How I try (and sometimes fail) to eat well as a parent, runner, and human being

Like most parents, I operate on a revolutionary meal plan I call “Whatever’s Convenient.” If you’ve never experienced the thrill of shovelling leftover fish fingers into your face while standing at the kitchen counter, are you even doing it right?

Add to that the sacred Dad ritual of finishing the bits your kid didn’t eat (because “dads hate waste”), and you’ve got a pretty bulletproof diet strategy… assuming your main goals is heartburn,

But being real for a moment, I’m not a nutritionist, influencer, or someone who meal preps for fun. I’m just a dad trying to do the running thing without falling apart. So here’s how I try to balance the scales, with varying success:

The Good Stuff I Actually Do

• Huel: I’ve leaned heavily into Huel’s shakes and their Hot & Savoury range – quick, convenient, and saves time in the kitchen.
• Supplements: I throw in glucosamine sulphate and chondroitin to show my knees a little love. Not a miracle cure, but it’s like saying “I’m trying, okay?” to your own joints.
• Water: Doesn’t get enough credit. I drink more of it now, and it helps. That’s it. No punchline.

When you’re a parent, especially in a neurodivergent household, food becomes a minefield. Joe, for example, has a very restricted diet – I try him with new things, but they often end up back on my plate. Which means I sometimes eat twice, but not in a way that helps my performance or health.

Add working full time, running with or without a buggy, and trying to get back to a decent level of fitness… and nutrition just gets messy.

Things I’d Like To Try (Maybe)

I’ve heard whispers about things like:

• Better fuelling before runs
• Protein timing after exercise
• Creatine

…but I’m also realistic. I’m not here to overhaul everything overnight – just to do a little better when I can.

Nutrition advice online often feels unrealistic. It’s always “meal prep” and “macro tracking” and “eat clean”. I’m over here trying to figure out if toast and peanut butter is a balanced breakfast while brushing my kid’s teeth and finding their shoes.

But I’ve learned this much: you don’t need to do everything perfectly – just better than nothing. And for me, that’s being mindful of how I fuel my runs and how I recover from them.

So no, I’m not a nutritionist or a PT. But I’ve figured out what works for me – most of the time.

How I Use Huel (Without Sounding Like a commercial)

I use Huel because it makes my life easier – simple as that. It’s nutritionally complete, meaning it contains the essential carbs, fats, protein, fibre, and all 26 vitamins and minerals your body needs. It’s quick to prep, and I can adjust how much I eat depending on whether I want to maintain, cut back, or fuel up.

It’s not a “diet” product. It’s not a miracle cure. It’s just a solid option when I’m short on time, willpower, or anything resembling a proper meal plan.

Another happy accident? It saves me money. I buy a month’s supply ahead of time, which quietly stops me wandering out for a cheeky Greggs steak bake on a work break. That’s £2-something saved – it adds up fast.

And yes – if you’re curious, I do have a referral link. If it helps you, and helps me save a few quid on my next order, then we both win.