Avoiding "family time" eating

photo_kyla

My family has always had family time around the dinner table. When we were children, it was reading a book (aloud) to the rest of the family. Now it might be talking or reading an interesting article. This always takes place at the kitchen table. There isn't really anywhere else where we can all sit facing each other, not the TV. This is very important to my family.
The problem is, while one person talks, the others eat. It might be dessert, or it might be grazing on anything available in the fridge or cabinets since they are right there. My family knows that I'm trying very hard to lose weight. For me, the easiest way is to not be around the food, but if I leave, I'm being antisocial.
This isn't a once-in-a-while thing either. This is probably at least 6 nights a week.
I usually try to save about 800-1000 calories for dinner to help, but it can make the day incredibly tough, especially if the gym is closed. And it's really hard to hold myself to a 100 calorie bag of cookies while everyone else is having huge bowls of ice cream.
Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

mistyb47711

Non fat yogurt???....they even make fat free chocolate syrup now...

mistyb47711

posted twice

CuteAndCurvy83

Bring foods with you. It sounds like this is an important family thing, and something you can't just "walk away" from it's hard to munch on carrot sticks while everyone else had ice cream, but try to focus more on the family then the food.

kellyscomeback

Be the positive example, snack on homemade popcorn, veggies, frozen or regular yogurt, pretzels, etc.

suzieqj

If you get sugar free, fat free ice cream for yourself you can join them. Don't miss out on family time because of you diet. You can do this!

katharos3

That is such an awesome family tradition! And you definitely shouldn't have to give that up. You could try to have lower calorie or healthier foods on hand, and keep it as a planned part of your day. I always plan for dessert, because I feel like I'm on a "diet" without it. Frozen fruit with a little cool whip (lite or whatever) makes a nice substitute for ice cream, especially if the cool whip is frozen. And I'm currently hooked on Blue Bell fudge bars. They aren't diet, so they don't taste like "diet" but they are a nice portion controlled way to enjoy my after dinner ice cream. If I were scooping ice cream for myself, I'd for sure be eating double the calories.

sister_bear

I'm not sure of your family dynamic, but have you tried providing the dessert?

I come from a family of sorted food allergies and this has often been our solution when attending pot lucks and family events. Would this be something you could do for your family? Maybe not all the time, but once or twice a week would they be willing to let you pick the dessert or create the snack? At least that way you wouldn't have to suffer in silence every night and it would make those nights easier knowing you could look forward to the night you get to pick the dessert.

I love orange sherbert. My mother makes an amazing melon gelato from scratch. There are also some pretty good recipes running around this website.

We still eat ice cream in our house, but we portion it.

sister_bear

Edited to remove post. Website glitched.

debbiequack

My family has always had family time around the dinner table. When we were children, it was reading a book (aloud) to the rest of the family. Now it might be talking or reading an interesting article. This always takes place at the kitchen table. There isn't really anywhere else where we can all sit facing each other, not the TV. This is very important to my family.
The problem is, while one person talks, the others eat. It might be dessert, or it might be grazing on anything available in the fridge or cabinets since they are right there. My family knows that I'm trying very hard to lose weight. For me, the easiest way is to not be around the food, but if I leave, I'm being antisocial.
This isn't a once-in-a-while thing either. This is probably at least 6 nights a week.
I usually try to save about 800-1000 calories for dinner to help, but it can make the day incredibly tough, especially if the gym is closed. And it's really hard to hold myself to a 100 calorie bag of cookies while everyone else is having huge bowls of ice cream.
Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

Does your family eat healthy or do things need to be revamped entirely for everyone?

Best,

Debbie

debbiequack

My family has always had family time around the dinner table. When we were children, it was reading a book (aloud) to the rest of the family. Now it might be talking or reading an interesting article. This always takes place at the kitchen table. There isn't really anywhere else where we can all sit facing each other, not the TV. This is very important to my family.
The problem is, while one person talks, the others eat. It might be dessert, or it might be grazing on anything available in the fridge or cabinets since they are right there. My family knows that I'm trying very hard to lose weight. For me, the easiest way is to not be around the food, but if I leave, I'm being antisocial.
This isn't a once-in-a-while thing either. This is probably at least 6 nights a week.
I usually try to save about 800-1000 calories for dinner to help, but it can make the day incredibly tough, especially if the gym is closed. And it's really hard to hold myself to a 100 calorie bag of cookies while everyone else is having huge bowls of ice cream.
Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

Does your family eat healthy or do things need to be revamped entirely for everyone? I cook about the same for my kids and for me.

Best,

Debbie

christine24t

Vanilla yogurt with berries!

photo_kyla

We usually can try to have a healthy dinner, but dessert (the main food during family time) is ALWAYS ice cream. And not the "diet stuff". It is literally possible for the family (4 people) to polish off an entire half gallon of ice cream in one sitting. If we try to do a healthy alternative, my father will eat it and then say "Okay, I'm ready for some real dessert. Where's the ice cream?"

Pebble321

Get a healthier version of icecream just for you, serve out a single portion and enjoy it.
Losing weight is often about changing habits and while you don't want to lose this lovely family time, it doesn't have to stop you losing weight.
Or, start your own tradition - a cup of tea or diet hot choc to have while they are eating icecream. You're still there and participating and if you do this every day they will evetually get used to it and stop commenting.

HotMamaByVday

Try making a snack for everyone like:
Popcorn, hummus and veggies, frozen grapes, fruit salad

We do family nights also and these are some good staples that I can eat as well. I add a glass of wine for myself, that way I feel like I am indulging on something the kids can't have. lol

angelicdisgrace

We have family dinners and it really helps when you prepare your own portion.