Allison Holker Reveals How Her Parenting Style Has Changed: ‘I Was Very Strict’

Former “Dancing With the Stars” pro Allison Holker is opening up about how her parenting style has evolved over the years, especially when it comes to her family’s diet. 

Holker and her 17-year-old daughter Weslie recently chatted with lifestyle entrepreneur Ayesha Sehra on their podcast “Between Us with Allison and Weslie” and the conversation turned to nutrition. Weslie joked that Holker used to be an “almond mom,” telling Sehra, “She was like, ‘You have to eat greens, it’s chicken every night.’”

Holker laughed and admitted that her daughter was right, but explained that her outlook has since changed. “There’s a lot of healthy options in our home, but I also allow them to be children,” the dancer said.

Why Allison Holker Took Nutrition So Seriously

Holker revealed that when she was growing up she ate fast food all the time and rarely drank water. The “So You Think You Can Dance” alum said that once she had children herself she wanted to do everything right. 

“With Weslie, I was, like, ‘OK, we’re going to do this. I’m going to be a good mom,’” Holker explained. “…I thought that being a good mom meant that everything was healthy. I was researching everything that was in our kitchen, and I was really diligent about it.” she added, “I was very strict.” 

Holker shared that she would always cook organic meals and banned processed snacks from the household. But the menu in the family’s home was not exactly a hit with Weslie. “I love a good chip, I love hot chips and she would not let me eat it,” Weslie said, admitting she preferred gas station snacks to her mom’s Whole Foods fare.

What Changed Allison Holker’s Outlook

Holker, who shares Weslie, 9-year-old Maddox, and 5-year-old Zaia with her late husband Stephen “tWitch” Boss, realized she was “a little extreme” when it came to her family’s nutrition. The dancer shared that she has loosened up a lot when it comes to her children’s eating habits.

“With Weslie, I was a little strict and now with Maddox and Zaia, I want to be a little more well-balanced,” she explained, noting that letting the kids have more choices was actually fun. “I found a little more joy in it, too,” Holker said. 

But Holker doesn’t regret all the research into healthy eating she did when Weslie was younger. “It was a really good choice for me because it educated me more, but then I feel everything comes with balance,” she shared.