We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Misa Pignataro. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Misa below.

Hi Misa , thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

I taught first grade for 10 years. One of the most important lessons I learned is that kids need to feel safe in order to learn. Kids need to feel comfortable in order for them to take risks. Kids need to know that, we as teachers understand them, in order for them to access their fullest potential in the classroom.

The first 6 weeks of school were spent building a safe environment where kids felt welcome and safe; where kids were comfortable to raise their hand, share their thoughts, and come to me with questions. Building trust takes time and intention.

Now as a Picky Eating Coach and someone who helps parents create healthy habits and a healthy foundation while their kids are still under their roof, it is so important to help kids feel comfortable around food and at the dinner table. It is important to create an environment where kids eat broccoli because they want to and not because they have to. It is important to help build kids’ curiosity around food before you expect them to eat their veggies. This takes time, patience, and intention, just like it does in creating a classroom where kids thrive because they feel safe.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a mom of 2 girls, a former teacher, and a Certified Health Coach I love empowering parents to raise healthy, happy eaters. I believe our health is our greatest asset, our true wealth, and the BEST gift we can give our kids. I am passionate about setting our kids up for a lifetime of health by helping parents to increase kids veggie consumption in fun and creative ways and decrease their sugar intake. I love supporting families to get through picky eating, cook 1 meal for the whole family, end the constant dinner battles, and create a positive relationship around food.

My oldest daughter has always been an adventurous eater who is willing to try almost anything. I thought I was doing everything right until I had my second daughter who was extremely picky. I quickly learned that everything I knew and did for my oldest was not going to work for my youngest. I knew this was a critical time in my daughter’s development and did not want to just wait it out and see what happens. My daughter was missing out on important nutrients which motivated me to try something new.

I spent a lot of time researching, reading, listening, learning, experimenting, and adding tools to my parenting toolbox. I am so thankful I have 2 girls, now 10 and 12, who are adventurous eaters, who are willing to at least try most foods. This did not happen over night. It took time, patience, consistency, and modeling.

I am so thankful I am now able to take everything I learned along my own journey and share it with parents to help them get through picky eating or ideally prevent picky eating all together.

I love meeting families where ever they are on their journey, reminding them that small, simple, sustainable change can add up and have a big impact on their families health overtime. I have created several different resources to meet families where they are whether it is kids cooking classes, 1 on 1 coaching, or my Raising Healthy Eaters Audio Course designed for busy moms to listen and learn on the go. I have also created guides to help support families in swapping out the ultra-processed foods for “better-for-you” options. All of the foods I recommend in the guides are made with simple, real food ingredients, and taste delicious.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I started Misa’s Clean Kitchen with kids cooking classes. My mission was to show kids that food can taste good and be good for you. All of the recipes we made together had veggies in them designed to help kids become more comfortable with vegetables. Rainbow Veggie Sushi and Rainbow Salad with a homemade Ranch dressing quickly became two of the most popular classes. Kids loved practicing their knife skills, learning a new skill, like rolling sushi, and taste testing a rainbow of colorful veggies.

After a couple of years teaching kids cooking classes I wanted to make more of an impact with families. I realized many of the kids in my classes considered themselves picky eaters. I also realized that most kids were at least willing to try what they had created when the pressure was taken away and they were invested in the process.

About a year ago, I pivoted my business from teaching kids classes to working 1 on 1 with parents. I now teach parents strategies and provide tips and tricks to help them get through picky eating or ideally prevent picky eating from happening all together by starting healthy habits from the beginning.

I love to hear parents sharing that their kids are eating more veggies than they ever have and that they are more willing to try new foods. Parents also share that they feel more confident with feeding their family. One mom shared that she started eating better as well and fueling herself so she could show up the way she wanted to for her family. Starting her day off with a protein rich smoothie, made a big difference in her energy level and her ability to hold her ground, setting everyone up for a successful day!

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Helping my clients achieve the transformation that they were hoping for has been an amazing way to grow my business. I’m thankful for my own experience with having a picky eater because I am now able to empathize and understand where parents are coming from. I know how hard it is to feed our kids well in our fast food, fast paced, modern world. I know it can feel like a constant uphill battle with sugar around every corner. I know how all consuming feeding a picky eating can be.

I think being able to relate to my clients, empathize with what they are going through, and know how to increase their kids variety in fun and creative ways without the pressure has been key to my client’s success.

Contact Info:

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

Image Credits

Blessed Day Photography