Do you ever wish there was a button you could press that made your child:
- stop talking back
- go to bed without a hostage negotiation
- and sit still for more than 11 consecutive seconds
Unfortunately, we have not found that button yet.
But we have discovered one thing that almost guarantees chaos:
A kid loaded up on carbs AND running low on protein.
Last night, Milo went out to dinner with a grandparent (who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty).
When he got home, he proudly informed us about the impressive quantity of dessert he had consumed.
Then the scientific study began.
He bounced off the walls.
And his brother.
And the bathtub.
And possibly the dog.
Every request we made was apparently unreasonable oppression.
“Please put on pajamas.”
“No.”
“Please stop karate-kicking the couch.”
“NEVER.”
Two hours after bedtime, he emerged from his room claiming he was “dying of thirst,” while vibrating with the energy of a caffeinated raccoon.
Now to be clear: we fully support grandparents spoiling their grandkids. That’s part of the job description. Everybody had fun, so no hard feelings.
But it was also a very vivid reminder of how much food affects behavior—especially in kids.
We’ve seen it over and over again:
When kids are overloaded with carbs AND short on protein, everything gets harder.
- More meltdowns.
- More arguing.
- More bedtime battles.
- More exhaustion for parents.
But giving growing kids nutrient-dense, protein-rich food consistently can make a huge difference in mood, focus, energy, and emotional regulation.
Most likely, the problem isn’t that your child is “bad.”
It’s probably just that they’re running on bread and fruit roll-ups (even if they’re organic)