Stay At Home Moms, HELP!
AuthenticallyAmanda
Posts: 39 Member
Hey, I'm a stay at home mom of a 4.5yr old and 2yr old, both daughters! I'm struggling on how to start/maintain a consistent diet. I need some creative idea to make this work. Do you make separate foods to eat? Do you meal prep? Help please?!
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My kids are the same ages! Send me a friend request. I'm new on the site and don't know how to do that yet! I have tons of ideas for you!1
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Same boat. 5 yr old son and 3 yr daughter. Are you a snacker? That's what my problem is, I seem to always be in the kitchen. My "danger zone" is nap time so I try to stay upstairs or keep myself busy from 1-3. It helps that I am lazy so if I stay upstairs, I usually won't venture down just for food.2
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I'm also a SAHM. Most of my kids are older, but my youngest is 2. What's tripping you up? I don't think it's necessary to make separate foods. My older kids make breakfast and lunch for themselves, but my toddler often eats my food. I typically eat the same foods every day, or at least plan out all of my food in advance. It's much easier when I know exactly what I'm going to eat and I don't have to think about it. I don't really prep meals in advance, except for freezing individual portions of chicken breast for my lunches, I just keep it simple.1
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Same boat. 5 yr old son and 3 yr daughter. Are you a snacker? That's what my problem is, I seem to always be in the kitchen. My "danger zone" is nap time so I try to stay upstairs or keep myself busy from 1-3. It helps that I am lazy so if I stay upstairs, I usually won't venture down just for food.
I usually don't snack, however I eat way too much. I also, the time I over indulge is when they go to bed. So about 10pm, I have a "4th meal". It's a. Horrible habit.
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michelleepotter wrote: »I'm also a SAHM. Most of my kids are older, but my youngest is 2. What's tripping you up? I don't think it's necessary to make separate foods. My older kids make breakfast and lunch for themselves, but my toddler often eats my food. I typically eat the same foods every day, or at least plan out all of my food in advance. It's much easier when I know exactly what I'm going to eat and I don't have to think about it. I don't really prep meals in advance, except for freezing individual portions of chicken breast for my lunches, I just keep it simple.
My portion control is horrible. Also have to count calories when making a meal is super tedious. I sometimes think of just getting frozen meals for me like weight watchers. What are some examples of quick meals you make?
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I take glass pie pans and stack them up with foil which I reuse. I put cooked chicken or lentils on them and cut up a cauliflower, broccoli, eggplant, celery, carrot, or whatever I bought. Then I weigh each pan and Tare out each veggie as I add. I make about 4 at a time, all a touch different. Takes me about 20 mins. Then I bake the pie pan for my dinner. At 450 for 20 mins and add soy or hot sauce. So tasty and so filling, usually less than 300 calories. Also a pot of soup made with boxed chicken broth, ground lean turkey, canned tomato, and veggies can last days for dinners and is cheap and fast to prepare. I rotate these dinner ideas and don't ever get sick of them. Ps I have three kids but I work full time and am home four days a week with them:)2
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I am a SAHM and share your struggle with portion control and the dreaded 4th meal! I don't prepare separate meals. Meal planning and cooking ahead and freezing "backup meals" for when I need something quick helps. I am going to send you a request and maybe we can keep each other motivated and share ideas!1
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AmandaJeanHornik wrote: »Same boat. 5 yr old son and 3 yr daughter. Are you a snacker? That's what my problem is, I seem to always be in the kitchen. My "danger zone" is nap time so I try to stay upstairs or keep myself busy from 1-3. It helps that I am lazy so if I stay upstairs, I usually won't venture down just for food.
I usually don't snack, however I eat way too much. I also, the time I over indulge is when they go to bed. So about 10pm, I have a "4th meal". It's a. Horrible habit.
I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables
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Meal planning.
Pre-logging my day. I leave 100-300 calories in my day for snacks at 3-4 PM and around 9 PM.
Putting food away out of sight.
Getting out of the kitchen and doing other things.
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I tend to be an emotional eater, not sure how to break that.0
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Thank you all for your responses!
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I am an emotional eater too! I am being more conscience about it and letting myself have a small snack here and there, but I am careful not to binge, or stop a binge before it gets crazy.
Have you looked into ways to relax and de-stress? Hobby's? Friends? Wine?1 -
I'm a SAHM 5yr old boy 2.5yr old girl. sometimes I make the same food for all of us sometimes not. it's good to snack but remember it's just a snack not a meal. I eat if I get bored at home so I try to redirect myself into something else. I gave up pop, I do not count calories. I just eat real food and try to avoid processed stuff. I'm down 40lbs in 5 months. feel free to add me ☺1
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I am an emotional eater too! I am being more conscience about it and letting myself have a small snack here and there, but I am careful not to binge, or stop a binge before it gets crazy.
Have you looked into ways to relax and de-stress? Hobby's? Friends? Wine?
Oh man, relax.. My Husband works two jobs, so I don't have a lot of time to myself. Or money for that matter! I drink rarely, lol. Friends, I have a couple mommy friends, but they are also busy and struggling with their own weight issues. It's tough to have small kids.
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I have a 7 year old and a 2 year old. Breakfast and lunch are always different for us but dinner they eat what i eat. I make good healthy meals my whole family enjoys. I do plan out my dinners i rarely wing it. But youll get in the swing of things its not as hard as you think0
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Sahm of 4 here...ages 8,6,5,2
I dont make separate foods....they eat what I eat. Usually they have eggs, oatmeal or pancakes for breakfast and I usually skip breakfast. Lunch is leftovers, sandwiches, hotdogs, soup, etc...
Dinner is usually a protein and a veggie...tonight was chicken breast with asparagus. The kids dipped in BBQ sauce.
Snacks are usually fruit, crackers or pretzels.
Re relaxing....find a way to carve out time for yourself. Are your kids content in a stroller? Strap them in, put headphones on and go for a long walk. Take a half hour after bedtime to do NOTHING.....just sitting in silence can help.
If you can afford a membership, the daycare can be a GODSEND on days you need a break....2 -
Thank you all so much, for the support and ideas!!0
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I'm a stay at home Dad if that helps. I do my kids different foods to what I eat. They have cereal I eat oats. I eat a lot of salads, they also like salad & eat a lot of fruits. It is hard when you cook them something you want to eat, if I have to eat it I'll make sure I go out for a long walk afterwards & use the Endomondo app. Start with a good breakfast is the best tip. I have oats or if you eat eggs I have about 3 scrambled on whole meal toast. It will fill you for longer & you'll feel less peckish through the day1
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I am not a stay at home mom. I'm on mat leave but I do have a little advice to offer... I absolutely refuse to keep my cheat foods in the house. I'm an emotional eater and I live to find a reason to eat and chocolate is my down fall. I know what it's like to be busy and grab something quick so try to keep only healthy snacks. I buy mini carrots and hummus and I love yogurt. That's all. And allow your self a treat once in a while. That's ok. Good luck!!2
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I'm a stay at home Dad if that helps. I do my kids different foods to what I eat. They have cereal I eat oats. I eat a lot of salads, they also like salad & eat a lot of fruits. It is hard when you cook them something you want to eat, if I have to eat it I'll make sure I go out for a long walk afterwards & use the Endomondo app. Start with a good breakfast is the best tip. I have oats or if you eat eggs I have about 3 scrambled on whole meal toast. It will fill you for longer & you'll feel less peckish through the day
Thank you! Awesome advice.1 -
During the day I eat differently from them but both my kids nap so I eat a better lunch then. I'll probably just deal with whatever when that is done. My big thing was letting go of eating what they were or what they didn't finish. We all eat the same dinner so that helps.1
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I'm a SAHM to a 2 year old and a 1 year old. I'm an emotional eater and I struggle with snacking because I'm so stressed and tired. My 1 year old is still up several times a night. I'd love tips! I've got about 10 pounds to lose.1
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Sahm mom to a 5 year old and a 1 year old who im still nursing. I have been off track so long now. Every day i say tomorrow.. Ugh. Need to lose 30 more lbs. I have lost 50 already.1
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AmandaJeanHornik wrote: »michelleepotter wrote: »I'm also a SAHM. Most of my kids are older, but my youngest is 2. What's tripping you up? I don't think it's necessary to make separate foods. My older kids make breakfast and lunch for themselves, but my toddler often eats my food. I typically eat the same foods every day, or at least plan out all of my food in advance. It's much easier when I know exactly what I'm going to eat and I don't have to think about it. I don't really prep meals in advance, except for freezing individual portions of chicken breast for my lunches, I just keep it simple.
My portion control is horrible. Also have to count calories when making a meal is super tedious. I sometimes think of just getting frozen meals for me like weight watchers. What are some examples of quick meals you make?
I'm sorry, I missed this. One thing that helps is if you eat the same things often, and you make it the same way every time, you don't have to figure out the calories every time. For example, every morning I eat 2 slices of bacon (the same brand), 1 jumbo fried egg, and 1/2 a serving of grits. (I crumble the bacon up and mix it all together. SO GOOD! And filling.) Since I eat that a lot, I don't have to figure it out every time. I have it saved as a meal in MFP, so I just add the whole meal and there are my calories.
For lunch, I have a few things I like. I do grilled chicken breasts with hot sauce and ranch (actually some that I make myself by dumping a packet of ranch mix into a large container of Greek yogurt, much fewer calories than regular ranch and IMHO tastes even better). Or I mix 1 can of tuna with 1/2 cup of cottage cheese. Sometimes this really good chicken salad that is chunks of grilled chicken, avocado, Greek yogurt, and lime juice all mixed together. All of these things are saved as meals in MFP, so all I have to do is make sure I make them the same way every time (or weigh the meat and adjust it in my diary). This does mean you have to weigh / measure all of your ingredients every time, but just think of it like following a recipe to make sure it comes out right.
For portion control, I try to stay under 400 calories each for breakfast and lunch. (Which, with exercise, hopefully leaves me about 800 calories for dinner.) If I am not feeling full on that, I change what I'm eating. I was having fruit and yogurt for breakfast, and left always feeling hungry. So I switched to the bacon, eggs, and grits, and the increased fat and protein makes a huge difference. I was eating sausage and a small piece of very rich cheese for lunch, but it was NOT filling. I can eat a much larger piece of chicken for the same calories. For a snack, I keep around these 100 calorie bags of popcorn.1
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