When I first met Vanessa, she was at her wit’s end.

Her 9-year-old son, Max, had recently been diagnosed with ADHD. She told me:

“He’s constantly asking for snacks — it’s like he can’t stop. He’ll eat a full meal, and then 10 minutes later, he’s raiding the kitchen. But then there are other times when he forgets to eat completely, and suddenly he’s melting down from hunger. I feel like I’m always chasing his appetite.”

Sound familiar?

Max wasn’t being manipulative. He wasn’t being difficult. He was doing what so many ADHD brains do — seeking stimulation and comfort in the quickest way possible: food.

If it feels like your child is constantly snacking, never full, or melting down from hunger out of nowhere — you’re not alone. This is one of the most common patterns I see, and there’s a reason why.

In fact, 4 out of 5 children in the Step Together program have been diagnosed with ADHD. And research shows that kids with ADHD are up to 4 times more likely to struggle with obesity.

Here's why:

Kids with ADHD tend to have lower baseline levels of dopamine — the brain chemical responsible for motivation, reward, and pleasure.

‍So they instinctively look for quick ways to boost it. That’s why sugar, screens, and snacks are so appealing — they deliver that dopamine hit instantly.

Max wasn’t craving the cookie — he was craving the feeling the cookie gave him.

ADHD brains are highly reactive to anticipation (the idea of food), but less responsive to the “I’m satisfied” signal after eating.

Vanessa told me, “He’ll eat four cookies and still say he’s hungry.”

‍That’s not because Max didn’t get enough — it’s because his brain isn’t registering fullness in the same way a neurotypical brain might.

The part of the brain that helps us pause and make thoughtful choices is less active in kids with ADHD.

So when Max saw a snack? He grabbed it. Not out of need — but because the impulse showed up and the pause button didn’t.

You can’t “discipline” ADHD out of a child. But you can work with their brain instead of fighting against it.

‍Here’s what helped Max (and many other kids like him):

Vanessa used to give Max cereal or waffles in the morning — quick and easy. But he would crash by 9:30 and start looking for snacks by 10.

Once she switched to meals with more protein and fat, Max’s focus and energy improved — and his mid-morning cravings calmed down.

‍🍳 Example: scrambled eggs + toast + fruit
🥤 Or: smoothie with banana, nut butter, Greek yogurt, and oats

ADHD brains thrive with structure. We made Max a colorful meal and snack chart with clear times:

🍽️ 8am – Breakfast
‍🍎 10:30am – Snack
‍🥗 12:30pm – Lunch
‍🍌 3:30pm – Snack
‍🍽️ 6pm – Dinner

Knowing when food was coming helped reduce anxiety and food obsession — it gave his brain something predictable to rely on.

Instead of saying, “Finish your homework and you’ll get a treat,” Vanessa started offering fun, high-reward activities:

🎵 Music or dance breaks
‍🐶 Playtime with the family dog
‍🎨 Drawing or crafts
‍🛴 10 minutes of scooter riding

‍These gave Max the dopamine boost his brain was craving — without reinforcing the food cycle.

Your child isn’t broken. Their brain is just wired differently — designed to seek stimulation, comfort, and predictability in ways that don’t always fit traditional mealtime routines.

The goal isn’t to eliminate cravings — it’s to understand where they’re coming from, and gently build habits that support your child’s body, brain, and emotions.

Max didn’t stop snacking overnight. But with more structure, more awareness, and less pressure, things started to shift.His eating habits began to reflect more balance. His energy leveled out. And most importantly — the daily stress around food started to fade.

‍That’s the kind of progress that sticks.And if any part of this feels familiar — the frustration, the guilt, the emotional heaviness of trying to do the right thing — please know:

‍You are not alone.

‍I work with parents every day who are walking this same road. And sometimes, all it takes is one honest, thoughtful conversation to bring a little clarity… a little relief… and a new way forward. If you'd like support, feel free to book a consultation below.

There’s no pressure, no shame — just a warm, judgment-free space to be heard, and to walk away with a plan that actually works for your child’s brain.

With love,