Is packing Hubby/kids lunch killing your diet?

lynnstrick01

I always pack my hubby's lunch, he works long hours so his "lunch" consists of a couple of sandwiches, some fruit, chips, snack pack pudding and on and on.. He likes his PBJ' with the pb and jelly mixed in a bowl then put on the sandwich.

While packing his lunch I tend to eat a couple bites of fruit, if there is pbj mix left ill spread it on a piece of bread and eat a 1/2 sandwich, take a nibble of the meat for his other sandwiches .. just little bites that I never considered counting..until one morning I did...

All those "LITTLE BITES" added up to over 400 calories (as near as i could figure because of course i didn't weigh or measure) NO MORE OF THAT FOR ME

Now I have Identified the problem, and stopped doing it, but just wondering how many people out there are taking these innocent little bites and KILLING their calorie intake for the day

arditarose

Yeah...when I start taking nibbles of things I go back to my diary and try to add it. Even if I go over calories for the day, I want the data to be accurate.

Francl27

I stopped all the little bites when I started logging my food. Ok I admit that I typically pack my kids a cookie with their lunch and I've occasionally eaten one too (after breakfast... I know. Sigh), but then I just log it and move on, lol.

lynnstrick01

it's funny, I am not a bad "snacker" and not even really a "sampler" when I am cooking, but something about packing that lunch. I really have to watch myself

ninerbuff

Same reason females who have young kids probably gained weight too. Left overs and prep. It's the "unconscious" eating of calories that many don't account for and yes, they add up.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Veryana

Have a breakfast before you start packing lunch for others. You won't feel like having some extra bites if you already had yours.

zoeysasha37

I pack lunches for my family every day.
I make a decision that I won't eat extra snacks or nibbles because they won't fit into my calorie goal. I'd rather spend the 400 calories on a meal rather then nibbling at a bunch of little stuff.
Every day remind yourself of why you started this process to begin with . ask yourself - will nibbling on this extra sandwich help me get closer to my goals ? Am I willing to give up part of my lunch or dinner in order to fit this extra bit of food ?

Francl27

ninerbuff wrote: »

Same reason females who have young kids probably gained weight too. Left overs and prep. It's the "unconscious" eating of calories that many don't account for and yes, they add up.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

OMG leftovers. I never understood this. I would never eat my kids leftovers even if I was starving, because I know exactly where they put their hands!!!

sault_girl

I always pack lunches when I'm cleaning up the supper dishes -- our lunch is always left-overs. So I'm not hungry or tempted when I'm doing it.

Now, I don't really eat peanut butter, jam or bread, but when I used to, there was never "extra mix". How is that even happening? lol

usmcmp

My kids are 6 and 7, they pack their own lunch or they have to eat whatever the school is serving. Packing their lunch is a nice gesture, but maybe they need to help.

punkrockgoth

I pack my lunches the night before, usually right after or as I'm cooking supper. I also usually chew sugarless gum while I do it so I don't feel inclined to sample the goods.

lynnstrick01

eating breakfast before packing lunch not an option, he leaves for work between midnight and 3am (crazy schedule) which makes it even worse, munch on all those calories that early in the am, Mind not awake to say "hey don't do that"..

As I said I know it is a problem, so i am being extra careful with it.. main reason for thread is that I kinda wanted to call other peoples attention to It in case they are mindlessly consuming those calories like I was

ninerbuff

Francl27 wrote: »

ninerbuff wrote: »

Same reason females who have young kids probably gained weight too. Left overs and prep. It's the "unconscious" eating of calories that many don't account for and yes, they add up.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

OMG leftovers. I never understood this. I would never eat my kids leftovers even if I was starving, because I know exactly where they put their hands!!!

Sorry I meant, leftovers from prep. My DD hates crust on bread, so I cut it off....................then eat it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

lynnstrick01

sault_girl wrote: »

I always pack lunches when I'm cleaning up the supper dishes -- our lunch is always left-overs. So I'm not hungry or tempted when I'm doing it.

Now, I don't really eat peanut butter, jam or bread, but when I used to, there was never "extra mix". How is that even happening? lol

as I said my husband has this thing, He likes his peanut butter and jelly PRE MIXED in a bowl, then spread on the sandwich, .. the likes it that way so that is what I do but there is always a little left in the bowl

punkrockgoth

lynnstrick01 wrote: »

eating breakfast before packing lunch not an option, he leaves for work between midnight and 3am (crazy schedule) which makes it even worse, munch on all those calories that early in the am, Mind not awake to say "hey don't do that"..

As I said I know it is a problem, so i am being extra careful with it.. main reason for thread is that I kinda wanted to call other peoples attention to It in case they are mindlessly consuming those calories like I was

It sounds like you might be able to really benefit from doing this the night/evening before then.

lynnstrick01

NO, the bread tends to get dry on his sandwiches if I do it night before.. as I said this is not so much a cry for help as it is just a "hey have you done this" kind of discussion

kishadj

Funny, that's how I like my pb&j. Never heard of anyone else like that.

lynnstrick01

"it was just so MIND BLOWING for me when I realized it, i thought maybe a lot of others out there doing same thing without thinking..

so far seems like I was the only DUMMY, not thinking about it. dah

Francl27

lynnstrick01 wrote: »

"it was just so MIND BLOWING for me when I realized it, i thought maybe a lot of others out there doing same thing without thinking..

so far seems like I was the only DUMMY, not thinking about it. dah

You're far from alone lol. I know so many people who say 'I don't eat anything I don't understand why I can't lose weight' but they take small bites here and there and don't realize how much it adds up...

lynnstrick01

kishadj wrote: »

Funny, that's how I like my pb&j. Never heard of anyone else like that.

I never did either till I met him, But they really are better that way..

pinggolfer96

DRink coffee, diet soda or tea as you do it and whenever you are tempted take a sip

callsitlikeiseeit

usmcmp wrote: »

My kids are 6 and 7, they pack their own lunch or they have to eat whatever the school is serving. Packing their lunch is a nice gesture, but maybe they need to help.

the man can make his own lunch. im not his mama. and even if i was.... the kids are 17 and 9 and yeah... they make their own lunch. and have for a very long time.

lynnstrick01

callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »

usmcmp wrote: »

My kids are 6 and 7, they pack their own lunch or they have to eat whatever the school is serving. Packing their lunch is a nice gesture, but maybe they need to help.

the man can make his own lunch. im not his mama. and even if i was.... the kids are 17 and 9 and yeah... they make their own lunch. and have for a very long time.

I guess I am just an "old fashion" wife, I figure my husband works hard to make the money to support us, while I stay at home and keep up house yard, farm etc duties. I feel like it is part of my "JOB" to take care of him, I get up in the middle of the night, to pack his lunch, then go back to bed, I make his plate for dinner, refill his glass, etc etc... Even when I did work outside the home I still did all that stuff. I know this isn't really "typical" of wives these days but It's just the way I was raised We have no children so that isn't an issue

LKArgh

I pack my kids snacks, used to pack their lunches when they had lunch in school. It was always leftovers, and the same thing I would have for dinner, so never felt tempted to try any, lunch was/is always cooked meal leftovers and not something I would normally have for breakfast.
I admit I have never packed my husband's lunch, I suspect his jaw would drop and would ask me why I am suddenly treating him like a child. Then he would unpack everything and do it his way.

Queenmunchy

I don't have this issue with packing lunch (I do it as soon as I get home for the following day), but why don't you just pop a mint or something when you're making it? A super strong altoid wouldn't be very good with pb and j!
Also, if you freeze your bread and make a sandwich the night before on frozen bread - pb spreads so much easier - you may not have the dry sandwich problem and can stay snuggled in bed.

grinning_chick

If premixing the peanut butter and jelly or packing your husband's lunch infantilizes him, great. For others, it does not. Lots of varying marriage dynamics out there, folks. Just because it isn't yours doesn't make it ab-normal as long as everyone is happy with the arrangement.

OT? Yes, OP, when you keep track of the mindless nibbles and tastes, it can be a number of boggling proportions the first time you realize it and could absolutely explain why someone isn't losing weight despite swearing in all directions s/he is weighing and tracking everything. I know when I first kept track of how much I eat in the process of cooking, it was enlightening to say the least. (that is to say, pretty sure there was long a string of expletives uttered)

starfish235

I have heard chewing gum while fixing dinner or packing lunches helps thoughtless eating.

Lounmoun

I pack my dh food every day. I don't really eat while packing.
A lot of times he has dinner leftovers instead of sandwiches and I just pack that while I'm putting away the food after dinner. I'm full of dinner when I pack the food so not snacky. Fruit I pack is the whole fruit, not cut up fruit so I couldn't just take a bite. Packaged foods like granola bars or yogurt are also not something I can just take a nibble of.
If there is enough spread for a sandwich or half sandwich I put it in the recrigerator for my lunch the next day instead of eating it right away.
I probably nibbled more when dd was younger and didn't finish her food. Now I just put it in the trash or the refrigerator.

arditarose

starfish235 wrote: »

I have heard chewing gum while fixing dinner or packing lunches helps thoughtless eating.

pinggolfer96 wrote: »

DRink coffee, diet soda or tea as you do it and whenever you are tempted take a sip

I do either/both of these if I'm cooking dinner but really really hungry. Sometimes I'll grab a diet coke, or pop a piece of gum in my mouth so I don't start taking bites and licks before my serving is prepared.

fishshark

I too do not work or have kids, and my husband works to make our money.. so i do all of the cooking and cleaning (i mean really i gotta contribute) and for me i will make his stuff and prepare myself something at the same time so i have something to eat.

mpat81

I have been maintaining for almost 3 months. I never changed my calorie goals in mfp, just resumed the mindless bites and occasional snacks. I was losing over a lb a week before so I guess I am eating approx. 3500 calories this way every week now!