Family Meal Rant

cjsgrimlin1

So I have a small budget right now and my mother who lives with my family tends to buy the food. Not usually a big deal as i go with her and help. She is a very overweight woman with destructive tendencies and destructive critique as well. She always picks up food she knows me and my husband will not eat willingly as we are both trying to loose for medical reason. She refuses to lose at all. I was basically out voted tonight on one of these foods and i ended up having to eat it anyways or starve, because our budget does not allow for multiple meals. Okay... I'm done.

middlehaitch

Good to have a rant.
If you and your husband are providing the money, or a larger percentage of, for the food budget, be more assertive when you are shopping with your mum.
Allow her a couple of things, obviously, but buy what the majority of the household likes to eat; not the minority.
I know it is hard to be firm with mums, but it is she that is living with you, not the reverse.

Cheers, h.

cjsgrimlin1

its more of a mutual thing us living together, Her house our rules since Dad died shes had a few mental problems that require she live with someone. I would be buying all the groceries and she would be left to buy her junk herself if i hadn't needed to finish paying for school out of pocket this year. Next year will be different. Usually its a majority of the time more what we will eat than what we wont so she when at home and eating with us is involuntarily following our diet, however her portions sizes or huge. Sometimes if i don't fix mine before i let her fix hers i don't have enough left to eat. Its been a long time since ive had NO control like tonight so it did make me feel horrible since im still hungry and 200 over my cals for the day.

SherryTeach

So you and your husband are living in your mother's home and she is paying for the food for all of you?

wizzybeth

This thread is weird.

What horrible food is she making you eat?

cjsgrimlin1

Not all the time we switch off sometimes. But yes this go around she did. She does not however pay for everything so i do not need a lecture about being grateful for having a roof over my head and food to eat. We do own our own home. We do not have to rely on my mother to survive, she has to live with family per her psychiatrist's orders. I just finished paying for nursing school at the beginning of this year. So no its not a we don't have the money issue. It was a rant that we are on a budget and cooking two separate meals is illogical and my calories got the short end of the stick. I have to suck it up I'm a big girl but i was looking for support to do so.

blkandwhite77

A veggie omelette would cost about a dollar an omelet. Maybe next time just do that

blkandwhite77

A baked potato, slice of bread with a little butter and some veggies would be around sixty cents

blkandwhite77

A broccoli and cheese quiche would be about $2

blkandwhite77

Just a few ideas

cjsgrimlin1

Thanks, i didnt think about that! but trying to save whats left of eggs for thanksgiving.... Ummm donno for what though

Maxematics

I'm not really understanding what's happening here. If your only option is to eat something that is very calorie laden and you truly have no other options, then just eat less of it. 200 calories over isn't a huge deal; you could always take a walk to burn some of it off.

cjsgrimlin1

Yeah i know i was just ranting cause i felt like i had no choice in the matter. I only had 9 of the little chicken and a bag of chips. BUT its the fact that im still hungry that has made me so upset. I can normally eat that many calories when i cook and not be hungry at all. I'm downing water to help. But it is still depressing.

DLDzioba

I'm sorry you are in a frustrating spot. My husband(bless him) eats pretty much exclusively processed crap food. I love him but it makes grocery shopping and cooking interesting, until I decided not to worry if he doesn't eat what I am making myself he will cook his own food and that leaves me with a second meal for the next day's lunch.

_Terrapin_

cjsgrimlin1 wrote: »

its more of a mutual thing us living together, Her house our rules since Dad died shes had a few mental problems that require she live with someone. I would be buying all the groceries and she would be left to buy her junk herself if i hadn't needed to finish paying for school out of pocket this year. Next year will be different. Usually its a majority of the time more what we will eat than what we wont so she when at home and eating with us is involuntarily following our diet, however her portions sizes or huge. Sometimes if i don't fix mine before i let her fix hers i don't have enough left to eat. Its been a long time since ive had NO control like tonight so it did make me feel horrible since im still hungry and 200 over my cals for the day.

What does your diet allow you to eat and what is she offering which does not conform?

cjsgrimlin1

I eat what i want normally within cal allowance but we had a big breakfast this morning i made pancakes. So tonight she wanted to eat and was agreed with by everyone else the kids and husband Honey BBq boneless wings @ 3 for 200 cals. with fries. I was just upset because i knew i would eat my little 9 ( they are no bigger than nuggets) and chips (not enough fries) and still be hungry BUT be over my calories too.

Lovee_Dove7

cjsgrimlin1 wrote: »

So I have a small budget right now and my mother who lives with my family tends to buy the food. Not usually a big deal as i go with her and help. She is a very overweight woman with destructive tendencies and destructive critique as well. She always picks up food she knows me and my husband will not eat willingly as we are both trying to loose for medical reason. She refuses to lose at all. I was basically out voted tonight on one of these foods and i ended up having to eat it anyways or starve, because our budget does not allow for multiple meals. Okay... I'm done.

If it's your house.....it's your rules. <

---

That's my motto, with no exceptions.
You and your husband must lead out!

cjsgrimlin1

Outvoted AND I had to cook it. He normally doesnt go against me so I wont hold it against him. The kids of course just love chicken nuggets and fries (dont help both my girls are underweight for their age)

_Terrapin_

cjsgrimlin1 wrote: »

Outvoted AND I had to cook it. He normally doesnt go against me so I wont hold it against him. The kids of course just love chicken nuggets and fries (dont help both my girls are underweight for their age)

Okay, well it was one meal. It isn't like you have to do this often. I'm sure your nutritional needs aren't suffering too much. Good luck OP.

cjsgrimlin1

[/quote]
If it's your house.....it's your rules. <

---

That's my motto, with no exceptions.
You and your husband must lead out![/quote]
Mutual House though, if anything it is hers by name. Ours in the fact we pay for repairs and upkeep for the past 4 years. but whose house isn't the issue. I believe it is more of an internal i hate this struggle than anything.

cjsgrimlin1

_Terrapin_ wrote: »

cjsgrimlin1 wrote: »

Outvoted AND I had to cook it. He normally doesnt go against me so I wont hold it against him. The kids of course just love chicken nuggets and fries (dont help both my girls are underweight for their age)

Okay, well it was one meal. It isn't like you have to do this often. I'm sure your nutritional needs aren't suffering too much. Good luck OP.

Thank you!

PeachyCarol

I'm confused by the choice of chips. If there weren't enough fries so you weren't going to be eating them anyway, why not choose something more filling than chips?

Francl27

Sorry OP, I completely get it! I'd be pretty upset if I had to eat chicken nuggets (I assume?) and chips for dinner. Wouldn't fill me up one bit. I guess I envy the people who can eat 'just a little bit of it' of high calorie foods and not end up going to bed hungry. Sure isn't me.

I don't understand the part about your budget not allowing for multiple meals though. If you don't eat that dinner, someone else can eat it tomorrow, it's not like the food is wasted... so use $5 of your own money to buy oatmeal, beans, peanut butter, so worst case you can make yourself some oatmeal with peanut butter or potatoes and beans for dinner instead.

cjsgrimlin1

OH DUHHH oatmeal!!!
see this is what i needed!!! I have things to eat but i can't COOK more than one MEAT.
The chips are because its close to my payday and there isnt any fresh vegetables.
Cooking a whole meal is wasted in our home because my mother wont eat leftovers (as if there is ever any). This meal would have been devoured by her no matter but i never thought of the oatmeal!!!

Francl27

Ok well you'll get more food for your money by buying a bag of potatoes instead of chips too.

But I admire you for putting up with her, I can't stand spending more than a couple days with my mom and I would definitely not be putting up with that.

wizzybeth

Next payday, stock up on some frozen veggies to keep on hand in the freezer for situations just like this. Amazing how filling and satisfying a bag of broccoli, green beans, or some steamed chopped spinach is. Doesn't have to be fresh veggies. This is how I make it through meals when I make the kids something that is a calorie bomb and not filling when I stick to a "sensible portion" (like pasta...ever realize how pathetically small the actual serving size of pasta is??!)

cjsgrimlin1

Francl27 wrote: »

Ok well you'll get more food for your money by buying a bag of potatoes instead of chips too.

But I admire you for putting up with her, I can't stand spending more than a couple days with my mom and I would definitely not be putting up with that.

My sister lives half a country away for a reason i assume.... chips are usually meant for the kids i've been slipping up all weekend.

EvgeniZyntx

Get some chicken or beef stock (less than $0.80) and add whatever you have around - onions, noodles, etc. A whole pot of soup for very little cost or cals.

cjsgrimlin1

That does sound good too! Might see what i can throw together tomorrow and freeze for such occasions.

bwogilvie

If you have room in your freezer, the next time you make a healthy soup or stew, make some extra and freeze it in single-serving portions. Then, if you get into a similar situation, you can thaw the soup/stew for yourself without having to cook another meal. I cook for my wife and myself, so I don't have your problem, but between work and hobbies I get really busy, and having healthy, home-cooked meals in the freezer has been great on those days when I don't have time or energy to cook.

WinoGelato

cjsgrimlin1 wrote: »

OH DUHHH oatmeal!!!
see this is what i needed!!! I have things to eat but i can't COOK more than one MEAT.
The chips are because its close to my payday and there isnt any fresh vegetables.
Cooking a whole meal is wasted in our home because my mother wont eat leftovers (as if there is ever any). This meal would have been devoured by her no matter but i never thought of the oatmeal!!!

Why can't you cook more than one meat?

As others have said, keep frozen veggies on hand, eggs, oatmeal, peanut butter sandwich, rice, beans, grilled cheese, etc.