Is Snacking Secretly Sabotaging Your Midlife Mojo?

Let’s talk snacks. Those little handfuls of 'just a few nuts' or 'a teeny cracker or seven' that somehow add up to a full meal by 3pm — without the satisfaction.

If you’re in peri-menopause or post-menopause and constantly find yourself snacking (even when you’re not actually hungry), you’re not alone. You're also not broken — but your hormones might be throwing a bit of a tantrum.

We joke about snack culture (there are memes, reels, 'snackfluencers' — it’s a thing), but here’s the scoop: snacking all day can do more than mess with your jeans fitting properly. It can seriously interfere with blood sugar, hormone harmony, and even thyroid function. Yep. That one biscuit could be part of a much bigger hormonal circus.

So, What’s Actually Happening?

Every time we eat — yes, even 'just a couple of almonds' — our blood sugar rises. Then insulin jumps in to do its job and help our cells soak up the sugar. Then, inevitably, blood sugar drops again… and if it drops too far? Cortisol (your stress hormone) joins the party to save the day.

Trouble is, too many insulin-and-cortisol conga lines in one day = hormonal chaos. And over time, this can mess with everything from your energy and mood to your thyroid — that little gland that runs your metabolism, temperature regulation, and basically your will to function.

Also, our digestive system? It likes a break. There's a gut bug called Akkermansia (I know, sounds like a Game of Thrones character) that thrives when we aren’t constantly digesting food. This little legend supports a healthy gut lining and your thyroid. Constant grazing? Not its jam.

Snacking might be doing more harm than good.

I’m not saying snacks are evil. I’m saying mindless snacking is. That handful here, that bite there, the half banana your kid didn’t finish — it all adds up. And often, it leaves us feeling hungrier, crankier, and more bloated than when we started.

Here’s What You Can Do Instead:

• Stick to 3-4 solid meals a day. Make them count with protein, fibre, and healthy fats. These meals should actually satisfy you, not leave you prowling the pantry an hour later.

• Drink more water. I know, classic advice. Still works.

• Notice your snack triggers. Bored? Tired? Procrastinating? Habit? Tune in.

• Sleep, stress and screen time. Yep, they all mess with hunger hormones too.

Want the full lowdown and some practical ideas to stop snacks from running your day? I’ve got you.

Grab the Snack Attack Guide

This isn’t some sad list of celery sticks. It’s a quick-and-dirty, cheeky little guide to help you snack smarter — not more — and keep your hormones on side. No preachy wellness fluff, just real-world stuff that works.

👉 [Download your free Snack Attack Guide here] 

Midlife’s already a lot — we don’t need snacks stirring the pot too.

With love, laughs and zero low-fat rice cakes,

XO Jane