Feeding Burnout: Yes, It’s Real, and Here’s How To Cope

Let’s be honest: Feeding kids isn’t just a task—it’s a full-blown emotional sport. Somewhere between the third rejected dinner and the 74th “Mama, I want something else,” you realise you’ve entered a whole new parenting arena: feeding burnout.

What Even Is Feeding Burnout?

Feeding burnout is that moment you stare at the fridge and consider serving air for dinner, just to avoid the whining. It’s the deep sigh when another lovingly-prepped meal gets the “I don’t like it” death sentence. It’s eating crackers over the sink at 10pm because you spent all evening negotiating over broccoli.

Spoiler: If you’re reading this, you’ve probably been there.

How Do You Know You’re Burnt Out?

• You daydream about hiring a private chef—just for your kids.

• “What’s for dinner?” triggers an eye twitch.

• You have genuinely considered serving the exact same meal seven days in a row, just for the peace.

• You’ve given up on Pinterest lunchboxes and gone full “roti + butter = meal” mode.

• The thought of one more meal tantrum makes you want to fake a work meeting.

Sound familiar? You, my friend, are in the Feeding Burnout Club. No badges, just solidarity.

Why Does Feeding Burnout Happen?

Because you’re not just feeding tiny humans. You’re managing:

• Preferences (aka random food rules invented daily)

• Allergies/sensitivities

• Cultural expectations (“Eh, why your son so skinny?”)

• Judgy relatives

• Your own exhaustion

And sometimes, your best is just keeping everyone alive until breakfast.

How to Cope:

1. Lower the Bar—Seriously

Repeat after me: Not every meal needs to be nutritious, balanced, and Instagrammable. Some days, it’s Maggi, some days it’s cut fruit, some days… it’s just milk and biscuits.

2. Have a Go-To “Zero Effort” Meal

Keep emergency “instant win” foods in the freezer or pantry. No shame in fish fingers, roti telur, or cold cereal for dinner. The world will not end.

3. One Meal for Everyone

You are not a cruise ship chef. One meal, take it or leave it. If they’re hungry, they’ll eat. (If not, that’s what snacks are for.)

4. Batch Cook, Batch Survive

Double up recipes and freeze portions—future you will thank you when the next dinner protest begins.

5. Let Go of Guilt

Your job is to offer food, not force it down. Kids will not be traumatised by the occasional dinner of toast and a vitamin.

6. Outsource When Possible

If you can, tag-team with your partner, order in, or—honestly—let grandma feed them. No medals for martyrdom.

7. Find Your Tribe

Swap stories with other burnt-out parents. It’s amazing how much better you’ll feel after hearing, “Yeah, my kid ate nothing but bananas for a week too.”

And If All Else Fails…

Remember: Childhood is short. The dinner table is not a battlefield you have to win every night.If everyone’s vaguely full and you made it through without tears (yours or theirs), you’re winning.

Feeding burnout is real, but so are you. Hang in there, parent—you’re doing way better than you think.