Mindful Kitchen: Teaching Kids Life Skills, Gratitude and Reducing Food Waste

What if your kitchen could be more than a place to cook? In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Licensed Therapist and Mom Coach Vanessa De Jesus Guzman speaks with Janet Iri, founder of My Mindful Kitchen and creator of the MMK Method.Janet brings over 25 years of experience in hospitality, education, and sustainability — and she believes the kitchen is where parenting, connection, and mindfulness come alive. Together, we explore how everyday food routines can teach kids gratitude, life skills, and eco-friendly habits, while also reducing food waste at home.This isn’t about picture-perfect meals. It’s about creating moments of learning, laughter, and connection around the table. Whether you’re looking to involve your kids in cooking, reduce your grocery waste, or simply bring more presence to mealtimes, this episode offers practical strategies you can use right away.EPISODE DESCRIPTIONWhy the kitchen is the perfect place to teach kids life skills and valuesPractical ways to reduce food waste and save money at homeHow mindful eating builds gratitude and family connectionCreative ways to involve kids in shopping, cooking, and meal planningWhat the Mindful Kitchen Method is and how it can help your familyTUNE IN TO LEARN ✔ How to transform mealtimes into mindful, meaningful family moments ✔ Easy strategies to reduce food waste in your kitchen ✔ Fun and simple ways to get kids engaged with food ✔ Why gratitude and curiosity matter at the dinner tableFREEBIEhttps://www.mymindfulkitchen.com/ebook-becoming-a-mindful-foodieFIND JANEThttps://www.mymindfulkitchen.com/https://www.facebook.com/mmkmethod/ https://www.instagram.com/mmkmethod/TAKEAWAY MESSAGEYour kitchen can be more than a place to make meals — it can be a space for connection, gratitude, and teaching kids lessons that last a lifetime.Send us Fan MailSupport the showGRAB AN OFFER🎁 Free Resource: 120 Coping Skills: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills💛 Coaching for the Mom CEO: https://www.amigamoms.com💡 Coaching for Child Therapists: https://www.thekidclinician.com/💚 Coaching & Community for Latinx Therapists: https://www.latinxpracticecollective.com/ABOUT MEI'm Vanessa, the therapist who helps high-achieving adults become the best version of themselves, not just at work, but in the rooms that matter most. I host the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, named the #1 Latino Mental Health Podcast in 2026 by Feedspot. I believe the people who give everything to everyone else deserve to stop surviving and start living intentionally.CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/📋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/counselorvdejesus/🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speakingDISCLAIMERFree to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed...