Today we’d like to introduce you to Misa Pignataro

Hi Misa , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

My youngest was diagnosed with failure to thrive at 1 years old, due to what we found out later, was a slew of food sensitivities. 10 years ago there weren’t as many allergy friendly options at the store, as there are today so I taught myself how to cook without all the top allergens. I learned that food can still taste delicious, be good for us, and help us to heal. I was also navigating picky eating with my daughter and did as much reading, listening, learning, and experimenting as I could. It took some time but, I’m thankful both my girls are thriving and adventurous eaters. Feeding our kids well, in this fast food, highly processed world is hard! I love helping to support moms during this challenging time and help them to create healthy habits and a healthy foundation, setting their kids up for a life of health and happiness. I am passionate about empowering families to pass along the gift of health to future generations, as my parents did for me.

I love working with families to help get through the stressful picky eating stage so they can enjoy family dinners again and serve 1 meal the whole family will eat. I work with families to transition to a more whole foods lifestyle, increasing fruits and veggies in fun and creative ways while decreasing sugar and ultra processed foods. I learned the hard way, that when we keep the adventure high and the pressure low, kids are much more willing to try new foods and have a positive relationship around food, which is key to creating health and kids who thrive!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

I started Misa’s Clean Kitchen, with teaching kids cooking classes around my kitchen table. COVID hit soon after I started and had to pivot to virtual kids cooking classes. I had never taught virtually before, so it definitely took some time to navigate and adjust to a new way of teaching for me and a new way of learning for the kids.

What started as a challenge, turned into an amazing opportunity to work with hundreds of families all over New England through libraries. I loved showing kids that food can taste delicious AND be good for us! I loved exposing kids to veggies in fun and creative ways that many had never tried before. Often times, the challenge was creating a safe, no pressure environment where kids were open and willing to try something new. Watching kids try and enjoy new veggies for the first time puts a smile on my face, as well as the kid’s face and the parent’s face every time!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

As a former first grade teacher, kids have been near and dear to my heart for a long time and now, as a mom of 2 girls, creating health for my own girls as well for my clients, so they can thrive and pass along the gift of health to the next generation has become my mission.

I pride myself in helping parents create a safe, no pressure environment at home where kids are excited and open to trying new foods. I love empowering families to expand their kid’s palate and raise curious, adventurous eaters. Our popular Taste-O-Meter is one of our favorite tools where kids are encouraged to rate their food, turning something that can be intimidating and scary into something that is fun and exciting. Kids often ask to try new foods, just so they can use the Taste-O-Meter, a definite win in my book!

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?

Along with creating a no pressure, safe environment to explore new foods, I think educating kids, in an age appropriate way, is an amazing way to help kids take control of their own health. During my 1 on 1 coaching with parents, my goal is to help them raise independent kids so when they leave the house they know how to take care of themselves and feed themselves well, when they choose to.

This summer, I spent some time teaching my own kids how to become Ingredient Detectives. I wanted them to be able to go to the store and pick packaged foods with clean, real food ingredients. They have definitely put their knowledge to good use and are reading everything now which is fun to see them interested and learning what is actually in our food. It can be a very eye opening process to learn how to shop, what is in our food, and why we buy the foods that we do and put other foods back on the shelf.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.misascleankitchen.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misascleankitchen/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MisasCleanKitchen