How can I feed my family without going over my calories and

Klein1475

I don't mean to come across as rude, but fix one dinner and that is that.

With 6 kids, I would go crazy fixing a dinner that everyone would like. I make dinner for the family, I work hard on making something nutrtious and delcious.. My children have been told from the time they could understand, that this is dinner. They have to take a "no thank you bite" That is where they politelyy take a bite of food, and if they don't like it, no comments about it, they can then say, "no thank you". They are then able to go get a bowl of cereal to eat for their dinner, bring it to the table and eat with the rest of us.

Make dinner, serve it to them...have them try it...you will be surprised to what they will soon like.

Most meals I make sure I measure my portion out...tonights dinner was whole wheat spaghetti with turkey and beef meetballs, in a semi-homemade sauce. They all enjoyed it and I just made sure I ate a proper portion....

Good luck with the chnage...the kids will probably resist it at first...but in the long run they will enjoy it.

I agree... I only make one meal also... I also have that policy but I have never called it that... that is cute name... The no thank you policy...

sleepytexan

I don' t mind eating less and looking for good foods but I find that I'm making two meals every night. One for my husband and I that are supposed to be healthy, and high sodium junk for my kids. I am having a hard time coming up with things that the whole family can eat and I can still stay in my calorie and fat levels. I want to reach my goals and still be able to sit down as a family to a meal. Any good ideas on what I can make without feeding my kids separately? Mostly healthy for you foods are not very kid friendly.

why on earth would you feed your kids high sodium junk?

who is the parent? my 4 kids (plus niece who lives with me) eat what I prepare for them. about 4 oz. meat or fish, and the rest of the plate filled with fresh steamed or grilled veggies and fresh fruit.

It doesn't take long to make them eat right. Just don't let them eat wrong.

If you don't teach them now, THEY will be sorry later.

MrsJax11

How about your kids eat what you and your husband eat and if they don't like it they can fix their own stuff.

My mom went by that policy -- if I didn't like what she made, I could make myself a PBJ, grilled cheese, or cereal after I tried what she cooked. I am a very healthy eater now because I tried a lot of things when I was younger.

BodyRockerVT

I only modify meals for myself, not for my kids, and only because they eat meat, and I really don't.

I can't imagine letting my kids "get away" with dictating food choices. My son has kiwi, carrots, PB&honey, and yogurt for lunch tomorrow. He will eat it because that is what he was given.

parvati

Just like it takes adults time to adjust to healthier eating, it takes the kids time too. Start with little changes, less sodium, less processed food, less sugar & gradually get your family onto a cleaner diet. I eat very clean, my kids eat pretty clean but still get treats, they are healthier choices tho. That being said there are some things that kids are just not going to eat! Sometimes the kids have a fresh veggies plate when I'm eating cabbage, mushrooms, eggplant.... Lol you aren't going to win them all! Good luck!

BroiledNotFried

Great question! I wish I had an answer that worked for you.

I have 2 kids and struggle with this too.

Right now, I have found a way that works for me - the French diet. I rush to get the kids to school. Last one is gone at nine. I make them breakfast, but have a light breakfast myself (boiled egg, slice toast . . . or just a Chobani Yogurt). I work in the morning, and then break for lunch. But, for lunch I make the family supper. I eat my portion for lunch. Then, when the kids come home from school . . . i can help them with homework and after school activities or park. I am not rushing around in the kitchen, getting stressed out and grabbing for food myself from the hunger of just eating a salad for lunch. I feed them dinner . .. and I eat homemade soup. This week, I made a huge batch of lentil soup. I get on the treadmill in the evening when dad is home. Afterwards, I have a glass of red wine. I don't snack on junk food if I have a 4 ounce glass of red wine.

If you are looking for good meals to make your kids, I sure like cookinglight.com. Just sometimes, I have to add a little more salt to their recipes. Dinner for the kids tonight (my lunch) was pork spareribs, mixed veggies, slice "white whole wheat" bread, and veggie bbq beans.

Burgers - add beans to both up the health benefit & strech meat

Italian - anything Italian kids L-O-V-E

Shrimp - ok, this is expensive, but the kids love it.

If the kids are old enough, make them part of your gardening & cooking. A cherry tomato plant or two, and kids have a blast. For super cheap pots, the bakery in the mega store (Wa*****) gives away FOR FREE their icing buckets. My kids got more into fruits and veggies after growing our own. My son is more of a veggie eater, but my daugther loves broccoli, cauliflower made like mashed potato, and asparagus. Partial victories.

ishallnotwant

I don' t mind eating less and looking for good foods but I find that I'm making two meals every night. One for my husband and I that are supposed to be healthy, and high sodium junk for my kids. I am having a hard time coming up with things that the whole family can eat and I can still stay in my calorie and fat levels. I want to reach my goals and still be able to sit down as a family to a meal. Any good ideas on what I can make without feeding my kids separately? Mostly healthy for you foods are not very kid friendly.

I don't believe in "kid friendly" vs "not kid friendly". I have 5 kids. The oldest will be 18 in July and the youngest is 7. I have never given into the 'chicken nugget/corn dog' mentality when feeding them. They have always eaten what I eat-including tons of veggies, salads and fruit, whole grain breads, baked, grilled, or broiled meats, etc. It's how I raised them-on whole foods. They love eating healthy-my littlest 3 thought mushrooms were called 'marshmallows' until they were like 3 or 4, and begged constantly to have "marshmallows" while I was making salads-my friends who had kids always thought my kids were really odd in their affection for veggies and salads. If you act like the food is "yucky", or that healthy food is "different food", it won't go a long way to help them learn to enjoy eating healthfully. It may take some time for your kids to get used to, but have them try one new food each time you make it : i.e."if you think you don't like it, take at least x amount of bites to see if you like it". I always make my kids take bites according to age. i.e. my 7 yr old has to take 7 bites-she's pretty little, so one serving of a side dish is pretty small-sometimes 7 bites and she's done. My kids rarely complain about food, but when they do, this is how I handle it. Now, some foods people really, really don't like-if it is a food that we have seriously established a dislike for (none of my littles are very fond of stuffing at Thanksgiving, for example) I try to be reasonable and give the kids a small portion of it, and a larger portion of the rest of the meal. They don't complain, they eat their small portion because they know it's the rules. It's going to take time to establish some healthier choices for your family, but it is really imperative that you do. You don't want your children growing up and struggling with an unhealthy lifestyle when you can teach them from a young age how to care properly for their bodies. It's part of our duty as a parent, to teach our children healthy lifestyle habits

BroiledNotFried

Also, kids love fruit smoothies. And, I read that kids who eat more fruit have lower risk of cancer later in life. To make it cheaper, use the frozen fruits, ice, yogurts that are about at their expiration dates, bananas, etc. My kids are all into homemade smoothies.

And, you can hide alot of good stuff in speghetti sauce. Buy one of those "boat motor" looking hand held beaters you can use in the pot.

Kids love spaghetti. Well, Barila Plus (in the yellow box) .. ...ok, one box food . . . . is made with beans. It's packed full of protein and it tastes JUST LIKE white spaghetti.

Really, if it's made at home, not from a box, and the kids get outside to play . . . . you're doing great.

Grokette

I don' t mind eating less and looking for good foods but I find that I'm making two meals every night. One for my husband and I that are supposed to be healthy, and high sodium junk for my kids. I am having a hard time coming up with things that the whole family can eat and I can still stay in my calorie and fat levels. I want to reach my goals and still be able to sit down as a family to a meal. Any good ideas on what I can make without feeding my kids separately? Mostly healthy for you foods are not very kid friendly.

Cook 1 meal and everyone eats the same thing. You are the parent. They eat what you put in front on them. Plain, simple, Period.

JeSuisPrest

I've been making meals from the recipes on www.skinnytaste.com......so far so good, and the kids don't even know the difference.

Grokette

I have to do the same thing.....I will cussed out by my husband if I give him only a salad!!!!!! LMAO!!!!:ohwell:

Wow, if you are the primary cook in the household - then the same rules should apply to the spouse as well as the kids.

Whomever does the cooking dictates.

That is very ungrateful of him to cuss you out for fixing a salad for supper. My husband eats what I fix or if I get takeout even, he eats what I cook or what I bring home. No being upset, just a Thank You Baby for taking care of me.

kysassyblonde1

I wouls try to tweek some of your normal recipes, like using ground turkey instead of ground beef, I started doing this in spaghetti, chili, soup;s and other caseroles and noone even noticed it. Change some items in recipes to fat free items and I doubt they will even notice, alot of times you can take a normal recipe and just tweek it to make it healthier. Tonight I cooked chili and used lean ground turkey and served it will fat free crackers and noone knew they didnt have beef or regular crackers!!!!

Blackbetty01

Thanks to those who truely read this message as a person trying to change the way I do things for the better. So some of you, thanks for the judgements, I'm glad you are all so perfect. This is really hard to break and it's not gonna happen over night, I'm not stupid. I wanted ideas to break the cycle not be condenmed for things I've done. This is only the beginning of my road.

rahonda28

Hey be nice people at least she is asking for advice unlike some people Im sure you know who need to get healthy but dont do anything about it. I am in a simular situation but its my husband to be that doesnt eat healthy the rest of us do. I make deserts and use unsweetened applesause for oil in my baking and I use cuts of meat from venison (one its free from our many hunting friends and two its leaner than beef) or turkey, chicken, buffelo if you want WHEN ITS GROUND IT LOOKS LIKE HAMBERGER. Then I season it with Mrs.Dash hamberger flavored seasoning. 0 calories. Now it tastes like hamberger. Make tatertot hotdish but use low sodium mushroom soup and only put on half of the tatertots then usual so there are spaces now you cut starch in half calories per serving in half. Make hambergers the same and spagetti with white bean pasta (looks and tastes like regular pasta but is better for you and comes in lots of shapes) green been caserole. Just keep trying you made the first step keep it up

ishallnotwant

OP, i'd hate to see you not want to post in the forums because of the response you got. I really don't think anyone was trying to attack you...I think your wording in the original post was a bit...awkward, saying you feed your children "high sodium junk". I think people just kind of didn't know how to react to that. I didn't post in judgement, I was trying to give you some ideas, as a mother of several children myself, on what I do if my children don't want to eat something. It will get easier for both you and your family and you keep on keepin' on. I hope you can glean this thread and take what you can use, and leave the rest behind.

JulieF11

Wow, you got more than you bargained for with those responses, huh?

My hubby won't eat anything healthy. He hates veggies and such. This makes it difficult for us to all eat the same things. So, what I do is make enough veggie for me to fill my plate with and join in with the rest of them, but have a smaller portion of the higher calorie items.

Hang in there! After making more and more types of veggie, I have found a wider variety of vegetables that they like. Try roasting them with olive oil and sea salt... that makes them sweeter and tastier.

HonkyTonks

Thanks to those who truely read this message as a person trying to change the way I do things for the better. So some of you, thanks for the judgements, I'm glad you are all so perfect. This is really hard to break and it's not gonna happen over night, I'm not stupid. I wanted ideas to break the cycle not be condenmed for things I've done. This is only the beginning of my road.

I can understand kids can be difficult but I think the idea that you should cook one meal is a good one, if the kids don't like it they can go without, they won't starve. Your kids need to break their high salt/sugar/fat stuff as well for their long term health. You can make plenty of tasty stuff that kids like as well. Bolognese for example, you can pack full of veggies, blend it up and it is super duper tasty.

Fairysoul

Well I could help you better if I knew what you eat and what they eat... I could help you modify from there. PM me if you would like me help out!

sonyapowell

after four pages of advice.....i am sure you got the idea! Let me tell you as a provider in a busy ER i can assure you if you do not take the "bull by the horns" now, it will never get any easier and you will live to regret it.

ninerbuff

Kids will eat if hungry. They can learn to like the foods you make if you're consistent in serving it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

yoouperh

I have to speak to this because I struggled with it myself, feeling like I was "punishing" my 4 year old with turkey burgers and stuff like that until I realized, I'm starting him off where I should have been all along. We do portion control, he eats smart ones and lean cuisines...he knows water is the best drink for him, he uses milk to fill up the spaces in his belly inside of seconds. Now his favorite snack is an apple sliced with Cinnemon.
I think you have to look at it as an investment in their life, and forget about the society norms. If they don't like it right away, eventually they will or they will find something else that is healthy to enjoy. If you don't buy junk, they won't eat it, at least not at home!

cansmith80

I was guilty of doing the same thing. I would fix myself a really healthy meal and feed my children crap. Then I thought to myself, what are you doing?? I found out that my kids love veggies. They actually beg for salad and fruit. You would really be surprised at what kids actually do like. Just because it is considered healthy doesn't mean it can't be tasty!

SBelle83

Feed your family what you eat. The whole reason I am changing my lifestyle is to be a good role model for my daughter so that when she grows up, she won't face the same struggles I had when it came to food. My daughter is 2 so feeding her what I am eating is not that hard but I can only imagine with older children and a husband it would be harder since their tastes have already been determined. It make take a while for them to get used to it but start feeding them what you eat and they will succumb. Some ideas to try might be to switch from regular bacon to turkey bacon, instead of ground beef in spaghetti sauce use ground turkey, whole wheat breads and pastas instead of white pastas and breads.

JennieAL

My husband has his two little nieces and nephew over to our house quite often and they are used to eating lots and lots of junk. We eat fairly healthy these days. There is no way I'm going to make special meals for those kids just because they like junk. I'm the adult, and I'm the main cook in this house... they will eat what I give them! :-) Besides, I'd like to set a good example, since their mom and grandmother obviously don't care to...

You are the mom and the adult... they need to learn to eat what you provide them, and since you are now eating healthier, they should be too!

My 2 cents... (no judgements, I know kids can be trying...)

Oh, wanted to add this: The youngest niece plopped her butt down at the kitchen island the other day and said "I'm hungry. I like to eat when I'm bored." And I said "That's not a very good reason to eat!" I said this in front of my husband's mom. I refuse to feed (literally) their unhealthy habits if I can help it.

mommyoverboard

I have made lasagna and meat loaf this week and both were served with side dishes and water - both meals under 700 calories.

I urge you to remember that a BIG reason we (as moms) want to become healthy is to set a good example for our families. My kids are 8 & 6 and are enjoying the home cooked meals. Play with your recipes and substitue regular cheese for low fat, whole milk for skim, white bread for wheat, ect. They might object at first, but after awhile they wont realize the difference anymore.

I grew up without a good example of what "healthy cooking" looked like, so I was pretty lost when I had to start figuring it out myself. Give your kids the advantage by introducing them to a healthy lifestyle. Heck, make it fun by letting them help you cook it! I bet it tastes better to them when THEY've cooked it!

Good luck!

sonyapowell

we have the no thank you bite at our house too. if you do not like what is on the table you are free to have peanutbutter or cheese sandwich. if you do not want to eat that is ok but everyone has to come to the table becasue that is where we fellowship and communicate. the table is more than food. sometimes we have fancy night where we set the table pretty and even dress nice for dinner. sometimes we have candle light and stem ware. life is short, simple pleasures are the best. i look fw to dinner time to relax and enjoy. i also try to include the kids in the cooking or preping as much as i can. you have a lot more freedom than you think. it is all a family affair, you will be surprised when you start asking them what they think is a good idea or look online for new ideas with them. things that you can make together it is an adventure another form of art or creativity and let thier imaginations run wild with you.

jaimec25

It's easy to say that the kids will eat what you make but what if they don't? The old saying of they'll eat it if they're hungry, doesn't always work on every kid. It worked on my oldest when she was little but does NOTHING for my middle two kids. It sounds like this person wants some real ideas for real change. I'm in a similar situation with my kids. My middle kids (5 year old girl and 7 year old boy) would literally eat a peanut butter sandwich every day rather than eat the healthier food we try to make if we gave them that option and yes, my kids would go without dinner rather then eat something they don't like. I think what parents of picky eaters really need are ideas for kid-friendly, healthy food and healthy stuff you can sneak in without them realizing it. If anyone has ideas along those lines, that would be great.

toni014

i have a picky 3 year old daughter, but she still eats all her veggies!! i let her watch in as i cook, and if she is unsure about a veggie, i let her taste it. she is a child, and not to sound rude or mean, but either she can eat it or she does not!! i figure teach them while they are young to eat healthy, and they wont have a problem with it later. simple as that!!

Rhami1

They have to take a "no thank you bite" That is where they politelyy take a bite of food, and if they don't like it, no comments about it, they can then say, "no thank you". They are then able to go get a bowl of cereal to eat for their dinner, bring it to the table and eat with the rest of us.

I really like this! I try to put fresh fruit and veggies on the table when I know the meal is going to be challenging to get my little kids to eat...but I really really like this idea. It's the battle at the dinner table I'm weary of - and I don't, and never have made two meals except when I KNOW it's something my children genuinely don't like but I want to make for my husband and myself, usually a treat, and not too often. It all passes, and they grow out of it, my older two eat whatever I make pretty much, and if it's something they don't like they get to have leftovers or something else - we all have things we don't like. But it's the little ones right now who can really make meal times difficult.

I agree with most others, give the kids what you're eating, and just add some other things to the table that you know they'll eat, like grapes, sliced apples, carrot/celery sticks, I'll even add some whole grain bread if I think they're unlikely to eat anything other than the fruits/veggies...

Good Luck...meal times can be so frustrating sometimes! But they will learn to eat what you make, and you'll be happier for not having to prepare two meals every night.

missruiz11

I have the same issue. I try to make a protein, starch and veggie that we all can eat and then I skip the starch and load up on veggies! I also am learning to keep salad stuff, shredded cabbage, yogurt and things like that. One night I made tacos. Only extra thing I did was sautee onions and bell peppers, then made myself a taco salad instead of using the tortilla. Simple ways to save us calories, but still providng meals everyone will eat! I have two kids and if I said tonight we are having fish and zuchinni, they may not eat. If I add in mashed potatoes they will. The potatoes arent terrible for you but may be more heavier than what I need to have for dinner.