Do You Believe Food Can Be Medicine? Most Parents Say “Maybe… Show Me”

We asked one powerful question (number 18) to get to the heart of how you think about food and its potential:

Do you believe that food, especially plant-based whole food, can be a form of medicine?

Here’s how 392 parents responded:

Belief Option	Number of Parents	Percentage
I’m not sure, but I’m open to it	185	47.2%
Yes, 100%	78	19.9%
Not really	67	17.1%
I’m starting to believe it	62	15.8%

What this tells us

Most parents aren’t saying no. They’re saying not yet. Nearly half of you are open to the idea that food could be more than fuel, even though you’re not fully convinced yet. That’s not resistance. That’s curiosity without clarity.

And that’s a massive opportunity for improvement across society, parenting, health and wellbeing..

This isn’t about pushing science. It’s about showing how food can support the things that matter most to you right now, your energy, your mood, your parenting patience and your ability to show up with more calm and capacity so you and your kids can thrive.

Let’s look a little deeper

• 47% said “I’m not sure, but I’m open to it”
  This is where real change begins. You don’t need more overwhelm. You need simple, evidence-backed wins you can feel in your day like fewer crashes, more patience and better digestion without overthinking it.
  
• Only 20% of you said “Yes, 100%”
  That’s the smallest but most activated group, the parents who are already tuned into the food-mood connection. They’re leading the way, but most are still catching up.
  
• Around 17% said “Not really”
  And that’s okay. There’s still a lot of misinformation and marketing fluff out there. If you’ve tried things in the past and felt no difference, it makes sense that you’d be skeptical.
  
• Almost 16% said “I’m starting to believe it”
  That’s a growing shift. Maybe you’ve noticed how your energy dips after certain meals or how your mood feels lighter when you’ve eaten more whole food. That’s your body making the case for better nutrition.
  

Why this matters

This isn’t about trying to convince you with stats. It’s about reconnecting you with what you already know intuitively.

The food you eat affects how you feel. It influences your sleep, your focus, your patience with your kids, your mood and your long-term health. And right now, most parents are running on empty, not because they don’t care but because they’ve been offered quick fixes instead of real support.

You’ve told us you want more energy, less stress and to feel like yourself again. You’ve told us you care deeply about your kids’ health, but that your own needs often get left behind. This question confirms what the rest of the survey has shown:

You’re not closed off. You’re asking for a guide.

Key Takeaways

1. Nearly half of parents are open to food-as-medicine but need help connecting the dots
   
2. Only 1 in 5 are fully confident, meaning most are still navigating uncertainty
   
3. Skepticism isn’t rejection,  it’s experience-based caution
   
4. There’s a major opportunity to lead with clarity, simplicity and empathy
   
5. This is the moment to stop overcomplicating health and start showing results parents can feel

Call to Action

If you’re open but not sure what to believe anymore, you’re not alone. You don’t need to overhaul your diet. You just need simple wins that help you feel better, fast.

Subscribe to our newsletter for real-life tools, fibre-focused education and easy changes that work for your energy, your gut and your parenting life.

No pressure. Just progress.