How did you grow up?

Stagezz

I read these threads day after day and am extremely impressed how healthy some of these people are...were you raised like this? How did you learn these behaviors?

I am a child of the late 70's...grew up through the 80's & 90's...A small town girl, with a huge extended family. A family that every meal contained Meat & Potatoes & Gravy or some sort of pasta and lots and lots of sauce...Why? Because potatoes & pasta stretch....you can feed a ton of people at a minimal price. Where seconds were encouraged, portion control was nonexistent, and a meal always contained buttered bread and a glass of whole milk to wash it all down. Once supper was cleaned up and dishes were put away, Grandma would pop 3 huge bowls of popcorn and add 1/2 pound of butter on it with SALT! And you know what...They were all thin and healthy...AND HAPPY

Now as a 30-something adult, trying to eat better, measuring and counting and obsessing about drinking water...Trying to keep my calories between 1200-1500, some days to many, the next not enough...I try to eat only lean meats, and many veggies, and salads, and fruits. In a face paced world working 60+ hours a week, find myself eating frozen lunches, and cereal bars. Driving myself crazy with the scale, one day i'm down 2 pounds a few days later i'm up 3 pounds over and over! And you know what...I'm MISERBLE...

Something has got to give...I am really believing this processed crap and convenience is the cause of most of my problems....I really need to revamp my diet...time to slow down my life just a bit...It goes by so fast.

Thanks for Listening! ) Love to hear your stories too!

diannethegeek

I grew up on casseroles and gravy in my early days and fast food in middle school and high school as my parents became busier. Our town didn't get a Subway until I was in high school, so we're talking Dairy Queen and Sonic. Ten years after moving out of that town and I still have Pizza Hut's phone number memorized!

After school, my sister and I would be sent down to the old-fashioned soda fountain down the block most days and we'd have an ice cream sundae, soda, or milkshake. We walked down the block to the convenience store most nights to buy candy bars for the family. And while we learned about the food pyramid in school, it certainly wasn't put into practice in my house. My parents still think there are no calories in ground turkey breast!

Learning to eat healthy meals has been a lifelong learning process for me since leaving the house. I educate myself and experiment in my cooking whenever possible. I try new recipes and new foods as often as I can.

Sometimes it works, sometimes I fall back on microwaved lasagna for a few weeks.

Anna800

I grew up eating a ton of vegetables and fruit. Rarely ate meat and never ate salads. I used to eat a english muffin with butter for breakfast everyday and a tall glass of orange juice. Kicked the orange juice habit in college.

suzieqcookie

i was just telling someone the other day that how i ate growing up is my biggest downfall... we had a "sunday dinner" every night!! seconds were fought over, and you couldn't leave the table til your plate was clean.. i didn't hear "stop when you're full" til i was in my 30's! My family, however, all struggle with their weight. It is hands down the hardest habit to break because of the memories attached to it. I do fine making light meals, but when i make something like a roast with all the trimmings, it makes my soul happy as well.

Snow__White

Home cooked Croatian meals made from scratch!
and thats what i cook for my family too

mtaylor33557

I grew up in rural South Alabama.

In the south they fry everything, cover it in gravy, have biscuits at almost every meal, cook bacon and sausage nearly every morning.. well, you get the picture.

Also, about the time I hit high school my mom started back to work and was working nights, while me dad worked days. We ate fast food at least 5 times a week.

I didn't have a weight issue though. I was active. Band, Dance, Softball, etc. Then I got older and I can no longer eat like that.

My MIL still cooks like this everyday, she has had a heart attack and now has diabetes.. but for some reason, She and my FIL can not be persuaded that it has anything to do with the way they eat. :huh:

mandycasey

I was born early eighties and mum always cooked a real homecooked meal - money was tight and it was cheaper, lovely midweek roasts, stews, spag bol, bubble and squeak, toad in hole all the favourites. xx

Im_NotPerfect

HA! I grew up on Pasta, Meat, Casseroles, and anything bad for me. We had "goodies" every night before bed if we ate a good dinner. We were part of the "clean plate" club. 2% milk and some sort of bread with every meal. Sunday breakfasts were always oatmeal, grapefruit, Jiffy blueberry muffins, and OJ. And we ALWAYS had cookies around.

We were active. Can't remember weekends when we weren't busy....usually sailing (racing). But I was still heavy (stupid cookies...).

Today I STILL have an affinity for cookies (which is why they're RARELY in our house), but thankfully I married a man who grew up eating TONS of veggies and loves them. My tastes have changed because of him, so now we eat a lot of lean meats, tons of veggies and fruits, and still a lot of pasta. My husband LOVES pasta! LOL But now I know how to control my portions.

ambitious01

:drinker: I grew up eating greasy southern foods. Breads with EVERY meal. Meat and potatoes. beans and greens cooked with tasty grease. I tend to stay too busy, so as an adult I have high blood pressure due to frozen and canned foods. Worse yet there was alcohol with every single meal. Yep, I had some adjusting to do.

wildcata77

I grew up Southern, in NC, but it's not all as bad as it sounds.

Yes, family reunions and church homecomings had lots of cream-of-something casseroles and we like our breakfast hearty and with meat, but we also have tons of local farms, most people grow gardens, and my mom only bought skim milk growing up.

I would say I grew up with a fairly healthy diet by today's standards...smart portions and dinner was usually a protein, a grain/starch, and 2-3 vegetables.

MinnieInMaine

I'm also a child of the 70's-90's. It was easy when we were kids because we ALWAYS were running around outside playing so it didn't matter what or how much we ate. My problems didn't start until I was in my late teens and became more sedentary and started eating more junk. I wish I knew then what I know now!

anneouel

I can't remember anythng before I was 10 (i dont know suppressed memories?) but after the age of 12 I basically fended for myself which ment I typicaly didnt eat veggies lol. Lots or meats and can'd soups

JenAiMarres

I grew up as an only child being raised by my mom only. We didnt eat actual "meals" ever...maybe just a baked potato or a salad or veggies...She never drank soda. We never watched TV. She supported my busy lifestyle with dance, gymnastics, and cheer so I was always very fit. She placed alot of emphasis on "fun", and loved to celebrate any occasion. We went to the pool every day after school and work...and she owned ALOT of bikinis.

So as an adult. my life is EXACTLY the same. I never really thought about it until reading this post but I guess she laid a really good foundation for me food and activity wise.

Thx moms!

*** let me add i do eat protein/meat now, which my childhood was probably lacking.

celebrity328

I grew up with an older parent so I ended up cooking for myself much of the time. My mom never really showed me how to cook I think most of my meals would be starches etc. I dont think I really ate many veggies/meat growing up. I was vegan until age 22 or so

About 4 years ago I had to have my gallblatter removed and got a rude wake up call about the diet I had. The doctor explain to me that the diet I had was the reason my gallblatter needed to be removed and scared the crap out of me ;(! I tried many different things in those years but found out recently Im allergic to gluten so thats been a whole different exp trying to learn how to eat healthy etc with being allergic to 90% of the things I loved to eat !

myfitnessnmhoy

I grew up in a lower middle class family where my father worked hard to earn money and my mother worked hard to make the most of it. Which meant a mostly-vegetarian-ish sort of lifestyle with peanut butter and government cheese and milk being our primary protein sources. We had a small victory garden and ate what we could of our own food when possible, our local food co-op became our grocery store, we'd buy raw milk from a local farmer because it was cheaper, and my brother and I both got paper routes just as soon as we could and most of the money went into the grocery jar.

You learn the value of a quality calorie and the value of the hard work that goes in to a dollar real quick.

I'm not saying we were starving, or that we didn't have nice toys and stuff (my father had a small woodworking shop downstairs and he'd make us awesome toys), but there was a whole lot more love and hard work going on in our house than money.

And whenever a neighbor would invite us over to dinner, my parents would accept. Instead of wine or something, my father would just make up salad forks or a platter or something in the wood shop. We got invited out frequently. The neighbors also learned that we kids could eat a lot, and we never turned down taking leftovers home. Of course, we also knew that we might have to go mow their lawn with the old reel mower to show our appreciation.

Good times.

dfborders

Home cooked cheap meals that would stretch. Lots of cheap snacks (i.e. not healthy). We are all learning now how to do it properly. My mom and dad have lost a good bit of weight doing it together. I fell off the wagon but am starting up again. I don't blame them for my bad habits - at this age it is my choice to change those habits and take responsibility for them or to stay the way I am. I am (hopefully) going to change those habits and become healthier

Bobby_Clerici

My parents were totally CLUELESS!
I learned it all on my own. It must run in my blood, because after my grandfather died, we found some old scrapbooks he kept as a teen where he logged in calories, exercises, height/weight and measures of endurance and strength. It also included pictures.
This was from the 1920's.

I was pleasantly stunned.

Pollywog39

I was born a poor black child..........no, wait, wait........................

I was a child of the late 50's, early 60's......................My sainted mother raised 8 children on her own, after my father was killed in a car accident (I was 3 - the oldest was 9, the youngest wasn't born yet!) We all went to Catholic school (and that wasn't FREE), and Mom was a basic, but good cook.

I grew up on hot dishes (Minnesota!), stews, soups......anything Mom could make in a BIG pot to feed 8 kids. She baked bread (sometimes) and made hot biscuits, and we ALWAYS had dessert (often pudding or cake.) She made a vat of oatmeal for breakfast - with lots of brown sugar and whole milk on it. She was an excellent baker - cookies and cinnamon rolls, thick chocolate cake with fudge frosting. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm..........

She liked to splurge on us once in a while - when we had pizza night or would have a dinner of deli-meat sandwiches and tomato soup. We all tried to earn our own money for pop and candy bars and such....and were little entrepenuers in the neighborhood, cashing in pop bottles and selling wild strawberries to the neighbor ladies, and babysitting for relatives & neighbors.

None of us were heavy as children - that came later. Mom was always overweight, and most of us have struggled as adults. There are still things I HAVE to eat that she used to make, and will indulge on occasion. And I'm a BUTTER person.....none of this fake buttery *kitten*.........ugggh.

moesaid2

I was born in the late 70s. My family (aunts, uncles, mother's parents) were (are) large people. My grandfather died of a massive heart attack (he was also diabetic) and my grandmother was so large when she died we had to buy and oversized casket. However, despite all of this my siblings and I (there are 7 all together) maintained healthy weights as children, teens, and even in our young adult lives. It's only been since the past 6-8 years, that we (two sisters and I) have picked up weight.

We grew up eating chicken with everything...There were a million ways to make chicken--baked, fried, boiled, grilled, in casserole, in salad. Chicken was cheap back then. It was rare that we ate steak. Occassionally we would have fried fish or sloppy joes or hamburers. We also ate bologna and hot dogs for lunch, BUT we played outside ALL THE TIME!! And we always had fruit and veggies that we ate all the time.

I believed I learned what not to do by looking at my aunts, uncles, and grandparents because they were obese and have chronic disease problems.

I do believe that how a person grows up affects them. My aunts and uncle didn't spend as much time as my siblings and I did outside and they ate foods that was always fried and laced with lard, bacon fat, gravy, etc. I'm not saying that we didn't eat fried foods, but I think because we were active, we weren't overweight children....

denisebme

I was born in the 60's. Also in a small town, and also to a "meat and potatoes" family. Both of my parents were overweight, but as kids, I was always stick thin, probably because I was non-stop motion. I grew up with 2 television channels, no cable, long before video games, in a very small town. We ran everywhere, and we lived for being outside, or on our bikes, roller skates, anything that would give us forward momentum.
It's those eating habits that I learned growing up though that didn't work so well on a less active adult. My husband is also a "meat and potatoes" type, and we raised 6 kids, so I can relate to cooking meals that stretch as far as possible.
We are "empty nesters" now, even though our youngest, who is almost 21, still lives at home while she finishes college. I've really changes the way I cook, much to my husbands dismay some days. He was diagnosed with fatty liver disease a few years ago, and we've been able to completely reverse that with a cleaner, organic, lower fat diet.

marjoleina

I grew up in Europe, we ate potatoes, vegetables and fish or small piece of meat. No fast food, no processed food, applepie on birthdays. No pop. And we didn't drive everywhere either, bicycles, or publuc transit.
This was in the dark ages.
When I came to the States I promptly gained a lot of weight...
Now I eat vegs, fruits, whole grain. No dairy, no meat. I do drive everywhere and make up for that by driving to the gym

TyFit08

I so understand the challenges the OP is talking about. I really have had to reverse my eating habits and it is still a challenge with family gatherings.

I grew up in NYC in the 80s and 90s to a mother from South Carolina. So definitely soul food cooking. I was never a big meat eater, I actually gave up beef and pork when I was 13. But I couldn't imagine living without baked macaroni and cheese and candied yams. As for vegetables, when Southern folk get done with them are they even still vegetables. Collard Greens or String beans with a big neck bone; carrots or corn with tons of sugar. I am 32 and i didn't start eating green salad until 2 years ago because I was convinced we weren't suppose to eat raw vegetables.


Also thanks to NY, I am a huge fan of pasta and pizza. I could eat a slice every day of the week and my summers as a kid usually meant a slice and an Italian ice on a daily basis. I also remember dessert being a big part of my family. My mother, who is diabetic, 2 strokes and quadruple bypass still thinks she is suppose to have something sweet after dinner. There was always Haagan Daaz in the freezer, always cookies, always cake. I no longer eat dessert on a regular basis, but whenever I stay with my mom, no matter how committed I am to eating right, if I go to the store she says make sure you bring back something sweet. I will be staying with her in July and I hope not to backslide. I have made a lot of changes, I gave up potato bread, daily desserts, I don't add sugar to my veggies, I eat salad and I try not to over do it on the starchy foods like pasta and mac and cheese. But it is still hard and makes being around my family even harder.

GoJo65

Growing up in mid 60s/70s first generation from an Italian family so pasta at every dinner..even at BBQs! BUT-we are Southern Italian so lighter red sauces, no heavy cream sauces & believe it or not my dad hates mozzarella/ricotta or anything really cheesy stuff(most condiments too) so that really helped keep the calories down. Salad at the end of every dinner with just oil & vinegar,splash of lemon.

I never knew that pasta salad could be made with mayo until I was 19!

More fried stuff than I ever make now but somehow even that seemed lighter? No soda unless we had company..we did eat the sugary cereals once my mom went back to work, but no desserts except at holidays or when we had company('you HAVE to bring cake to someone's house-what are you an animal?')

My brothers & I were all into sports so always very active...we all struggle as adults now so I don't know what happened..busy lives..way more choices..too much processed stuff..and yes-I agree Stagezz ..I am miserable too trying to keep up with all this measuring & counting & weighing...and I just started!

It's been fun reading about everyone's else's childhood tho..keep 'em coming! And good luck to all of us!

leanmeanmom

I grew up in the 60's & 70's from Florida. We southerners do like our biscuits, cornbread and grits. Lots of fried fish and hush-puppies. But since we didn't have a lot of money, my dad killed a lot of deer, wild hog and rabbits. The wild game made for a mostly lean diet. HOWEVER, my mom cooked everything in lots of butter and bacon grease. We didn't have much but she sure made it taste good. Didn't start having salads and fresh veggies until I was about 10. Ate lots of cobblers and banana pudding. By 6th grade I had a weight problem. Parents got divorced, I had no self-esteem during that time. A lot of that was due to mom working 2 jobs and our family eating late at night! What a mess we put ourselves through but it was what I learned growing up.
Then by 15 I had went the other way. Way too thin until I was about 24. But finally, I learned the right ways to eat and to use food as a necessity for life, although it can be enjoyed, too. Just don't overindulge. We eat lots of whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, and we splurge with hot wings almost every Friday night! All of my daughters carry a water bottle with them everywhere and drink plenty throughout the day. We make most of our own bread with all good stuff and try to stay away from the whites.....white sugar, flour, potatoes, rice. Pretty much eat what I want but have to balance with exercise and water! Definitely don't have a perfect diet or all good habits, but we do try pretty consistently.

msbanana

I feel your pain, I grew up eating 50's style comfort food (raised by my grandmother). the only saving grace is that my grandmother also struggled with her weight and learned healthier option, taught me portion control and never forced me to clean my plate. That said when I was on my own and no longer in competive sports (I wrestled in High School and did some coaching in college) all of that went out the window for a while and I got out of control.

I have gained that control back- I started easy at first. Just eating whole foods (meat, veg, fruit, nuts etc..) and avoiding grain (I have some allergies and intolerances that required I cut out most of it). I figured out simple delicious meals that were fast and easy to prepare. Started just doubling my dinner prep so that I had lunch the next day (I also invested in a lot of to-go containers).

I also have a hectic work schedule, I have made the gym my second job and I MAKE time to do everything else.

It's all about investing a little of your "personal time" and meal prepping like a mo'fo. I spend about 2-3 hours on Sunday getting everything together for the week (making mini-frittatas for to-go b-fast, cutting veggies and fruit cooking a crap load of chicken breasts prepping the ingredients for possible corckpot meals if I know I'm going to be working late) portioning it out into containers so all I have to do is grab and go in the morning.

If it's all preportioned and premeasured there's no need to stress about all the counting- it's pre counted you just need to add it to your diary.

It's a commitment you have to make to yourself. If you're not willing to make the commitment you're going to struggle.
I know, I got injurred recently and gave zero f*cks about anything. I gained 20lbs back in 3 months. I've been back at it religiously for a little over a week and I feel 1000 times better and I'm weighing in tonight but I'd guess I've lost 5 of it already.

This is a lifetime of work. You don't get to quit and it's not easy but OMG is it worth it....

:flowerforyou:

SamTheIntlDvlpr

OMG I know what you mean! I'm Jamaican and back in Jamaica my family on my mom's side grew up very poor, so whatever food was placed infront of you is the food you would eat. And its not like the food was ever bad, I love my Jamaican food, but there is a TON of oil used in most if not all of the dishes; ackee and saltfish, fried chicken, ox tail, you name it; oil is used as if its a staple :S by the time i reached grade 6, i was 160 pounds! So my habits have been on a constant change ever since, and I only eat my moms cooking once in a while, and i stick to raw veggies and simple foods that don't require oil and all the strenuous cooking that sucks out all of the nutrients!

and so far, so good!

cubizzle

I grew up 25 miles south of Chicago. If you don't know, that means I ate pizza.... a lot. Like seriously, 3-5 times a week.

gaiareeves

I was born in the 90's, raised by a single mother who worked full time and was constantly on the edge of a psychotic break down. I was taught very little about nutrition and was essentially left to feed myself and my younger brother. By 11 I was providing the meals for myself and him (7 at the time) at least five times a week. We just ate whatever there was around the house, and long periods of being inside with no parental figure around to stop us meant we often ended up stuffing our faces out of boredom.

SarahMorganP

I grew up very poor and it was normal to go days without eating anything. Then when we got money every once in a while my mom would make huge meals (always a meat and potato meal or something like spaghetti) and we would eat until we felt like puking. Never any fruits or veggies in the house, ever.

TONYAGOOCH

I also grew up similar to you. Born early 70's, grew up through the 80's and have a huge family as well. I'm the baby of 10 and each of my parents were 1 of 10 children. I was an Aunt the day I was born. lol That said, we didn't have much money and my dad always had a garden. Man I hated that garden. Loved the food but HATED working in it. We had cows and chickens and pigs in which we too to the slaughter house and we killed and dressed our own chickens. Meals usually consisted of fried chicken or something with ground beef or pork chops, mashed or fried potates and fried veggies, homemade ice cream and cakes. I never remember huge expensive trips to the grocery store. As children we were not obese because we ran all of that off outsided every single day. There were no video games or cell phones or computer. I always thought I wanted to live in the city (now I do) and never have a garden (I find myself wishing for one these days). Life was simpler then. Now a days, I basically live on processed food because it's more conveinent for me with working full time and raising just 4 children. Don't get me wrong, I do buy fresh veggies and fruit but I use canned and frozen as well as boxed and instant items. I miss my mom's fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravey and fresh green beans for Sunday dinner sooooo much.

Oh yes....everything was fried in bacon grease. We saved the grease every time we made bacon. Plus it was a treat to sit and watch tv and eat bread and butter. yum! lol

♥Amy♥

Both of my parents worked full time while I was growing up and my mom's the youngest girl of 5 (9 kids total), so she was the baby and never learned to cook. So my diet consisted of convenience foods (hamburger helper, fast food, etc.) and the only veggies we ever ate came from a can...no fruits except an occasional banana. The only drinks we ever drank were soda, no water and milk was only used for cereal. Unfortunately, I continued this when I moved out and with my kids

Since changing my eating habits almost 2 years ago, things have drastically changed. My kids are learning to eat a variety of fruits and veggies (as well as myself). We rarely eat out (compared to what we used to) and I try and not feed them as much convenience foods. It's all about baby steps and changing to healthier things!