Not everyone eats like me... :(
Ms_Jae
Posts: 36 Member
How do I conquer eating a healthier diet when no one else in the house does? It is very frustrating trying to buy 2 sets of groceries or cooking sets of meals. My other family members don’t want to eat the same things I do and I can understand that, fried food does taste better but fried foods especially fried chicken is one of my weaknesses so I don't cook that way. I need some solutions if there are any out there…
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I feel you. My husband is an extremely picky eater so I always have to prepare two separate meals because his are never healthy. I don't have any advice, though, to offer.
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Well, your household may not be set up like mine but the kids eat what's put on the table or nothing at all. No fixing their own stuff or hitting the snacks. They dont eat, they dont get a snack later either (this is the older kids, my 22 month old gets exceptions but she eats anything!) Now that seems harsh but that's what has to be done not only for your own health but theirs as well. Luckily, my husband eats whatever is put on the table but I do know that some husbands are not that easy.0
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Are you the one that shops for, buys, and prepares all of the food? If so, it's your call really. You can still make them things they like, just healthier versions. Or you can tell them if they don't wish to eat the healthier food that you are providing them, that they can shop and prepare their own meals! I wouldn't buy 2 sets of groceries and prepare 2 sets of meals, no way!0
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I have a few dietary restrictions and I am also the cook in the family. I DO make SOME sides or an add-on to the meal for them, but I cook meals that taste good and that I CAN EAT. Sometimes I have to cook things and put them in separate serving dishes because these people are too dang picky! But I don't fry chicken. I grill it, cook it in the cast iron skillet with a little oil, stir fry it, but I don't fry it. Well OK maybe twice a year I'll fry it in gluten free flour (tastes just as good as regular flour) but not very often.
Instead of eating hamburgers with the bun, sometimes we have hamburger steaks with mashed potatoes (I use coconut milk instead of dairy and they don't even care or notice), and green beans. This is a hit every time. And it's gluten and dairy free.
The trick is finding foods that everyone can eat, serve it instead of the crap foods, and over time they'll adapt. It does take time and they'll complain but you tell them it's for THEIR health TOO. Just because they aren't overweight YET doesn't mean they won't be overweight in a few years. they need to learn to eat healthy foods now or they will develop the taste for bad foods and then be on the same journey you are on now.
Hope that helps!0 -
Who does the cooking? If it's you, I'd just cook the way you want to eat and let them eat it. I do ALL the cooking at my house. My family knows that since I'm being nice enough to cook for them, they should be nice enough to eat what I cook. In all honesty, my husband loves eating my healthy food, and the kids eat because I tell them too and it's the rule (they're teenagers, but they still have to eat what I make). I do have one or two nights a week where it's a "fend for yourself night." If they want unhealthy, that's when they get it.
It might seem harsh, but it works.0 -
It depends on who the other people in the household are. My husband would eat a lot of junk if I bought it. But I don't. If he wants it, he's a grown man and can procure his own food. But he's lazy so he eats what I prepare, which is usually healthy. I would feel the same of any other adults in the house. If you want to poison your body with junk, that's your choice, but don't expect me to buy or prepare it.
We are past the children in the house stage, but when I had children at home they ate the food I prepared because I was their mom and I said so.
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Have you tried converting the unhealthy stuff they like into something that you can eat and they'll still like? For example, make "oven fried chicken" instead of frying chicken the traditional way, etc. Something to consider.
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To be honest, I had the same issue with my other half, but I found ways to cook the things he likes in a healthier way.
I make chips at home but I oven cook them rather than deep-fry.
Full english breakfasts can be healthy! I use low-fat sausages, trim the fat off my bacon, poach the eggs and grill everything else. He doesn't know it's low-fat.
Curries are a firm favourite, but rather than use the packaged, high calorie sauces, I make my own. He actually prefers them.
Pasta sauces are the same, so make your own and stick loads of veggies in there too. A hearty but low calorie meal.
This is just a few examples. You can adapt most meals to make them healthy.0 -
Who are these people preparing separate meals? Are you kidding me? I'm a vegetarian and my husband is not. If he doesn't like what I'm cooking, he can make something else himself! If it's a situation with kids, maybe look into that book about how to sneak vegetables into foods. I've heard lots of good reviews.0
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I can sympathize. It's not easy cooking for a house full of picky folks. It's no fun to cook the healthy meal and then listen to everyone complain. But I did it. My husband is fairly picky, but even he would rather eat what I offer than make his own. Most of the time. So that's what I started doing finally. I cook one meal that I can eat within my plan. I'll add on sides that the kids really like (mashed potatoes and such, which I don't eat) to go with the meal. But first and foremost I cook for me. I take their likes and dislikes into consideration-DH hates bell peppers, so I make a portion without if that's part of the meal, etc. All in all, I find making exceptions like this to one meal is much easier than actually fixing two.
Here's an example of what I do:
DH likes chicken teriyaki, particularly breaded. I like grilled chicken. So I make a homemade teriyaki sauce, marinade the chicken in advance, grill it, and add the sauce on the side in case he wants extra. For sides, I provide steamed broccoli and a salad. These are what I like. My oldest son doesn't care for either usually, so I add corn or mashed potatoes to go with. Sometimes I'll provide a side of steamed rice, too. I don't usually eat it, but they all love it.
In this way I've provided a healthy entree that appeals to his taste, sides for everyone to enjoy, and it's just one meal.
HTH0 -
I agree with above poster- they eat it or nothing at all. My hubs always eats what I do- or he can make something for himself. I still cook yummy food though. It's tricky still cooking things that taste good without tall the fat.. but once you "get it" then it's super easy from there. Most of the time he can't even tell it's "healthy".0
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Well, your household may not be set up like mine but the kids eat what's put on the table or nothing at all. No fixing their own stuff or hitting the snacks. They dont eat, they dont get a snack later either (this is the older kids, my 22 month old gets exceptions but she eats anything!) Now that seems harsh but that's what has to be done not only for your own health but theirs as well. Luckily, my husband eats whatever is put on the table but I do know that some husbands are not that easy.
Wait, poster... do you live at my house?? Because this is how I run things as well. I'm happy to say that I've been cooking healthy things for my daughter since she got her first teeth, so she is used to those flavors. For older kids who aren't used to it, this may cause issues, but I would rather have these issues than feed my family poison. Dramatic language. Doot doot doooooooooo.0 -
Who does the cooking? If it's you, I'd just cook the way you want to eat and let them eat it.
This Also, healthy food doesn't have to be disgusting. Just because the chicken isn't fried doesn't mean it has to be inedible.
Also, not to be a jerk, but no one ever said weight loss would be convenient. A lot of the reason it's so difficult is because it involves working around obstacles.0 -
I agree with everyone else, if you are the one going to the store and the one cooking then cook the way you see fit. My kids eat what's given to them or they don't eat and they don't get to snack on junk food later. My diet is pretty strict, but it's not unreasonable. My hubby isn't on the health band wagon at the moment so if he wants junk food, he has to supply his own. My kids as far as I'm concerned don't need the junk or fatty high calorie foods.0
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Well, your household may not be set up like mine but the kids eat what's put on the table or nothing at all. No fixing their own stuff or hitting the snacks. They dont eat, they dont get a snack later either (this is the older kids, my 22 month old gets exceptions but she eats anything!) Now that seems harsh but that's what has to be done not only for your own health but theirs as well. Luckily, my husband eats whatever is put on the table but I do know that some husbands are not that easy.
^^This. My kids eat what's prepared or not at all. They're 3 & 6. There's nothing wrong introducing healthier food into your family's life!0 -
Maybe try getting creative with your recipes... Use lots of spices! They add a lot of flavor to anything! Boil veggies with Saffron to give them extra flavor, Add Mrs Dash to lots of things... Make Mashed Cauliflower instead of Mashed potatoes... If you can make things taste good... and have a healthy meal... then everyone is Happy!... But since Healthy foods can be pricey! Do you have an Aldi's near by? They have packages of wild caught salmon for $5.990
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Well, your household may not be set up like mine but the kids eat what's put on the table or nothing at all. No fixing their own stuff or hitting the snacks. They dont eat, they dont get a snack later either (this is the older kids, my 22 month old gets exceptions but she eats anything!) Now that seems harsh but that's what has to be done not only for your own health but theirs as well. Luckily, my husband eats whatever is put on the table but I do know that some husbands are not that easy.
I am in-between you and the OP. I fix one dinner (though on occasion, I take hubby's meat out before seasoning, if I am using spices because he has Crohn's) and that's all. But I don't make them starve. Mine are teenagers, so they can fix their own or have a snack. But then, I don't keep unhealthy snacks around anymore either. So they can eat what I make or work it out on their own. Sometimes they will fix PBJ if they don't like what I cooked. I'm fine with that.0 -
These are all really good suggestions. Generally my OH will eat what I give him, but if he's cooking or he really fancies something not so healthy, I think about how I can adapt what he's making. So curry for example, I might make some roast veggies on the side and only have a little bit of the curry. Or ask to have my chicken out first before he makes the sauce.
We don't have a deep fat fryer and we've never fried anything, but I do most of the cooking and he hasn't noticed the lack of oil in anything With pizza we now have it on tortilla or pitta bases, or I will only have half with a big side salad.
Sometimes you can eat what they eat, but only a little bit of it.
Good luck!0 -
I totally agree with this! Especially if you are the one that does all the cooking. I told my kids when they were growing up that if they didn't like what I put on the table they did without. Now all 3 of them are grown but they will eat what ever. They didn't get the choice of different meals on the same table. Not enough money for that in the budget!Who does the cooking? If it's you, I'd just cook the way you want to eat and let them eat it. I do ALL the cooking at my house. My family knows that since I'm being nice enough to cook for them, they should be nice enough to eat what I cook. In all honesty, my husband loves eating my healthy food, and the kids eat because I tell them too and it's the rule (they're teenagers, but they still have to eat what I make). I do have one or two nights a week where it's a "fend for yourself night." If they want unhealthy, that's when they get it.
It might seem harsh, but it works.0 -
You can try to "healthify" the things they like to eat. Use white whole wheat flour or whole wheat instead of white flour, reduce amounts of butter and oil and change up ingredients -- It was weeks before my husband figured out his tacos had lean turkey instead of ground beef. I also added vegetables to old favorites like ziti bake to make it more filling and traded out regular ricotta for fat free or low fat. Make changes gradually and they may not notice (or at least fight it as much).0
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Well, your household may not be set up like mine but the kids eat what's put on the table or nothing at all. No fixing their own stuff or hitting the snacks. They dont eat, they dont get a snack later either (this is the older kids, my 22 month old gets exceptions but she eats anything!) Now that seems harsh but that's what has to be done not only for your own health but theirs as well. Luckily, my husband eats whatever is put on the table but I do know that some husbands are not that easy.
That's how I do it too. I do try to add a universally liked side in there (like mac n cheese), and just don't put any on my plate.0 -
I also have to add, that if it is your partner that is complaining, he should appreciate your decision to be healthy, want that for you as well and be doing his best to help you, not moaning about what you put on the table.
As for kids, well, you are the parent. I say no more.0 -
You can do what I did... I told my husband I wasn't making two meals, and he would have to eat what I fixed. I try to be mindful of the things he absolutely will not eat, but everything else is fair game. If he doesn't like it, he knows that he's free to make something else for himself. Needless to say, he's since joined MFP because he saw that he started losing too (he doesn't have much to lose, but still) and got excited. Last night I made eggplant parmesan, and the guy who hates ALL vegetables ate and loved it!
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^^ This! If hubby wants different food then let him buy and cook his own stuff. It's the same in our house. I'm a full time working mother - not a restaurant chef!!Well, your household may not be set up like mine but the kids eat what's put on the table or nothing at all. No fixing their own stuff or hitting the snacks. They dont eat, they dont get a snack later either (this is the older kids, my 22 month old gets exceptions but she eats anything!) Now that seems harsh but that's what has to be done not only for your own health but theirs as well. Luckily, my husband eats whatever is put on the table but I do know that some husbands are not that easy.0 -
How about healthier options of the foods they love?
My dad always made an amazing "fried" chicken that was breaded, but baked. I make a variation using a blend of cornflake crumbs and crushed Fiber One cereal, sometimes crushed pretzels and crushed Fiber One. Still crunchy yummy goodness, but a healthier version.
My husband loves Rice A Roni. I add a pile of mixed frozen vegetables to it. I tend to plug out more of the vegetables when I take my serving, and less of the rice. He has more of the rice and only what he calls "non-offensive" vegetables (pretty much just carrots and green beans, no broccoli or cauliflower... he's fussy). But we're both happy and it doesn't dirty any extra pots and pans.0 -
Have you tried converting the unhealthy stuff they like into something that you can eat and they'll still like? For example, make "oven fried chicken" instead of frying chicken the traditional way, etc. Something to consider.
Thank you. you know I acutally forgot about that. Thanks!0 -
I understand this completely. Sometimes I give the others what they want and other times they eat what I make. Saturday my better half wanted fried fish but I threw mine in the oven topped with lots of herbs and seasoning. I do use a lot of low-fat items when cooking and use ground turkey or turkey sausage frequently. We have also slowed down on the amounts of rice and pasta dishes (though I will NEVER give them up completely).0
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Well, your household may not be set up like mine but the kids eat what's put on the table or nothing at all. No fixing their own stuff or hitting the snacks. They dont eat, they dont get a snack later either (this is the older kids, my 22 month old gets exceptions but she eats anything!) Now that seems harsh but that's what has to be done not only for your own health but theirs as well. Luckily, my husband eats whatever is put on the table but I do know that some husbands are not that easy.
This is the way it is at my house... Eat whats cooked or starve... Even for my husband... He gets cranky about some of the healthier choices I cook, but I don't see him saddling up to the stove, so they will learn to deal with it!0 -
If I make chicken I will grill it and I will use sides like broccoli and potato. My plate will have plain chicken , plain broccoli and plain baked potato, everyone else will eat the same base but I will put bbq sauce on their chicken and grate cheddar on their broccoli and maybe a bit of butter on their baked potatoes. We are all eating the same meal but with very little effort they love what they are eating and its still healthier than fried chicken or french fries. Its very rare I make something that can't be easily altered for everyone to enjoy. Another topping for chicken breast can be cheese and pasta sauce melted on top in the oven. Another favourite is grilled chicken on salad, I use all the same salad fixings accept they get to top with grated cheddar and I don't. Chicken breasts are a staple in our house and I do something different with them all week. We also grill steak and have meat sauce spaghetti. I don't make pork because I don't like it but if I make it for them, I cook the pork chops then simmer in condensed cream of mushroom soup. They get rice and green beans on the side, i put the left over condensed soup on the rice. I never deep fry anything. Good luck, hope you find the foods that everyone will enjoy.0
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How about healthier options of the foods they love?
My dad always made an amazing "fried" chicken that was breaded, but baked. I make a variation using a blend of cornflake crumbs and crushed Fiber One cereal, sometimes crushed pretzels and crushed Fiber One. Still crunchy yummy goodness, but a healthier version.
My husband loves Rice A Roni. I add a pile of mixed frozen vegetables to it. I tend to plug out more of the vegetables when I take my serving, and less of the rice. He has more of the rice and only what he calls "non-offensive" vegetables (pretty much just carrots and green beans, no broccoli or cauliflower... he's fussy). But we're both happy and it doesn't dirty any extra pots and pans.
Loving these suggestions and going to try them!0
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