Thermo 4 Life

Today I made a lunch that I’ve come to love—smoked salmon, white beans, creamy Greek yoghurt, roasted veg, avocado, tapenade, and quinoa. It’s the kind of bowl I would have scrolled past a decade ago and thought, “That’s for someone with more time. More discipline. More energy than I’ve got.”

But it wasn’t built in a day.

This lunch is a result of years of habit stacking, soul work, and countless mornings where I decided to try again—even when the toast crusts, leftover fish fingers, and half-drunk teas were easier. I made this choice today for the same reason I made it yesterday: not just for me, but for the tiny humans I’m raising.

And let me tell you: teaching my children to love whole food in a world where joy is often tied to sugar? It’s not easy.

🎂 When Sugar Means Celebration

If you’ve ever stood at a children’s birthday party and watched your little one’s eyes light up at the sight of a bright pink cupcake, you’ll understand what I’m about to say. Somehow, over the years, cake became a symbol of happiness. Ice cream meant celebration. Sweets were a reward, not just a treat.

The tongue—the one tiny part of the body that benefits from these foods—became the boss. It overruled energy crashes, sugar comedowns, mood dips, and tummy aches.

It dictated the memories:

“Was the party good?”

“Yeah! They had fizzy drinks and rainbow cake!”

And as a mum who’s committed to teaching my children to nourish their bodies, I find myself holding a soft tension. Because I don’t want to demonise joy. I just want to redefine it.

🪴 I Don’t Control My Children’s Diet—And That’s the Point

Here’s the honest truth: I can’t control what my children eat. Not really.

I can offer options. I can pack lunches. I can make beautiful dinners full of colour and love. I can speak gently about how food makes us feel. But ultimately, they will decide what goes into their mouths.

Control isn’t the goal.

My goal is to guide. To model. To educate. To whisper truth in a world that shouts sugar.

🌱 Planting Seeds, Not Forcing Outcomes

I don’t speak about whole foods with fear. I speak with intention.

I don’t say, “You have to eat this because it’s good for you.”

I say, “This helps your body feel strong. This helps your brain think clearly. This gives you real energy—not just zoom-zoom-crash energy.”

Every single day, I plant seeds. I don’t always see the fruit right away. Sometimes it looks like a spoonful of hummus left untouched. Sometimes it’s a grape eaten and a cucumber pushed aside. Other days, they surprise me with:

“Mummy, can I have some more of that lentil thing?”

It’s not about perfection. It’s about exposure, consistency, and emotional safety.

Because here’s what I’ve learned: if food is tied to shame, pressure, or power struggles—it doesn’t nourish. Not truly.

🍓 My Children’s Joy Deserves Better Than a Sugar Rush

I want my children to experience joy that’s not just tongue-deep.

Yes, I let them have cake at parties. Yes, I say yes to chocolate sometimes. But in between those moments, I am gently redirecting:

• “Did that give you a burst of energy… or did it make you tired after?”
• “How does your tummy feel now?”
• “What food would feel good in your body today?”

I want them to be curious, not compliant.

Connected, not controlled.

Because the real goal isn’t for them to eat kale.

It’s for them to choose kale one day—because they feel the difference.

🥗 Back to My Bowl: The Ripple of a Mother’s Choices

This is where the lunch bowl comes in. Because even when I’m not “teaching,” I’m still teaching.

They see me eating colourful, whole meals. They see me enjoying vegetables without comment. They see me choosing food that nourishes—not just fills.

Sometimes they ask, “Can I have some of that?”

Sometimes they scrunch up their noses.

Sometimes they copy me and try to make their own mini versions.

All of it counts.

All of it is teaching.

💛 For the Mums Doing It Softly

If you’re a mum reading this who’s still in the stage of toast crusts and freezer waffles—please know: you are not behind. You’re just in the messy middle, where most of the beauty is built.

This isn’t a post to say, “Look what I’ve done.”

It’s a post to say, “Look what’s possible.”

And more importantly, “Look what lasts.”

Because any diet or trend can teach a child to follow.

But only love and intention can teach them to choose.

✨ A Final Word: Redefining the Taste of Joy

One day, I believe with all my heart, my children will look back and feel a deeper kind of joy around food. The kind that doesn’t come in a packet. The kind that’s not followed by a crash.

They’ll feel the joy of strength. Of energy. Of calm. Of clarity. Of a body that supports their dreams.

And maybe, just maybe…

they’ll remember a mum who let the cake be part of the party—

but taught them that true joy tastes like wholeness.

📌 Share This With a Mum You Love

If this resonated with you, please share it.

We are stronger together, especially when we’re doing it softly.

📸 Want to see the lunch I mentioned? 

By Nikki, Mum of 4