In this episode, I’m joined by Danna Berlad, fellow millennial mama and founder of Feel Good Snax, a healthy snack brand born from her desire to feed her kids additive-free, protein-packed treats.

What started as another internet deep dive, turned into a lesson about the evolving language we use to describe our parenting styles. From crunchy to silky to scrunchie, these playful labels are helping millennial moms name how we show up as parents, while shaking off the judgment we so often feel from others (and from ourselves).

While I was familiar with “crunchy” moms, the terms “silky” and “scrunchie” were new to me. Danna and I had fun figuring out where we fall on the spectrum. And then we put our mom styles to the test as we talked through our food philosophies, breastfeeding experiences, sleep methods, and more. 

We also chatted about how we handle conflicting opinions from family, pediatricians, and social media, and the pressure to do motherhood the right way.

At the end of the day, Danna and I both agree: whether you're proudly crunchy, totally silky, or thriving somewhere in the middle (I see you fellow scrunchies), the only “right” way to parent is the one that works for you.

Danna Berlad is a wife, mom of two boys, and the founder of Feel Good Snax. She’s all about finding the balance between healthy and happy, and everything in between. Focused on eating well, but a firm believer in enjoying ourselves, she doesn’t think eating should be so hard. Providing snacks made from real ingredients you recognize, Danna’s goal is simple: to offer options you can truly “feel good” about giving your kids.

In this episode, we cover:

• What it means to be a “crunchy,” “silky,” or “scrunchie” mom.

• Danna’s journey of becoming a momtrepreneur. 

• Natural vs. everything else — why is feeding our kids so complicated?

• The pressure and stigma around breastfeeding.

• Sleep training, co-sleeping, or crying-it-out…the kids are OK.

Resources & Links:

• Here’s the list of “dirty dozen” foods with the highest amounts of pesticide residues. And the “clean 15” foods that are least likely to be contaminated by pesticide residues.

• And if you want another resource, check out the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce.

• The USDA’s 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans stated there should be a “complete avoidance of all added sugar for children until two years old.”

1. This is the blog I mentioned about the pressures of breastfeeding.

Connect with Danna:

• Follow on Instagram 

• Send her an email

Connect with Christine:

• Follow on Instagram

• Follow on TikTok

• Check out my website

Related Episode:

• 15. Hormones control it all…from pregnancy to perimenopause, with Teneika Gravely - Part 1

More about Momming as a Millennial podcast: 

Welcome to Momming as a Millennial, the podcast where we dive into the challenges and triumphs of being a millennial mom in today’s dynamic world. Join your host, Christine Giarrizzo, on this candid journey as we navigate the complexities of motherhood, from tackling outdated stereotypes, to embracing our individual parenting styles.

In each episode, we explore the intersection of tradition and modern parenting. We’ll look at unsolicited advice and internet noise, as well as gender roles and expectations handed down by our parents and grandparents, in order to find what resonates with our true, authentic selves.

Tune in for honest conversations, genuine stories, expert insights, and a supportive community that understands the unique circumstance of navigating parenthood as a millennial. Together we’ll rewrite the narrative, challenge societal norms, and celebrate the diverse voices that make up our generation.

Let’s redefine what it means to be a mama in the millennial era.

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