Giovanna Fletcher: I told my kids Nutella was spicy. It worked

June 1, 2026 - 15:25

The actress, podcaster, and author has revealed a clever parenting trick she used to keep her three young sons from raiding the kitchen pantry. In a recent interview, Giovanna Fletcher admitted she told her children that Nutella was spicy. The strategy worked perfectly, with the boys avoiding the chocolate-hazelnut spread for years.

Fletcher, who is married to McFly star Tom Fletcher, shared the confession while discussing the realities of raising three boys. She explained that the simple lie saved her from having to constantly police the sweet treat. "I just told them it was spicy," she said. "And they believed me. It was the easiest win I have ever had as a parent."

The I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! winner also opened up about her own childhood, admitting she did not have many friends growing up. She described herself as a lonely child who struggled to connect with others. That experience, she said, has shaped how she parents her own kids today.

Despite her success, Fletcher said she does not feel she is parenting as well as her own mother did. She noted that her mum always seemed to have a calm and steady presence, while she often feels overwhelmed by the chaos of modern family life. "I look at my mum and think she did it so much better," Fletcher said. "But I am trying my best, and that has to count for something."

The confession about the Nutella trick has sparked a wave of reactions from other parents, many of whom shared their own small deceptions to keep snacks out of little hands.