Clean Eating

[carolyn122162]

Hello All,

I was just wondering if anyone else struggles with "clean eating". I try my absolute best and most times I eat clean no matter what, but between my DH and 3 kids I find it maddening to try to fix my meals and then try to cook for them. I have 2 teenage growing boys who eat anything and everything. My dh insists on buying "filler foods" for them so there is always temptation around. I have tried for years to get everyone to eat healthier (fresh fruits/veggies) to no avail. It seemed I was the only one eating the healthy stuff and it usually went bad before I could eat it all. Some nights I don't even prepare dinner b/c I have already eaten my clean meal and my dh usually doesn't even get home from work till 8:00! The kids eat with him after he makes it (Tee-hee). Weekends are the worst.
Any way, does anyone have any ideas how to deal with this. I don't want to sound selfish about only cooking for me, but I'm the one who needs to lose the weight!!!

Thanks, Carolyn

 

[marcy]

Carolyn,

I have the same problem. When I first met my DH, he had the bad habit of snacking at night (he still does) and I got his bad habit for a while and gained about 20 pounds. I try and always buy fresh fruit. Occasionally, my DH will grab a pear, apple or orange. My DS was eating bananas for awhile and then he got tired of them. My DS is now eating all my Fiber One bars. For dinner, it's tough. They don't like to eat anything whole wheat. What I tried to do was mix 1/2 box of regular pasta with 1/2 box of whole wheat pasta. That kind of worked for a little while. We usually get a pizza on Fridays. It seems I'm always making chicken cutlets. I switched from vegetable oil to olive or canola oil. They don't seem to mind that too much. I admit weekends are the toughest. I wind up cheating a little too much. Just keep trying different things and hopefully they'll like something. I brought soy milk home one day and now my DS drinks it all the time. My DH will bring home twinkies, devil dogs, etc. Last time I had a twinkie I realized I didn't like it as much as I did when I was little. I made chicken divan the other night with mixed vegetables (usually I just make it with broccoli but I ran out) and 98% fat free mushroom soup. DS complianed it didn't have enough flavor. I didn't tell him it was the fat free. I do notice the difference but I can live without the fat. He needs the flavor. Some nights I cook for myself and I let them eat what they want. I'll cook a piece of fish and some vegetables and make my whole wheat pasta.

Marcy

 

[carolyn122162]

Thanks for the reply Marcy. I have made subtle changes likes you mentioned. It's just very hard when he brings home ice cream, valentines candy, wine and all that. I beg him not to but he always says "You don't have to eat it". That's like giving a crack addict a bag of crack and telling them not to smoke it!!

Carolyn

 

[marcy]

I got the Valentine's candy too. At least this year he got me the smaller box. I try and share it as much as possible. I found a low fat ice cream by Turkey Hill, Strawberry Cheesecake. Has half the fat and it's delicious. I really try and measure my portions and serving sizes so I don't go overboard.

Marcy

 

[alsrnbsn]

I have pretty much given up on DH eating clean with me. He has his Little Debbie Nutty bars and other such goodies that I stay away from. I find it's easier just to not even start. When I cook, he pretty much eats what I cook, but not enough (which is okay, because it leaves more leftovers for me!)

He knows that he needs to eat better, but I figure, he's an adult, and I can't force him. I just try to have lots of fruit around (he doesn't eat veggies unless it's with meals) because that's what he snacks on along with his nutty bars.

 

[janiejoey]

Carolyn,

I'm sorry when family can't see that eating healthy is not that important. And it's even more tough when they don't care enough to support you in your health and fitness. That is so sad to me.:-(

Unfortunately, we can't force anyone to eat healthy. We must do that for ourselves.

Perhaps when you discipline your children, you could carry that weight to your advantage. Oh I don't know, instead of grounding them, make them support you. Have them help you prepare and eat clean meals with you for a couple of weeks. Our Gov. does that. They make people clean up roads for doing something wrong, and it benefits others. ;-)

Your husband is another story, but I'm sure you could think of a way to have him support you as well. After all we are creative creatures. Just make him think it was his idea though. It's so much fun when I do that to my hubby. I sometimes wonder, if they don't do that to us as well. No, it's not in their design.

Janie

The idea is to die young as late as possible.

http://www.picturetrail.com/janiejoey