21. What's Really in Our Kids' Food? Avoiding Toxins with Parker Brooks

We may think a lot about what foods our kids should eat, but what about what we DON'T want them to eat? I'm not just talking about junk food, but junk that ends up in what would otherwise be healthy food.   In this episode, I sit down with my friend, fellow food entrepreneur, and health warrior Parker Brooks, father of two and founder of Lovebird cereal. Parker left his career at General Mills after his daughter was born, driven by a "Jerry Maguire moment" that changed everything. What followed was Lovebird: a clean, whole-food cereal brand that donates 20% of profits to fight childhood cancer. But this conversation goes far beyond cereal. Parker breaks down what's actually in our kitchens—PFAS (forever chemicals), glyphosate, heavy metals, and microplastics, and why small, intentional swaps can make a huge difference. We talk about the first 1,000 days of a child's life, the myth of "safe" processed foods, and how to balance healthy parenting without letting fear run the show. 👇 In this episode, we explore: What toxins are really hiding in kids' cereal? How do PFAS, glyphosate, and microplastics affect children's health? What kitchen swaps make the biggest difference for families? Why do the first 1,000 days of life shape lifelong taste and health habits? How can new parents balance fear with grace while raising healthy kids?  👉 Get 15% off Lovebird cereal with code DADICATED15: https://lovebirdfoods.com/?ref=sujibyed  👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/  About Parker Brooks After the birth of his daughter, Parker Brooks left his career in Big Food to reimagine cereal with real ingredients from the earth and no fake stuff. Inspired by his kids, Yuki (6) and Robbie (4), Parker founded Lovebird cereal to give families a clean, whole-food breakfast free of toxins and inflammatory ingredients. His mission is to help families eat better, rise above health challenges, and start each day with nourishment and intention. He features tons of amazing resources on his social media on how to reduce the toxins in our everyday life.  🌐 Website: https://lovebirdfoods.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatlovebird/ Being dadicated isn't about having all the answers. It's about showing up. It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe. Follow Joe Carr on social media  Instagram: @dadicatedjoe  TikTok: @dadicatedjoe  YouTube @dadicatedjoe