“Voices at the Table: A Kids-Led Conversation on Food”
Adults make most food decisions for children—but children live with those decisions every single day. What happens when we invite kids into the conversation?
In this refreshing and insight-rich talk, The Holistic Kids—authors of The Teen Health Revolution—offer adults something rarely heard: honest, lived insight into what truly helps kids eat better… and what unintentionally makes it harder.
Through real-world experiences, research, and conversations with leading health experts, this session highlights the gap between adult intention and child experience—and provides practical, immediately actionable strategies to bridge it.
Attendees will learn:
- What is really hijacking kids and their food choices
- What motivates kids to make healthier food choices (and what shuts that motivation down)
- How pressure, restriction, and messaging can backfire
- Why autonomy, involvement, and respect increase buy-in
- Simple shifts at home, in clinics, and in schools that improve long-term eating habits
- How to create food environments that feel supportive rather than stressful
This is not about blaming parents, teachers, or schools. It’s about partnership.
Kids want guidance, structure, and support—but they also want to feel heard, respected, and included. When adults listen to children’s lived experiences with food, healthy habits become more realistic, sustainable, and even joyful.
Because when kids have a voice at the table, real change happens.
I. Opening Keynote
The Future of Lifestyle Medicine Begins with Youth
Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey Bland
Duration: 30 Minutes
II. Featured Presentation
Voices at the Table: What Kids Want Adults to Understand About Food
Presented by The Holistic Kids
Duration: 60 Minutes
III. Panel discussion 30 minutes
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Event Information
This event is exclusively available to members—join now or become a member to gain access.
Speakers
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Jeff Bland, PhDDr. Jeffrey Bland is a personable and highly respected thought leader who has spent more than four decades focused on the improvement of human health.
He is known worldwide as the founder of the Functional Medicine movement, which represents his vision for a care model that is grounded in systems biology and informed by research that he has a unique ability to synthesize. His pioneering work has created the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute (PLMI), as well as the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), the global leader in Functional Medicine education. Since 1991, hundreds of thousands of healthcare practitioners have participated in PLMI and IFM programs, and this collective knowledge has positively impacted the lives of patients all over the world. -
Abdullah AnsariAward-Winning Bestselling Author | Co-Host, The Holistic Kids’ Show | International Speaker | Youth Health Advocate
Abdullah Ansari is an 18-year-old award-winning bestselling author, health advocate, national speaker, and co-author of the bestselling book The Teen Health Revolution: Lifestyle Secrets to Optimize Your Mind, Body, and Soul. As co-host of The Holistic Kids’ Show Podcast, which ranks among the top 2% of podcasts globally with over 250 episodes, Abdullah has interviewed world-renowned physicians, New York Times bestselling authors, Harvard professors, and leading experts in health and wellness.
Abdullah has spoken at nationally recognized events and conferences, including the International Institute of Functional Medicine 2024, A4M 2025, the Health Business Growth Collective Summit 2025 and FDN Holistic Health Week 2026. Alongside his brothers, he was honored with the 2025 “Up and Comer” Award from the Health Business Growth Collective for inspiring families and empowering youth to take charge of their health.
Featured in the docuseries Young and Thriving as “a young voice for mental health,” Abdullah has also appeared on NBC, CBS, TEDed, and has been featured in over 100 podcasts and publications, including Wellness Mama, To Your Good Health, Just Ingredients, Extend with Dr. Darshan Shah, The Wendy Myers Podcast, Biohack Yourself Media, and many more. He has memorized the whole Quran in Arabic, loves to play soccer, and is interested in pursuing a medical career.
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Zain AnsariAward-Winning Bestselling Author | TEDx Speaker | Co-Host, The Holistic Kids’ Show | International Speaker
Zain Ansari is a 15-year-old award-winning bestselling author, TEDx speaker, national presenter, and co-author of the bestselling book The Teen Health Revolution. As co-host of The Holistic Kids’ Show Podcast, he helps bring evidence-based health information to families through conversations with leading experts in medicine, nutrition, mental health, and personal development. The podcast ranks top 2% globally with over 250 episodes.
Zain has spoken at major conferences and events, including the International Institute of Functional Medicine 2024, A4M 2025, the Health Business Growth Collective Summit 2025, and FDN Holistic Health Week 2026. Together with his brothers, he received the 2025 “Up and Comer” Award from the Health Business Growth Collective in recognition of their leadership and impact in youth health education.
In addition to delivering a TEDx talk titled Antidotes to a Hijacked Generation, Zain has been featured on NBC, CBS, and in over 100 podcasts and publications, including Wellness Mama, To Your Good Health, Just Ingredients, Extend with Dr. Darshan Shah, The Wendy Myers Podcast, Biohack Yourself Media, and many others. When Zain is not speaking, writing, podcasting or creating social media content to empower youth, you can find him on Google Maps exploring the world, as he is passionate about architecture. Zain loves to learn new languages.
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Emaad AnsariAward-Winning Bestselling Author | Co-Host, The Holistic Kids’ Show | International Speaker | Youth Health Advocate
Emaad Ansari is a 13-year-old award-winning bestselling author, national speaker, youth health advocate, and co-author of the bestselling book The Teen Health Revolution. As co-host of The Holistic Kids’ Show Podcast, he helps educate families through interviews with leading experts in health, wellness, parenting, and personal growth. The podcast ranks top 2% globally with over 250 episodes.
Emaad has presented at nationally recognized conferences and events, including the International Institute of Functional Medicine 2024, A4M 2025, the Health Business Growth Collective Summit 2025, and FDN Holistic Health Week 2026. He and his brothers were honored with the 2025 “Up and Comer” Award from the Health Business Growth Collective for their contributions to youth health education and advocacy.
Emaad has also been featured in over 100 podcasts and publications, including Wellness Mama, To Your Good Health, Just Ingredients, Extend with Dr. Darshan Shah, The Wendy Myers Podcast, Biohack Yourself Media, and many more. Passionate about helping young people understand the importance of healthy living, Emaad loves puzzles, math, gardening, loves to play board games, basketball and soccer.
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Qasim AnsariAward-Winning Bestselling Author | Co-Host, The Holistic Kids’ Show | International Youth Speaker | Health Advocate
Qasim Ansari is a 10-year-old award-winning bestselling author, youth speaker, health advocate, and co-author of the bestselling book The Teen Health Revolution. As the youngest co-host of The Holistic Kids’ Show Podcast, he brings curiosity, enthusiasm, and a unique perspective to conversations with world-class experts in health, wellness, education, and personal development. The podcast ranks top 2% globally with over 250 episodes.
Qasim has spoken alongside his brothers at major conferences and events, including the A4M 2025 and FDN Holistic Health Week 2026. Together, they were honored with the 2025 “Up and Comer” Award from the Health Business Growth Collective for their leadership in promoting youth health and wellness.
Despite his young age, Qasim has been featured in over 100 podcasts and publications, including Wellness Mama, To Your Good Health, Just Ingredients, Extend with Dr. Darshan Shah, The Wendy Myers Podcast, Biohack Yourself Media, and many others. Through speaking, podcasting, and advocacy, he encourages children to discover that healthy habits can be fun, empowering, and achievable at any age. Qasim loves to learn, swim and has done his own laundry since he was 5 years old.
