It’s Day 6 of the Mykidstime 21 Day Health & Fitness Challenge! If you missed yesterday’s video, catch up with Day 5 here.
Our health and wellbeing expert, Fiona O’Donnell, explains what’s involved for Day 6 in the video below. Tell us how you’re getting on by tagging us on social using #mkt21days — we’ll be there cheering you on.
[[IMG:1]]
Watch Day 6: https://youtu.be/4KTN6NTu4o0
You may also enjoy: 10 Quick and Healthy Breakfast Ideas That Aren’t Porridge
Day 6 – Journalling Hunger
Today’s challenge is a self-care one. It’s easy for a 21 day plan like this to focus purely on strength or nutrition, but if we’re aiming for change that actually lasts, we need to get clear on what’s going on in the background — the habits and patterns that make new behaviours stick, or fall away.
There’s no point pushing hard for 21 days and then dropping everything straight after. If this challenge shifts your thinking on even one or two small things, you’re far more likely to keep those habits going afterwards.
Today’s focus is hunger — because most of us, at some point, go through the day forgetting about lunch, skipping breakfast because mornings are hectic, or just grabbing whatever’s fastest.
In Fiona’s advanced programme, food journalling doesn’t mean counting numbers — no grams of protein, no tally of almonds in your muesli. Instead, it means asking three simple questions:
- Why are we eating the foods we’re eating, or why did we make that choice? Was it because we were rushing, looking for something delicious or satisfying, or genuinely very hungry?
- Were we full?
- Were we satisfied?
The “why” behind our food choices
Think back to school days — breakfast before you left the house, a small morning break, a set lunchtime, then dinner later on. Regular, designated break times.
As adults, we rarely get that same structure. Busy mornings mean grabbing a slice of toast on the way out the door, or dashing between school pickups and errands with no time to plan. Today’s task is simply to start noticing why you’re making the choices you’re making.
If you’re grabbing a pre-wrapped sandwich and a coffee on your lunch break, it’s probably because it’s quick, easy and convenient — and that’s worth knowing. Once you know that’s what you actually need on a busy day, you can plan for it: make something similarly quick and easy at home in advance, rather than relying on whatever’s nearest. You might still choose the café some days, and that’s fine too — the point is understanding whether the choice is actually meeting your needs, rather than just filling a gap.
Are your food choices reactive — “I’m starving right now, I’ll grab whatever’s fastest,” or “I’ll just have that sugary snack to get me through the afternoon”? Or are they proactive — “I always get hungry around 3pm, so I’ll bring something with me”? That something might be as simple as a bar of chocolate, and that’s completely fine if it works for you and gets you comfortably to your next meal. Getting clear on the why behind our choices helps us make ones that actually work for us.
Tonight’s reflection
Take a moment this evening to ask yourself: why did I choose the foods I chose today? Was it hunger? Was it needing a bit of comfort at the end of a long day? There are no wrong answers here — just useful ones. Reflecting honestly on this can be a genuine eye-opener when it comes to understanding and meeting your own needs.
If you have any questions as you work through the Challenge, you can reach Fiona by email or on social media using #mkt21days to share how you’re getting on.
You may also enjoy: 10 Healthy Snacks for Teens They Can Quickly Prepare
FAQ
What is the Mykidstime 21 Day Health & Fitness Challenge?
It’s a 21-day series of short daily videos and tasks from health and wellbeing expert Fiona O’Donnell, covering movement, nutrition and mindset, designed to help families build small, sustainable healthy habits.
Do I need any special equipment for Day 6?
No — Day 6 is a self-care and reflection task, so all you need is a few quiet minutes to think through your food choices and, if it helps, somewhere to jot down your answers.
What if I missed earlier days of the Challenge?
That’s absolutely fine — you can catch up any time, starting with Day 5, or simply join in from today.
How do I share my progress?
Tag Mykidstime on social media using #mkt21days — the team loves seeing how everyone is getting on and will cheer you along.
Related Articles
- 10 Quick and Healthy Breakfast Ideas That Aren’t Porridge
- 10 Healthy Snacks for Teens They Can Quickly Prepare
- Mykidstime 21 Day Health & Fitness Challenge – Day 5
Keep the Ideas Coming
Enjoying the Challenge? Browse more family health, wellbeing and lifestyle ideas on Mykidstime, and sign up to our newsletter for fresh, practical tips delivered straight to your inbox each week.
