The Professional Guilt: Why We Treat Our Students Better Than Ourselves

By Amy Eley

The Nutrient Project

I want to talk about Liam.

Liam was my brilliant Year 4 student with a big personality. When schoolwork became hard, he tended to become overwhelmed, which usually meant giving up or struggling to manage his behaviour. He was also a notoriously picky eater.

I quickly noticed the pattern. Liam frequently came to school late, a pack of crisps or crackers clutched in his hand—his breakfast. Other days, he’d skip breakfast altogether. His lunchbox was full of pre-packaged snacks and a sweet yogurt. He was wired until 1 PM, then crashed… hard.

After connecting the dots, I contacted his parents. I explained, with all the empathy and professional concern I could muster, that Liam’s focus, mood, and learning were suffering because his plate lacked the protein and healthy fats he needed. We created a plan, and slowly, his lunchbox incorporated healthy carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and fibre.

It worked. Liam became more engaged, had fewer meltdowns, and his patience and focus improved immeasurably.

I was determined to help Liam. I cared about him deeply, and I was willing to work hard to find a solution, which I knew was nutrition-related. But the painful truth is I never gave the same time, effort, and respect to myself, even though I was stuck in the exact same pattern.

The Guilt That Still Follows Me

I had boundless time, energy, and knowledge to solve Liam's fuel problem.

Yet, five minutes after making that phone call, I would eat a stale Danish pastry and a bag of crisps for my own lunch.

I was meticulously planning optimal fuel for my students, while simultaneously treating my own body with no care whatsoever.

And that, therein, lies the problem: We are our own worst enemies.

We allow ourselves to skip meals, run on three cups of coffee, and rely on the staffroom biscuit for survival—a fuel source we would call home about if we saw our students eating it consistently.

The Patience Paradox

The worst part isn't the weight gain or the chronic exhaustion. It's the patience drain.

When we run on low-grade, sugar-spiking fuel, our bodies activate the stress response. That huge spike in anxiety you feel before a lesson observation? It's amplified when you’re crashing from a sugar high. When a child misbehaves or asks a simple, draining question, you lose your emotional buffer and you snap.

The guilt comes from knowing that the poor food choices we made in ten minutes are directly impacting the quality and patience of the teaching we provide for our pupils.

The Professional Solution

This has to stop. Your body is the most important teaching tool you possess. Treating your body with the same planning, preparation, and nutritional attention you give your students is not self-indulgent—it is the most professional thing you can do.

It’s time to stop the cycle of guilt and start using the science of nutrition to fuel your professional performance.

I used my nutritional training and my classroom experience to build a simple, three-step system that ensures steady energy, eliminates the 3 PM snap, and restores your professional patience. It takes less time to implement than planning your next PPA session.

Stop Snapping, Start Fuelling.

If you are ready to treat yourself with the same care and expertise you give your best students, the full system is available now.

The 3 PM Crash Detox guide gives you the simple, nut-free food swaps and meal templates you need to fix your energy and patience this week.

➡️ Click here to download the guide now for £19.99 and reclaim your afternoon sanity.

Disclaimer: The information provided by The Nutrient Project is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before making any significant changes to your diet or treatment plan.