Marriage Where Only One Person is Watching Calories

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Replies

  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    "Even if I make a healthy dinner, he ends up pouring a 1/2 cup of cheese and sauce over what I make."

    Even large portions of meat and vegetables are what, 500 calories or somewhere around that? I'm guessing that's just not enough calories for your husband. Some might be happy to eat that if they're motivated and dieting but otherwise probably not so much. Instead of being upset that he's ruining your healthy dinner with cheese and sauces -- encourage him to -- it's a reasonable compromise.

    It's easy enough to add some fat and a starch to your lean meat and vegetable dinners so they work for him. And you can do the opposite on the days he cooks -- add some veggies, a salad or a broth based soup to a small portion of his high fat, high carb dinners. It's tough in the beginning but I'm sure you guys can reach a compromise if you work at it. Best wishes. :)
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    My fiance and I don't live together, so our joint meals are only four times per week. He doesn't experience them as diet food - I tweak my portions or my sides to make the meal fit into my calorie budget.

    He cooked hot dogs last night. He had Fritos and Coke with his, I had homemade coleslaw with mine.

    If up to him for pizza, we'd have two pizzas, but instead we get one pizza - he has 5/8 and I have 3/8 - and a big salad, and he says this is plenty for him.

    If up to him for ice cream, we'd get it at an ice cream stand, where a "small" is at least 8 ounces, but now I buy the Ben & Jerry's 4 ounce cups and he says this is plenty for him.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Thanks everyone. Just to clarify, I DO add variety into dinner once a week or so. Pulled pork, chinese sausage, etc. And I eat to fit it in my goal for the day. But the majority of the time we're eating more lean meats and vegetables. The problem is my husband wants every night to be pasta and sausage and I just can't eat that way every day, fit it into my calorie goals, and feel sated...

    Maybe you could have more pasta and sausage nights if you have pork sausage for you and the much lower calorie chicken/turkey sausage for you? Or you could eat less pasta and sausage and add veggies to fill you up.

  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    I've got five in my family, including me, who like to eat very differently. What I tend to do is is cook in large batches so I have leftovers that will carry people through the days that they don't like the freshest meal.

    For example, two days ago I made chicken nuggets for the kids while I ate the fish leftovers from the day before - the kids also ate the rice leftovers. Yesterday we had steak and potatoes, but two of the kids don't like steak so they ate the chicken nuggets with potatoes. I make fresh veggies, cooked or raw, everyday.

    Leftovers is a huge help in my house. Would it work for you?

    I also sometimes make extra dishes to accommodate everyone. When we have spaghetti with meat sauce, I will put aside a small amount of sauce for the kids who don't love beef. I'll also make noodles and spaghetti squash so I don't need noodles (I eat lower carb than my family).

    When we make tacos, everyone makes their own taco to fit their preference.

    Good luck. I hope you find some answers that work for you.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    How can we meet in the middle?

    He makes his, you make yours.
  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    My wife and I will cook together for a cheat meal once in a while. But otherwise we buy and cook our food separately. Neither of us are picky though, so if all we have in the house is a can of beans, then that's what we'll eat. My wife was always playfully joking with me about weighing my food all the time. But since I started, I lost 42 pounds, and she seems more interested in doing it herself. I don't know if she will or not, she doesn't need to lose any weight. I'll support whatever diet she wants to do as long as it's a healthy approach.

    I guess my point is, you guys should be supporting each other. That's what marriage is about...
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    MermaidBex wrote: »
    ...I have often felt like his poor judgement has infringed on my need to shed the pounds.

    I can't believe I just read that.

    Your own "poor judgement" is what got you where you are in the first place, it's nobody else's job to bail you out of the consequences of your own decisions.

    Just...wow.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    edited July 2015
    My idea of compromise is.... If i want something to eat I make it. If he wants to eat it he can. If he doesnt then he can make himself whatever it is he wants.

    I dont tell him not to buy things/have things in the house. I don't tell him not to cook whatever he wants.

    I am a vegetarian, and he actually NEVER buys meat or has it in the house. He knows i wont be cooking it and he's too lazy to make it for himself. LOL

    In my opinion, you've gotta do whats best for you. Dont force it on him. If he wants to cook for himself, let him. If he wants to eat what you're eating, let him (providing he does the dishes :wink: ).

    Dont let you choosing to be healthier impact your relationship.

    Edited to add: My situation is (in my opinion) even more difficult because I have been a vegetarian my entire life. AND i watch my calories. My man and I have lived together for 5 years and he is a REAL meat and potatoes kind of guy. At first he was always like "where's the meat" and "I want some chicken", etc. I pretty much said "Oh, then i guess you should have made some *boohoo-face*"

    But now he NEVER EVER complains. He eats breakfast at home, His lunch provided from his job has meat, and for dinner he eats what i cook usually. AND, i'll add that I make some damn good low-calorie vegetarian dishes that he loves and even requests on certain nights. I'm not saying i've converted him or anything, he just knows our arangement.
  • singingdispatch100
    singingdispatch100 Posts: 20 Member
    I would say that if he has such a negative issue with the food you cook then he should try to be part of the process for the cooking. Not just you or him. Look at foods you both like that work for you both and also some of the foods that are for each of you specifically. Help him to understand that this change in food is for your health and that it is what you need to do. Work together to come up with meals that have some of what you both want and like. I know its not easy when your partner doesn't understand or like the change but I have found that instead of thinking of it as his or your food choices that a collaboration of "our foods" tends to work better.
    Granted sometimes that just doesn't work but that is usually just stubborness more than anything else.
    Whatever you choose to do i wish the best for you both in this journey.
  • jillianedwards
    jillianedwards Posts: 67 Member
    why cant you eat carbs and cheeseburgers, or anything else he makes? my husband was a chef, and cooks AMAZING food. I plan for it, and log it. its still fewer calories than eating out (which we also do a lot of). no biggie. ive lost 60 pounds since january so yes, you can eat and still lose weight. yes, i workout to earn those extra calories.

    you can always eat a smaller portion or make yourself a salad.

    that said, i do the vast majority of the cooking, and if my husband wants to eat, he eats what i put in front of him, otherwise he is welcome to go and cook himself dinner (usually happens when he simply doesn't like what im making). And that happens on occasion too. whatever. i dont care.

    Maybe she doesn't want to? Sure i COULD eat what my boyfriend is eating and only get to eat a 1/2 cup serving for dinner or i could make what i want and get to eat a better more filling dinner! Me and my boyfriend just make our own dinners it works out just fine!
  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    My idea of compromise is.... If i want something to eat I make it. If he wants to eat it he can. If he doesnt then he can make himself whatever it is he wants.

    I dont tell him not to buy things/have things in the house. I don't tell him not to cook whatever he wants.

    I am a vegetarian, and he actually NEVER buys meat or has it in the house. He knows i wont be cooking it and he's too lazy to make it for himself. LOL

    In my opinion, you've gotta do whats best for you. Dont force it on him. If he wants to cook for himself, let him. If he wants to eat what you're eating, let him (providing he does the dishes :wink: ).

    Dont let you choosing to be healthier impact your relationship.

    Edited to add: My situation is (in my opinion) even more difficult because I have been a vegetarian my entire life. AND i watch my calories. My man and I have lived together for 5 years and he is a REAL meat and potatoes kind of guy. At first he was always like "where's the meat" and "I want some chicken", etc. I pretty much said "Oh, then i guess you should have made some *boohoo-face*"

    But now he NEVER EVER complains. He eats breakfast at home, His lunch provided from his job has meat, and for dinner he eats what i cook usually. AND, i'll add that I make some damn good low-calorie vegetarian dishes that he loves and even requests on certain nights. I'm not saying i've converted him or anything, he just knows our arangement.

    Well said.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    MermaidBex wrote: »
    Ditto gypsy. I have similar problems with my spouse. He's not the type to complain, mainly supportive, but I have often felt like his poor judgement has infringed on my need to shed the pounds. Finally, however, I've had to decide that I'm alone in this and need to do the best I can to take care of myself to the best of my ability. That's why I'm on a site like this, to get the support I need.

    It may be difficult, sapphire, but I would encourage you to stay the course. Don't let hubby get you down when you're trying to do the right thing for you. My husband seems to get most excited about my losing weight when he realizes what it could do for us. Me, in a bikini on the beach, for instance. Also, my hubby just seems to want to know I'm healthy and happy. Food for thought. Hope you're able to get through this rough patch!

    I used to blame him too. I kept telling him that I can't cook the way he likes to eat and lose weight. Then we set a wedding date and I thought "Wedding Pictures!" I committed to logging in MFP and made the types of changes I posted above and all is well.

  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    I've been watching my calories for about 3 months now and lost nearly 30 lbs. I'm faithful about eating within my calorie range (1430) and usually for dinner I do low-calorie things like grilled chicken, turkey, seafood, etc with vegetables.

    I also do most of the grocery shopping. Lately my husband has been complaining that we're always eating "my" food. I'll be honest and say that I like my food pretty bland and while I'll try new seasonings and stuff, I don't have the time (work full time) or energy (also have a toddler) to make dinner "exciting" AND low calorie. So it's usually a staple of meat and vegetables.

    My husband likes to eat crap. Even if I make a healthy dinner, he ends up pouring a 1/2 cup of cheese and sauce over what I make. He frequently wants to cook dinner, but his dinners are carb-loaded bombs of pasta, cream sauce, cheeseburgers, etc so I frequently balk when he suggests cooking and he gets offended if he makes dinner and I eat my own thing.

    How can we meet in the middle?

    OMG, if he's not prepared to do any of the shopping or cooking, he can suck it up. +1 for letting him cook his own meals if he doesn't like what's being served.

    Don't get worked up about him adding cheese and sauce to his meal, and tell him your choices have nothing to do with anything other than your weight loss. Each of you needs to stop being so personally invested in what the other is eating.
  • kali31337
    kali31337 Posts: 1,048 Member
    We try to eat healthy a majority of the time but because he tends to run much thinner than I am, he's not as strict about what he eats. We do our own thing during the week for breakfast & lunch then for dinner we usually try to eat healthy side (which involves some meal planning) but he also cooks for a living so he likes to keep it creative. We do have our staples that we like to eat & we have that down to a science usually. If we do something new, he'll keep it on the simple side for me so I can weigh it out on my plate before I eat & then he'll spice it up how he wants. If we order out, I'll look for something healthier on the menu or figure out a way to work it into my calories like last weekend, we ordered pizza and I ended up ordering my own so I could have what I want.
  • MarziPanda95
    MarziPanda95 Posts: 1,326 Member
    To be honest? I would complain if I were your husband, too. Plain lean meat and vegetables EVERY DAY (bar one day)? I think I'd go crazy. You also have to remember that he's a man, so his calorie needs are far greater than yours. It's just not enough for him, which is why he's adding the cheese and sauce - though that might also be for flavour, since it sounds like your meals don't currently have any. I would suggest, if you don't like using herbs and spices on your own food, at least use them on his food. There are thousands of healthy low calorie delicious foods out there. It doesn't have to always be lean meat and vegetables.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member

    I also do most of the grocery shopping. Lately my husband has been complaining that we're always eating "my" food. I'll be honest and say that I like my food pretty bland and while I'll try new seasonings and stuff, I don't have the time (work full time) or energy (also have a toddler) to make dinner "exciting" AND low calorie. So it's usually a staple of meat and vegetables.

    you're not trying hard enough...

    budgetbytes.com has amazing food, and almost anything that isn't a slow-cooker recipe can be made in under an hour and is extremely affordable.

    they have a kale and chorizo frittata that i make for breakfast very often and it's delicious. also, the morning glory muffins are great.

    also, it has several slow-cooker recipes for shredded chicken/beef/pork that are great for long term dinners.
  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    edited July 2015
    To be honest? I would complain if I were your husband, too. Plain lean meat and vegetables EVERY DAY (bar one day)? I think I'd go crazy. You also have to remember that he's a man, so his calorie needs are far greater than yours. It's just not enough for him, which is why he's adding the cheese and sauce - though that might also be for flavour, since it sounds like your meals don't currently have any. I would suggest, if you don't like using herbs and spices on your own food, at least use them on his food. There are thousands of healthy low calorie delicious foods out there. It doesn't have to always be lean meat and vegetables.

    He can add his own damn spices. He's lucky enough to have someone cook for him. If he wants the cheese sauce, so be it, if he wants a hamburger or a steak on the side then he should make it, and clean up after himself. It's not OPs responsibility to make sure her husband is meeting his calorie needs. If he's hungry after eating what she made, then he should make himself a sandwich and deal with it.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    edited July 2015
    To be honest? I would complain if I were your husband, too. Plain lean meat and vegetables EVERY DAY (bar one day)? I think I'd go crazy. You also have to remember that he's a man, so his calorie needs are far greater than yours. It's just not enough for him, which is why he's adding the cheese and sauce - though that might also be for flavour, since it sounds like your meals don't currently have any. I would suggest, if you don't like using herbs and spices on your own food, at least use them on his food. There are thousands of healthy low calorie delicious foods out there. It doesn't have to always be lean meat and vegetables.

    He can add his own damn spices. He's lucky enough to have someone cook for him. If he wants the cheese sauce, so be it, if he wants a hamburger or a steak on the side then he should make it, and clean up after himself.

    Agreed. What is he? Your child? No. He's his own dang human being. He needs to grow up and make himself food if he wants it a certain way. And if OP is making bland unappetizing food and he's too lazy to cook than he can add cheese/sauce/whatever he wants. No complaining though, he chooses to eat what she makes.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    To be honest? I would complain if I were your husband, too. Plain lean meat and vegetables EVERY DAY (bar one day)? I think I'd go crazy. You also have to remember that he's a man, so his calorie needs are far greater than yours. It's just not enough for him, which is why he's adding the cheese and sauce - though that might also be for flavour, since it sounds like your meals don't currently have any. I would suggest, if you don't like using herbs and spices on your own food, at least use them on his food. There are thousands of healthy low calorie delicious foods out there. It doesn't have to always be lean meat and vegetables.

    He can add his own damn spices. He's lucky enough to have someone cook for him. If he wants the cheese sauce, so be it, if he wants a hamburger or a steak on the side then he should make it, and clean up after himself. It's not OPs responsibility to make sure her husband is meeting his calorie needs. If he's hungry after eating what she made, then he should make himself a sandwich and deal with it.

    Actually the OP's husband is willing to cook but evidently since his meals are too high cal, that hasn't been an acceptable option
  • wmeyerbill455
    wmeyerbill455 Posts: 49 Member
    Tell your husband to read my post. I ate like he did and eventually got overweight but I wasn't as heavy as many people my age or so I thought, then my liver enzymes went up and I was diagnosed with Non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), if left untreated it causes liver failure = liver transplant = 5 to 8 years of extended life (quality not great) and then death. The only effective treatment for NASH today is to maintain your optimal BMI. In short your husbands lack of consideration about your good health habits is shortening His time on the Earth. He would be wise to emulate you and if he doesn't tell him he can make his own meals, after all he fed himself before you got married so he can do it again. Sorry, buddy I have to side with your wife on this one. I know where you are headed and it is not good. I hope you change course.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    To be honest? I would complain if I were your husband, too. Plain lean meat and vegetables EVERY DAY (bar one day)? I think I'd go crazy. You also have to remember that he's a man, so his calorie needs are far greater than yours. It's just not enough for him, which is why he's adding the cheese and sauce - though that might also be for flavour, since it sounds like your meals don't currently have any. I would suggest, if you don't like using herbs and spices on your own food, at least use them on his food. There are thousands of healthy low calorie delicious foods out there. It doesn't have to always be lean meat and vegetables.

    He can add his own damn spices. He's lucky enough to have someone cook for him. If he wants the cheese sauce, so be it, if he wants a hamburger or a steak on the side then he should make it, and clean up after himself. It's not OPs responsibility to make sure her husband is meeting his calorie needs. If he's hungry after eating what she made, then he should make himself a sandwich and deal with it.

    Actually the OP's husband is willing to cook but evidently since his meals are too high cal, that hasn't been an acceptable option

    Also agreed. OP shouldn't try and be controlling. Let the man eat what he wants to eat and make it for himself.

    I don't understand why it has to be one or the other cooking. You may be married, but you're your own human being. You don't have to do absolutely everything together.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited July 2015
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    To be honest? I would complain if I were your husband, too. Plain lean meat and vegetables EVERY DAY (bar one day)? I think I'd go crazy. You also have to remember that he's a man, so his calorie needs are far greater than yours. It's just not enough for him, which is why he's adding the cheese and sauce - though that might also be for flavour, since it sounds like your meals don't currently have any. I would suggest, if you don't like using herbs and spices on your own food, at least use them on his food. There are thousands of healthy low calorie delicious foods out there. It doesn't have to always be lean meat and vegetables.

    He can add his own damn spices. He's lucky enough to have someone cook for him. If he wants the cheese sauce, so be it, if he wants a hamburger or a steak on the side then he should make it, and clean up after himself. It's not OPs responsibility to make sure her husband is meeting his calorie needs. If he's hungry after eating what she made, then he should make himself a sandwich and deal with it.

    Actually the OP's husband is willing to cook but evidently since his meals are too high cal, that hasn't been an acceptable option

    That's what I understood from the OP - the complaining was that he *was* in fact "spicing up" his own food.

    Am I remembering wrong...?
  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    tomatoey wrote: »
    I've been watching my calories for about 3 months now and lost nearly 30 lbs. I'm faithful about eating within my calorie range (1430) and usually for dinner I do low-calorie things like grilled chicken, turkey, seafood, etc with vegetables.

    I also do most of the grocery shopping. Lately my husband has been complaining that we're always eating "my" food. I'll be honest and say that I like my food pretty bland and while I'll try new seasonings and stuff, I don't have the time (work full time) or energy (also have a toddler) to make dinner "exciting" AND low calorie. So it's usually a staple of meat and vegetables.

    My husband likes to eat crap. Even if I make a healthy dinner, he ends up pouring a 1/2 cup of cheese and sauce over what I make. He frequently wants to cook dinner, but his dinners are carb-loaded bombs of pasta, cream sauce, cheeseburgers, etc so I frequently balk when he suggests cooking and he gets offended if he makes dinner and I eat my own thing.

    How can we meet in the middle?

    OMG, if he's not prepared to do any of the shopping or cooking, he can suck it up. +1 for letting him cook his own meals if he doesn't like what's being served.

    Don't get worked up about him adding cheese and sauce to his meal, and tell him your choices have nothing to do with anything other than your weight loss. Each of you needs to stop being so personally invested in what the other is eating.

    Reread the OP. She plainly stated that he frequently wants to cook dinner. She won't eat them. Calls them crap and pasta bombs.

    Also...I might be wanting to lose weight but I am not going to eat bland food for the majority of my meals. By her own admission her meals are bland. Why would you expect someone not trying to lose weight to eat bland meals.

    Yes maybe he could be a bit more understanding but IMO...so could she.
  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    To be honest? I would complain if I were your husband, too. Plain lean meat and vegetables EVERY DAY (bar one day)? I think I'd go crazy. You also have to remember that he's a man, so his calorie needs are far greater than yours. It's just not enough for him, which is why he's adding the cheese and sauce - though that might also be for flavour, since it sounds like your meals don't currently have any. I would suggest, if you don't like using herbs and spices on your own food, at least use them on his food. There are thousands of healthy low calorie delicious foods out there. It doesn't have to always be lean meat and vegetables.

    He can add his own damn spices. He's lucky enough to have someone cook for him. If he wants the cheese sauce, so be it, if he wants a hamburger or a steak on the side then he should make it, and clean up after himself. It's not OPs responsibility to make sure her husband is meeting his calorie needs. If he's hungry after eating what she made, then he should make himself a sandwich and deal with it.

    Actually the OP's husband is willing to cook but evidently since his meals are too high cal, that hasn't been an acceptable option

    Oh, sorry I came back to this thread on memory and forgot about that part! I guess my point is the same though. OP and her husband should just cook separately and ask the other if they want to eat what they're about to make just in case.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited July 2015
    Annie_01 wrote: »
    tomatoey wrote: »
    I've been watching my calories for about 3 months now and lost nearly 30 lbs. I'm faithful about eating within my calorie range (1430) and usually for dinner I do low-calorie things like grilled chicken, turkey, seafood, etc with vegetables.

    I also do most of the grocery shopping. Lately my husband has been complaining that we're always eating "my" food. I'll be honest and say that I like my food pretty bland and while I'll try new seasonings and stuff, I don't have the time (work full time) or energy (also have a toddler) to make dinner "exciting" AND low calorie. So it's usually a staple of meat and vegetables.

    My husband likes to eat crap. Even if I make a healthy dinner, he ends up pouring a 1/2 cup of cheese and sauce over what I make. He frequently wants to cook dinner, but his dinners are carb-loaded bombs of pasta, cream sauce, cheeseburgers, etc so I frequently balk when he suggests cooking and he gets offended if he makes dinner and I eat my own thing.

    How can we meet in the middle?

    OMG, if he's not prepared to do any of the shopping or cooking, he can suck it up. +1 for letting him cook his own meals if he doesn't like what's being served.

    Don't get worked up about him adding cheese and sauce to his meal, and tell him your choices have nothing to do with anything other than your weight loss. Each of you needs to stop being so personally invested in what the other is eating.

    Reread the OP. She plainly stated that he frequently wants to cook dinner. She won't eat them. Calls them crap and pasta bombs.

    Also...I might be wanting to lose weight but I am not going to eat bland food for the majority of my meals. By her own admission her meals are bland. Why would you expect someone not trying to lose weight to eat bland meals.

    Yes maybe he could be a bit more understanding but IMO...so could she.

    I would expect someone eating at my table to consume what I made, add whatever they need to make it palatable to them, or make their own. But yeah agree with third bolded bit.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    look, this is what i've been eating this past week...

    Ginger%20Salmon%20flaked%20far.jpg

    Hoisin+Beef+Tacos+close.jpg

    Shrimp%20Tacos.jpg

    Pastalaya-close.jpg

    Chicken%252520Taco%252520Bowl%252520side.jpg

    eating healthy does not mean eating bland food.
  • MarziPanda95
    MarziPanda95 Posts: 1,326 Member
    Annie_01 wrote: »
    tomatoey wrote: »
    I've been watching my calories for about 3 months now and lost nearly 30 lbs. I'm faithful about eating within my calorie range (1430) and usually for dinner I do low-calorie things like grilled chicken, turkey, seafood, etc with vegetables.

    I also do most of the grocery shopping. Lately my husband has been complaining that we're always eating "my" food. I'll be honest and say that I like my food pretty bland and while I'll try new seasonings and stuff, I don't have the time (work full time) or energy (also have a toddler) to make dinner "exciting" AND low calorie. So it's usually a staple of meat and vegetables.

    My husband likes to eat crap. Even if I make a healthy dinner, he ends up pouring a 1/2 cup of cheese and sauce over what I make. He frequently wants to cook dinner, but his dinners are carb-loaded bombs of pasta, cream sauce, cheeseburgers, etc so I frequently balk when he suggests cooking and he gets offended if he makes dinner and I eat my own thing.

    How can we meet in the middle?

    OMG, if he's not prepared to do any of the shopping or cooking, he can suck it up. +1 for letting him cook his own meals if he doesn't like what's being served.

    Don't get worked up about him adding cheese and sauce to his meal, and tell him your choices have nothing to do with anything other than your weight loss. Each of you needs to stop being so personally invested in what the other is eating.

    Reread the OP. She plainly stated that he frequently wants to cook dinner. She won't eat them. Calls them crap and pasta bombs.

    Also...I might be wanting to lose weight but I am not going to eat bland food for the majority of my meals. By her own admission her meals are bland. Why would you expect someone not trying to lose weight to eat bland meals.

    Yes maybe he could be a bit more understanding but IMO...so could she.

    Yeah, this is what I was getting at.
    There needs to be some compromise! Either she needs to let him cook (because he WANTS to) and eat what he cooks - just in smaller portions - or she needs to make something a bit more exciting to avoid him complaining. It's not that hard to add some spices. Or maybe she could just let him keep adding cheese and sauce, realise why he's doing that, and accept it.
    Either that, or, like people are saying, they should cook separately.
  • MarziPanda95
    MarziPanda95 Posts: 1,326 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    To be honest? I would complain if I were your husband, too. Plain lean meat and vegetables EVERY DAY (bar one day)? I think I'd go crazy. You also have to remember that he's a man, so his calorie needs are far greater than yours. It's just not enough for him, which is why he's adding the cheese and sauce - though that might also be for flavour, since it sounds like your meals don't currently have any. I would suggest, if you don't like using herbs and spices on your own food, at least use them on his food. There are thousands of healthy low calorie delicious foods out there. It doesn't have to always be lean meat and vegetables.

    He can add his own damn spices. He's lucky enough to have someone cook for him. If he wants the cheese sauce, so be it, if he wants a hamburger or a steak on the side then he should make it, and clean up after himself.

    Agreed. What is he? Your child? No. He's his own dang human being. He needs to grow up and make himself food if he wants it a certain way. And if OP is making bland unappetizing food and he's too lazy to cook than he can add cheese/sauce/whatever he wants. No complaining though, he chooses to eat what she makes.

    Like others have since pointed out, he does frequently want to cook, but she won't eat it. That's just as rude as him complaining that her food is bland.
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    To be honest? I would complain if I were your husband, too. Plain lean meat and vegetables EVERY DAY (bar one day)? I think I'd go crazy. You also have to remember that he's a man, so his calorie needs are far greater than yours. It's just not enough for him, which is why he's adding the cheese and sauce - though that might also be for flavour, since it sounds like your meals don't currently have any. I would suggest, if you don't like using herbs and spices on your own food, at least use them on his food. There are thousands of healthy low calorie delicious foods out there. It doesn't have to always be lean meat and vegetables.

    Word. OP, it may help (you AND him) by expanding your cooking just a bit. If he was satisfied with your food before, find ways to make the same meals, but incorporate vegetables into them, use leaner meats, etc. I was eating healthy long before I met my husband, but he never once complained. His vice is fried chicken wings, so we bought a smoker - happy on both sides. My daughter loves macaroni and cheese, so I make a puréed cauliflower/cheese sauce and it's been her favorite since she could eat solids. We make pita pizzas with my homemade sauce, and we regularly make tacos with turkey meat. I may eat zucchini noodles more than anyone in the house, but everyone is excited by a meat/veg bolognese or curry or stir fry. We still have exciting meals!
  • Kexessa
    Kexessa Posts: 346 Member
    I really don't know what would work best for you and your husband to meet in the middle or agree upon. I do 100% of the planning/cooking/food shopping in my house. I cook separately for my husband and myself. The majority of days we aren't even close on what we eat. Though we do usually eat together. I make sure there are snacks and things in the house that he likes. I don't like peanut butter except in it's original form. So I buy peanut butter cereal, cookies, ice cream because there isn't a chance I'll eat it.