05/09/2025
Today my 5-year-old came out of school and asked why he couldn’t have chocolate bars and crisps in his lunchbox like the other kids 🍫🥤🍟.
And honestly… how do you explain to a 5-year-old why we choose fruit, whole foods, and homemade snacks instead of the brightly wrapped, sugary stuff that’s everywhere? 🍎🥪
Schools talk about “healthy eating,” yet tuck shops, after-school clubs and even some rewards are still built around sweets. Everything is so normalised that kids think this is just what all children should eat 🤷♀️.
It breaks my heart 💔 when he says, “But everyone else gets it, why not me?” Because the truth is, sugar spikes, crashes and ultra-processed foods don’t fuel his body the same way as real food does.
But here’s the thing 👉 I’m not against sugar or treats. I actually care a lot about balance ⚖️. I don’t ever want him to grow up fearing food or developing an unhealthy relationship with it. I want him to enjoy cake at birthdays 🎂, an ice cream at the park 🍦, but also to know how good it feels to fuel his body with food that nourishes him 🌱💪.
For me, it’s about moderation ✨ — teaching him the why so he doesn’t grow up with guilt around food or risk eating issues later in life.
This is the challenge: protecting his health ❤️ while also protecting his relationship with food 🥗.
Parents, do you feel the same struggle with school snacks and lunches? How do you handle the “but everyone else has it” question? 🤔
