I have four kiddos, ages 8, 6, 3 and 1.

They are just like most other kids.

They love eating snacks.

They love anything processed and artificial.

And they once came running up to me every 20 minutes asking for snacks.

It would make me bonkers! I’m sure you can relate.

I used to think that they were just hungry all the time, until it dawned on me that I was only filling their bellies temporarily, not nourishing their bodies.

One day, I started to make changes.

I wasn’t doubling my grocery list budget. We couldn’t afford to do that.

I was becoming strategic with what I fed my kids.

I started balancing their meals.

I stopped buying processed foods and gave them real food as snacks instead.

That’s when I saw shifts start to happen.

Shifts in their behaviour.

Shifts in their moods.

Shifts in their satiation.

No, I don’t slave away in the kitchen all day.

I’m strategic with my time and their nourishment.

It’s not about overhauling everything or going 100% organic.

It’s about simple changes that sustain their bodies and don’t cause blood sugar spikes.

And the small changes along the way have been worth it.

Five simple ways to balance your child's blood sugar (and satiate their hunger):

Here are some ways to balance your child’s blood sugar:

1. Give them a protein-rich breakfast. Foods like eggs on wholegrain toast, yoghurt, berries and nuts, overnight oats with granola and berries, a balanced smoothie, frittata, sausages and potatoes.
2. Give them a balanced snack in between meals. Fruit and nut butter, yoghurt, cheese and rice crackers, shredded chicken or sausage, healthy baked good (with limited sugar).
3. Keep them hydrated. Drinking plenty of water helps to lower blood sugar. Sometimes children confuse hunger with thirst and staying hydrated should limit their hunger (coconut water is a great natural source of electrolytes as extra hydration).
4. Give them protein at every meal. Your child will continue asking for snacks if they haven’t eaten enough protein. Meat, eggs, beans, lentils, tofu are types of proteins to add.
5. Ensure they are getting enough sleep. It seems overrated, but getting sufficient rest helps control blood sugar. Make sure your child is getting enough sleep to maintain blood sugar and ensure they eat breakfast within an hour of waking up.

If you’ve implemented these steps and they are still asking for snacks, it might be out of habit or boredom.

Like anything, it takes a few days of unlearning what they have consistently done for a long time. So if you put in the hard yards for a few days, you won’t hear “mum, can I have a snack?” every 20 minutes like I once did.

Want to learn more about nourishing your child?

I run an online program called Nourish Your Family: a practical family-centred program for mothers to nourish their families with confidence and ease.

If you want to join the waitlist for my next intake in July or learn what it’s about, click here.​

All my love,

Jess x