Most Parents Say They’re Winging It.. And Just Want More Energy for Their Kids

Question 13 pulls back the curtain on the emotional lives of parents and what it reveals is powerful. Nearly 70% of parents say they wish they had more energy for their kids, even though previous questions suggest they believe they’re doing okay. This isn’t just a nutrition issue. It’s an identity issue. Parents feel like they’re “winging it,” emotionally depleted, and hoping they’re getting things right but not sure how to improve. The desire for change is there. The awareness, tools, and clarity? That’s what’s missing.

Survey Insight: Parents Are Running on Empty. And Still Trying to Hold It All Together

This wasn’t a question about what you do. It was a question about what you feel.
And for most parents, those feelings are heavy, familiar, and deeply human.

We asked 392 parents:
“Which of these thoughts have crossed your mind recently?” (Multiple selections allowed)

Thought	Count	Percentage
I wish I had more energy for my kids	265	67.6%
I feel like I’m winging it most days	187	47.7%
I hope what I’m feeding them is enough	158	40.3%
I’m doing okay, I just wish it wasn’t so hard	155	39.5%
I just want to feel like myself again	134	34.2%
We need to eat better, I just don’t know where to start	114	29.1%

1. The number one feeling is: I don’t have enough energy for my kids

67.6% of parents said they wish they had more energy for their children.
That lines up directly with earlier responses:

• Parents are exhausted by mid-afternoon (Q2)
  
• They’re not prioritising themselves (Q4)
  
• They’re unsure what real health even looks like (Q6–Q9)
  

So what does this really mean?

It means they’re showing up every day emotionally stretched, physically drained and still feeling like it’s not enough. And that’s not because they aren’t trying. It’s because their health foundations are cracked.

And the one thing that could help fix it gut health, fibre, plant diversity hasn’t been made accessible or relevant yet.

Key takeaway: Parents are drained. They’re ready for support. But they don’t know where to start.

2. Parents are “winging it” — and hoping it’s enough

Almost half of parents said they feel like they’re improvising most days.
And 40% said they “hope” what they’re feeding their kids is enough.

That’s not confidence. That’s survival mode.

And yet, if you ask parents directly (as in Q12), many will say their kids are getting enough fruit and veg. That shows a clear mismatch between what they feel and what they report. On the surface, they’ll say they’re doing fine. But internally? They’re not so sure.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about bandwidth.
If you don’t know what “enough” looks like 30 plants a week, 30g of fibre, gut diversity then of course you assume you’re doing okay.

Key takeaway: Parents want to believe they’re feeding their kids well but they’re not as sure as they pretend to be.

3. “We need to eat better” is low — and that’s a problem

Only 29% of parents said they need to eat better but don’t know where to start. That might sound like a win, but it’s actually one of the most revealing stats in the entire survey.

Here’s why:

• If most parents don’t even realise they’re falling short on fibre, plant variety, and gut health, they won’t look for help
  
• You can’t fix a problem you don’t know you have
  
• And when you’re tired, you’re even less likely to question what’s “good enough”
  

This shows us that the issue isn’t resistance. It’s lack of awareness. And that’s not something you shout people into,  it’s something you gently guide them toward.

Key takeaway: The people who need the most help are often the least likely to ask for it, because they don’t see the problem yet.

Final Thoughts: Parents Want to Feel Better. But They’re Stuck Between Guilt and Guesswork

This final question brings the story full circle.

Parents are tired.
They’re stretched.
They want more energy, more confidence, more ease.
But they’re improvising, second-guessing, and hoping it’s enough.

And the scariest part? They don’t know how far off they are from simple, foundational nutrition like fibre, plant diversity, and gut support.

That’s not a failure. That’s an opportunity.

You don’t need to overhaul your life. You don’t need a new parenting book. You just need the energy to be you again and the right kind of fuel to get there.

That’s where FiiHii fits.

5 Key Takeaways

1. 67.6% of parents wish they had more energy for their kids  the highest emotional driver in the survey
   
2. Nearly half feel like they’re winging it daily and 40% hope they’re feeding their kids well enough
   
3. Only 29% said they know they need to eat better but don’t know where to start, showing a massive gap in awareness
   
4. Parents aren’t lazy they’re in survival mode, guessing without tools or guidance
   
5. This is the perfect moment to step in with clarity, calm, and small wins that actually stick
   

Want to stop winging it and start feeling like yourself again with more energy to give your kids?

Join the FiiHii newsletter. We’ll show you simple, low-effort ways to get your gut and energy back on track starting with fibre and food that fits your life.