I know you might think I do these interviews for you — to help everyone become better parents and raise healthy kids — but honestly, I also learn a lot and get reminded of practices I need to adjust. 😉
Okay… it’s for both of us.
My biggest takeaways from this energetic conversation with Dr. Madiha Saeed are:
- Start the day with gratitude, not only end it.
- Ask children questions that help them connect feelings with actions during the day, instead of listing everything for them.
Those are my two main goals after this chat — and I’m always refreshed after time with my friend Dr. Saeed. 😉
You may come away with other practical insights, such as:
- Why building children’s resilience is essential
- Helping kids take ownership of their health
- An easy weekly habit Dr. Saeed asks her kids to do
- How real-life consequences can reduce stress
I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway or a practical goal you’ll try, especially as the new year begins. Instead of a resolution we’ll likely drop in a few weeks, how can we build a new, sustainable habit?
Can’t see the video? Watch holistic parenting on YouTube.
No time for the video? Here are the notes.
Holistic Parenting with Dr. Saeed
- 0:44: Today’s conversation with Dr. Madiha Saeed is about holistic parenting, resilience, and raising kids who own their health.
- 2:06: We jump into why parenting feels harder now. Children’s health struggles mean the strategies that worked for previous generations may not be enough.
- 3:06: Why are kids misbehaving, difficult to parent, and suffering? Their brains and bodies are out of balance. Dr. Saeed explains neuroeconomics and how it affects behavior and parenting.
- 5:22: Brain-body imbalance makes us agitated, disconnected, and anxious. Research links chronic imbalance to behavior issues and increased inflammation, which can contribute to disease later in life.
- 7:28: We can empower our children through practical self-care. Holistic parenting encourages mindful children by caring for the body, gut, sleep, stress, and nutrition.
- 10:14: I offer an example from my day that illustrates these ideas in action.
- 12:19: Practical steps to empower kids: education about gut health, nutrition, stress management, and sleep gives them tools to make balanced choices. (If you want to see Dr. Saeed cooking for a crowd, check her Instagram.)
My child knows what happens when they put different foods in their body. -Dr. Madiha Saeed
- 14:18: Wake up with gratitude. Starting the day by naming things you’re grateful for helps children make calmer decisions, boosts contentment, and may lower inflammation.
- 15:11: Focus on nutrient-dense, whole foods. During key developmental years, children need quality building blocks for healthy brains and bodies.
- 16:17: Giving kids real responsibilities at home fosters belonging, confidence, and reduces household stress as they see the impact of their contribution.
- 18:38: Foundations of health include digestive function, detoxification, sleep, stress management, social and spiritual well-being. Strengthen these areas and children begin to take responsibility for their health.
- 20:34: Real-life consequences can actually decrease stress. At first that sounds counterintuitive, but when consequences are clear and predictable they create safety and reduce chaos.
- 22:38: Dr. Saeed’s strategies to set kids up for success: role-model behavior, build connection, set high expectations and treat kids with respect, have clear rules, offer choices, praise good behavior, and look for root causes of difficulties.
Every hug and every conversation builds connection. -Dr. Madiha Saeed
- 25:54: Clear expectations are not cruelty — they create safety. Kids thrive with structure. When expectations are unclear they feel insecure and more likely to act out.
- 26:57: As the world changes, children must learn to adapt and maintain balance regardless of external circumstances.
- 27:50: Dr. Saeed recently published a book that blends health and nutrition guidance with parenting strategies, addressing sleep, bullying, and trauma.
Resources We Mention for Holistic Parenting
- Dr. Saeed’s book The Holistic Rx: Your Guide to Healing Chronic Inflammation and Disease
- The Holistic Rx for Kids
- Adam’s Healing Adventure (children’s book)
- Strategies to teach social-emotional learning
- Positive parenting discipline solutions
- Previous interview about sugar and inflammation
- Dr. Saeed’s free healing bundle
- Dr. Saeed’s professional website and social channels
- Follow Dr. Saeed on Instagram
Madiha M. Saeed, MD (HolisticMom, MD) is a board-certified family physician, health influencer, international speaker, and author. Her work spans books that combine functional medicine and parenting, and she speaks internationally on holistic health topics. Dr. Saeed contributes to medical education initiatives and media, and her children co-host a podcast that empowers kids to learn about health and wellness.
