‘Parenting is mostly eating scraps’: Why a dietitian frowns on this dad’s breakfast

Sean Szeps is an author and parenting commentator. The 37-year-old shares his day on a plate.

7:30am I steal a single crust of toast and a sad half strawberry from my twins’ breakfast as I pack their lunches. Parenting, I believe, is mostly eating scraps. I make myself a decaf iced latte with almond milk, drink two sips, then forget it exists.

8am I inhale a banana with a tablespoon of peanut butter while standing in the kitchen, already late for the gym. Pre-workout powder and creatine mixed in a Barbie shaker bottle because I’m that dad.

9am Water. Endless water as I do a session with my personal trainer.

10.15am A post-gym protein bar – “birthday cake” flavour. If I’m going to suffer I want fake sprinkles.

11am-12.30pm While filming content with Amanda, my digital producer, I eat three dried mango strips and a handful of popcorn.

1pm Lunch is a caesar salad (no to croutons, yes to bacon) and a Wild Berry kombucha eaten standing up.

3.30pm Pick up the kids. I treat my daughter (and me) to hot chocolate. She drinks half. I finish both. Three sour peach hearts.

7pm Dinner is orange chicken with garlicky green beans and broccolini, made mostly by my seven-year-old sous chef. By 8.30pm I crawl into bed with a book and a glass of iced water with lemon.

Dr Joanna McMillan says

Top marks for… Keeping protein in the mix with peanut butter, a post-gym protein bar (although a wholefood source would be better), chicken at dinner, even that hot chocolate calcium hit. The vegies at dinner also tick a key box.

If you keep eating like this you’ll… Risk short-changing yourself on fibre, especially from wholegrains and legumes. You’re lacking foods rich in good fats – avocado, tree nuts, seeds, oily fish – and their associated nutrients. Standing up to eat and snacking on scraps can lead to indigestion and uneven energy delivery across the day.

Why don’t you try… Adding a proper breakfast with oats, berries, nuts and seeds, blended into a smoothie if you wish, or wholegrain toast with avocado and boiled eggs. Throw canned beans and even canned fish into your caesar salad and choose a dressing made with extra virgin olive oil. That will lift your fibre, feed your gut, boost your good fats and keep you powering through those long parenting days.

Sean Szeps is the co-creator of Poop pyjamas with Cachia sleepwear.

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