10 Things I’ve Learned About Flying With a Baby
Flying with a baby for the first time can feel overwhelming, but after years of traveling (and making plenty of mistakes along the way!), I’ve learned what works—and what doesn’t. As a child passenger safety technician who specializes in aviation, I spend my days helping parents navigate air travel with kids. Whether it’s choosing the right seat, getting through TSA stress-free, or keeping babies happy at 30,000 feet, I’ve seen it all! If you’re preparing for your first flight with your little one, here are the top 10 things I’ve... Read more...
Baby in a high chair holding a cookie with both hands
The Truth About Sugar's Impact on Babies and Toddlers
What if a decision made before you were even born could shape your lifelong risk of chronic disease? That’s exactly what emerging research suggests when it comes to early-life nutrition.... Read more...
Quick and Healthy Toddler Snacks On the Go
Life with a toddler can be unpredictable, but one thing is certain—snacks are essential. Whether you’re heading out for a playdate, running errands, or enjoying a family outing, having portable snacks on hand makes all the difference- and if they're nutritious to boot?  What a win!!  Here’s a guide to quick and healthy toddler snacks perfect for on-the-go moments. Why FoodNerd’s MegaPuff Snacks Are Perfect for Toddlers Nutrient-Dense and Portable FoodNerd Mega Puffs are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and sprouted seeds, making them a nutrient-dense option for busy families.... Read more...
The Ultimate Guide to Food for Picky Eaters
Feeding picky eaters can feel like trying to climb a mountain in flip-flops—challenging, but totally doable with the right tools. The secret? A mix of creativity, patience, and a touch of fun. Let’s turn mealtimes into an adventure your little one will (eventually) love! Easy Breakfast Ideas for Picky Eaters Banana Pancakes Who doesn’t love pancakes? Mash a ripe banana into pancake batter and cook up some mini pancakes. They’re sweet, soft, and toddler-approved. Nutrient boost - add ground flax seeds to the batter! (we love Tiny Sprouts) Smoothie Bowls... Read more...
Smiling man lifting a laughing toddler in a kitchen
Effective Toddler Parenting Tips and Strategies
Parenting toddlers is a rollercoaster of emotions, milestones, and, let’s be honest, the occasional meltdown in the cereal aisle. While it’s not always a walk in the park, this stage... Read more...
Toddler looking out an airplane window
Engaging Toddler Plane Activities for a Smooth Flight | FoodNerd
This guide offers a comprehensive list of fun, simple, and effective ways to entertain your toddler on a plane, along with must-have travel items and helpful tips for your next... Read more...
Parent carrying a baby in a carrier presses a train door button
Traveling with Kids: Tips, Tricks & Destinations for Every Age
Family travel doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little planning, the right gear, and a flexible mindset, you can relax and enjoy your trip. Whether it’s sticking to routines,... Read more...
Smiling woman holding a laughing blond toddler against a white backdrop
Introducing Our New "About Us" Video! 🎥
We’re so excited to share something we’ve been working on behind the scenes—our brand-new About Us video! It’s been a journey getting here, and we wanted to create a way for you... Read more...
Five people smiling on stage at an awards event, one holding a FoodNerd bag
We Did It! FoodNerd Wins $1M at 43North + People’s Choice Award!
FoodNerd’s patent-pending technology allows for the creation of nutrient-dense, shelf-stable foods that retain their essential vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients—essentially condensing the goodness of fresh fruits and vegetables into fun, convenient... Read more...
Cover for a Q&A with Dr. Jed Fahey on moringa, lactation and infant health, with photos of moms, babies and a moringa farm
Moringa for Kids and Moms: Benefits of the Ultimate Superfood
Join Dr. Jed Fahey, a nutritional biochemist with decades of experience at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, as he answers your top questions about moringa—the powerful plant taking the health... Read more...
Woman holding open a Buffalo Spree magazine to a feature on FoodNerd
FoodNerd Featured in Buffalo Spree!
In an inspiring full-circle moment, our founder Sharon Cryan, who grew up reading Buffalo Spree Magazine, is now featured in it! Nancy Parisi highlights Sharon and FoodNerd in the WNY... Read more...
Child frowning at broccoli on a fork, with a search bar reading 'how do I get my kids to eat healthier?'
How To Get Your Kids To Eat Healthier Foods
Getting your kids to eat more of the healthy stuff can be quite the task. Thank your lucky stars if your child is still at that stage where they eat... Read more...
Two women seated on the Daytime Buffalo TV set with FoodNerd Mega Puffs bags on the table
Catch FoodNerd on Daytime Buffalo! 🌟
FoodNerd was recently featured on Daytime Buffalo in an inspiring segment titled "Mega Puffs Made Entirely from Fruits and Vegetables." If you missed it, now’s your chance to hear directly from our... Read more...
Pink sprinkled donut behind a search bar asking what's the deal with ultra processed foods
Processed to Perfection: Rethinking Our Food Choices
Our world's rapid pace has led us to constantly seek out ways to optimize our time, often sacrificing our well-being in the possess. The food industry recognized this need and... Read more...
Close-up of brightly colored ring cereal
Four Incredibly Harmful Effects Artificial Dyes Have On Our Health
Although artificial coloring is commonly added to food, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is safe to eat. These dyes raise significant health concerns, especially with children. Read on to find out... Read more...
White capsules, a spoon of pale powder and broccoli sprouts on a dark green background
Science Backed Health Benefits of Sulforaphane
Hippocrates once said, “thy food is thy medicine, and thy medicine is thy food.” This is a perfect description for one of our favorite foods, broccoli sprouts! Broccoli sprouts are... Read more...
Flax seeds in a white bowl and a wooden scoop on marble
Top Health Benefits of Flax Seeds
Flax seeds have been around for thousands of years, but they have become more trendy to eat flaxseed in recent years. Eating flax seeds or the seeds of the flax plant... Read more...
Iron-rich foods in bowls around a chalkboard reading Fe: liver, beans, lentils, seeds, red meat and dark chocolate
Heme Iron vs. Non-Heme Iron
Iron has many important functions in the body: Helps with brain development & growth in children Needed for normal production and function of certain types of cells Boosts resistance to... Read more...
Bowl of colorful cereal with E-number additive labels on a dark green background
Food Additives Every Day Will Not Keep the Doctor Away!
Remember, there are about 4,000 food additives in our food system! Here we are describing how only a few have been shown to affect our health. Quite frankly, we know... Read more...
Swiss roll cake with flags marking additive E-numbers, next to lab flasks and syringes
Food Additives: What We Eat Today Is NOT What Our Great Grandparents Ate
Maybe you frequently read the nutrition facts label and ingredient list. But do you really know what half of those ingredients actually are? Soy lecithin, natural or artificial flavors, calcium... Read more...
Bowls of beans, peas, nuts, lentils and seeds with broccoli, corn, avocado and carrots
Plant Based Protein: Are Vegans Deficient?
Our culture has programmed us to think of meat and dairy products whenever protein is mentioned, especially when it comes to working out and athletic performance. This brings us to... Read more...
Glass jar of chia seeds with wooden scoops on burlap
Chia Seed Benefits: Are You Eating This Superfood?
What superfoods have you been eating these days? Have you been making room in your diet for one of the most nutritious, superfood seeds on the planet? If not, we... Read more...
Plant milks, cheese, nuts, oats, rice and a coconut on a white table
Why We Don’t Need to Drink Milk to Get Enough Calcium
Guess That Vitamin:  This nutrient is associated with this popular ad campaign. Besides helping to keep our bones healthy, it has many other vital functions in the body. Is drinking... Read more...
Fingers holding a clear softgel capsule up to the sun
Vitamin D: The Vitamin That Fights Disease
Vitamin D has many important functions in the body: Helps the body absorb and retain adequate levels of calcium and phosphorus (extremely important for bone health) Needed for bone growth... Read more...
Lentils, chickpeas, mushrooms, nuts, carrots, cucumber, orange and asparagus on dark green
The Vitamin you Have Never Heard of
We have another nutrition riddle for you. In 1862, this nutrient was name after the Greek term for bile (chole) because it was first isolated from ox bile. It was... Read more...
Fresh vegetables and fruit on one side, fries, donuts, burgers and candy on the other
Just How Bad is Processed Food for Our Health?
The USDA has an ambiguous stance on the definition of processed foods, which is: “Any raw agricultural commodity subjected to washing, cleaning, milling, cutting, chopping, heating, pasteurizing, blanching, cooking, canning,... Read more...
Hand writing B12 in chalk on a green chalkboard
The Magical Vitamin Made by Bacteria
What vitamin is made by bacteria, including bacteria in the soil, bacteria in bodies of water, and bacteria that are housed in the stomachs of grazing animals, such as cows... Read more...
Ripe blueberries growing on a bush
Wild Blueberries: The Next Big Superfood?
Wild blueberries are different from regular blueberries (aka cultivated blueberries) in many ways. For instance, wild blueberries are referred to as “lowbush”, while cultivated blueberries are called “highbush”. What does... Read more...
Purple and orange cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, kale and leafy greens
Raw Foods vs Cooked, Which is Better?
Benefits of Eating Raw Foods Raw foods may be better for mental health. Research has shown that higher intakes of raw fruit and vegetables, compared to cooked or canned, in... Read more...
The word FIBER written in flour among broccoli, corn, avocado, oranges, beans and grains
Why Is Fiber So Important?
I think most people could agree that we should be getting more plants into our diets, but does anyone really know why? Yes, eating more whole plant foods, like fruit,... Read more...
Pink clay model of intestines with a stethoscope on a blue background
Bioavailability & It’s Role In Optimal Health
There may be one important consideration that has been left out. As the old saying goes “you are what you eat”, but we respectfully disagree. You are not necessarily what... Read more...
Plate of sunflower sprouts, pea shoots and alfalfa sprouts on a dark green background
Different Types of Sprouts to Add to Your Diet
We hope you all know a thing or two about sprouts after reading our previous blog article, “The Complete Guide to Sprouts” (if you haven’t already read this, we suggest... Read more...
Close-up of green sprouts with small leaves and seed hulls
The Complete Guide to Sprouts
Edible sprouts have been eaten for thousands of years. Chinese and ancient Egyptians ate sprouts as a “health food”, especially for the purposes of healing and rejuvenation. In this post,... Read more...