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?
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
👉 Get 15% off Lovebird cereal with code DADICATED15: https://lovebirdfoods.com/?ref=sujibyed
Watch the Full Episode
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/
Joe Carr is an entrepreneur, advocate, and passionate educator on fatherhood and partnership. Driven by a desire to provide high-quality, nutrient-dense baby food for his daughter Della, Joe and his wife founded Serenity Kids baby food brand after experiencing their own health transformations through clean eating. Now, alongside his work in revolutionizing baby nutrition, Joe is on a mission to help new dads navigate the transformational journey of fatherhood. Through his podcast and social media platform Dadicated Joe, he shares real, honest conversations about showing up for your children, supporting your partner, and embracing the identity shift that comes with becoming a dad.
👉 Get 15% off your first Serenity Kids order with code: DADICATED15 https://myserenitykids.com/
