ahh!! HELP PLEASE!!

karissastephens
karissastephens Posts: 324 Member
edited September 21 in Health and Weight Loss
So I moved in with the family for the summer to save rent money. Im a college student so it is makes more sense...

HOWEVER, my family eats CRAP. Carb loaded mac n cheese, fried foods, chips, dips, ice cream, sugar cereal....ETC....I can go on and on...

It is sooooo hard to come home from a 9 hour shift at work and not be tempted to indulge in all the goodies...

Someone please give me tips to STAY AWAY from the crappy food and still eat healthy when I work long hours and come home starving.

Today I went shoppin and got stuff for salads but I still seem to eat the tempting food my family makes...

uhhhggg help!

Replies

  • mapnerd2005
    mapnerd2005 Posts: 363
    You might want to pack a healthy snack that you can eat on your way home. Something simple like nuts or dry cereal (the healthy ones) that do not need refrigeration. That way you won't be starving when you get home, so it may be easier to resist the temptations at home until you can prepare a healthy meal.
  • xarrium
    xarrium Posts: 432 Member
    I've found that eating lots of protein helps to ward off cravings... my new favourite low-cal protein food is a tuna burger (canned tuna, an egg, some breadcrumbs to bind it and whatever herbs or spices you choose, shape into patties and fry in nonstick pan until crispy) with a big salad. Also, a healthy, filling snack is a good idea--evens out the blood sugar, which should help you resist all the (probably very yummy) food your family makes.

    Also, be sure to let your family know what you're trying to achieve. It doesn't always work, but sometimes all you need to do is tell someone and they'll help you out.

    Good luck!!
  • km323
    km323 Posts: 124
    I go grocery shopping with my dad when he goes, so I'm able to toss a couple of healthy things into the cart. Many times, he'll just buy something because I want it and the rest of my family will end up liking it to so it's added to the regular list! If you don't have time to go with, maybe make some requests for at least basic fruits and vegetables so that you'll have your own healthy alternatives to snack on?

    I am definitely still faced with some of the less healthy things they tend to buy though, and I do indulge sometimes in moderation (my grandma makes a KILLER macaroni and cheese -- but where before I would have had a heaping plate, I try to limit it to one cup or less and supplement with a veggie on the side, or followed up with a fruit if I'm still hungry.
  • nikki91950
    nikki91950 Posts: 647
    You can try preparing your meals in advance. That way, you can just come home and pop whatever in the microwave real quick, and you won't have any excuses for getting into all that nasty stuff! :)
  • Binki
    Binki Posts: 13
    I have this similar problem, everyone eats chocolate in my house. I think it helps to eat a little protein to stop you from diving into the bad. Try 1 hard boiled egg with a pinch of salt & pepper, maybe with 1 cracker or a slice of light cheese.
  • mimi7grands
    mimi7grands Posts: 616
    You've received lots of good advice. I particularly like the idea of eating something before you get home. My secret weapon (which I make no secret of!) is veggies. If you have veggies and a low calorie dip already in the fridge, that would be easy and natural to snack on.

    If it fits into the kitchen schedule, you could also try roasting them. (Spritz with olive oil then bake at 475 for 8-15 minutes, depending on the veggie. Asparagus (my favorite) takes less time. Whole mushrooms, mini peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. etc. are good with a little more time.) Veggies are the best "will power" I know.

    Several members of my family have become converts. Maybe that will happen for you too!

    You have identified the problem, that's the first step. You're looking at possible solutions, that's the second step. You are well on your way to keeping to what's healthy for you.
  • breakingthepath
    breakingthepath Posts: 124
    Low calorie tv dinners and zero prep fruits and veggies are good for fighting the urge to nom down whatever is within reach and ready to eat. I'm a big fan of dipping handfuls of leafy greens in regular fat dressing (measure it or else!) and stuff like that.
  • crking
    crking Posts: 175
    I am the same way. I stash food in my room. Obviously it's hard when you have something that needs to in the fridge..so I just put my name on it...but normally no one else will eat it anyways! I am also trying to save money but only spend on essentials and food is essential. I can get tons of good stuff for under 40 bucks and it will last me quite awhile. Also, take a look at some the things your family has.. some of it might not be so bad for you if you use the portions.
  • kdsmith
    kdsmith Posts: 250
    Any chance on getting your family on a healthy eating challenge? See if you can get some healthy meals into the week for everyone. Or, like someone else said, limit yourself to a tiny serving of whatever they are eating and fill the rest of your plate with salad. Or start with a plate of healthy food and then say to yourself that if you're still hungry you can have a small serving of whatever else is being served. My Mom has maintained her weight for years and years and always eats whatever everyone else is eating but she only eats small servings.
  • antiadipose
    antiadipose Posts: 447
    im in the same EXACT spot right now. i moved back home in april and im here till september. i cant even fit my veggies or healthy food in the fridge/freezer! they eat lots of pasta, rice or bread with every meal, they fry fish, when i craved eggplants... my mom pan FRIED the slices!!!! even when they make the rice, its not just simply boil... nooooo its fry up in butter first.. then add water to boil.
    and EVERYTHING tastes like pure SALT!

    ive tried allllll i could to make them eat healthier. ive cooked for them.. made them the same foods they love.. just a tad healthier but NOPE.. their palates and taste buds just refuse to change!
    and oh-my-God do they love their cakes, ice cream, baklava, cream-filled, butter-slathered, fudge-covered, deep-fried foods! lol
    its EVERYWHERE!
    chocolate is everywhere toooo.. just staring at me looll

    i couldnt change them but i finally got them to understand im gonna make my own food from now on.. even if were having dinner together.

    its so much easier when i lived by myself!!!
  • nessie994
    nessie994 Posts: 11
    I'm in this boat too!!! My dad is well, obese. And i live with him. There is NEVER healthy food in the house, despite the fact he is supposed to be dieting too! Whenever he wants to have a "family meal" It's always something breaded and deep fried! We are a Southern family(relocated....) so this is even harder to get over! Rich, fatty, fried food is part of our culture!
    It's to the point now, that I just avoid going home as much as possible now(staying at boyfriends house). And I try to avoid meals with my family too! I feel like a bad person because of it!
  • Skinny100
    Skinny100 Posts: 77
    We should fight this battle together! My family is the same way - they only buy full fat milk and love to fry food and eat red meat (without draining the fat). There are always fatty snacks around.

    I agree that veggies are very healthy - but it's reeeeally difficult to avoid all the yummy, goey, fatty food that's right in your face. And I don't know if you have the same problem, but it's difficult for me to turn them down because they don't see the point of me being on a diet (I only need to lose 10 lbs), so they think it would be weird if they are having a meal they worked on for a long time, and I warm up a lean cuisine or have a salad. Do you have the same problem? Plus, if I do the cooking for them, it's really hard for me not to have something I worked so hard on.

    I think my plan of action is going to be eating really really healthy all day - clean, nutritious foods, and then sitting down and having a small portion of the meal that they are having, along with some lemon water or something. I also always try to make a salad so that my plate doesn't look too empty. Sometimes I have an all-or-nothing mentality, so if I eat a little bit of bad food, I feel like I might as well give up. But I really have to work on getting rid of that.

    Maybe we can try to keep in touch and do this together. Or maybe we can work on developing some sort of plan of action.

    We can't give in!!! We were born to win!
  • mimi7grands
    mimi7grands Posts: 616
    One of the things I like about MFP is that it's helped me get over that all-or-nothing thinking. Tracking what I'm eating tells me whether I'm within my calorie goal or not. Now, I can see that a treat here or there, is fine as long as I'm still under target. I like seeing how exercise adds to my target calories too. Knowing that my overall diet is healthy - with lots of fruit and veggies - helps too.
  • karissastephens
    karissastephens Posts: 324 Member
    im in the same EXACT spot right now. i moved back home in april and im here till september. i cant even fit my veggies or healthy food in the fridge/freezer! they eat lots of pasta, rice or bread with every meal, they fry fish, when i craved eggplants... my mom pan FRIED the slices!!!! even when they make the rice, its not just simply boil... nooooo its fry up in butter first.. then add water to boil.
    and EVERYTHING tastes like pure SALT!

    ive tried allllll i could to make them eat healthier. ive cooked for them.. made them the same foods they love.. just a tad healthier but NOPE.. their palates and taste buds just refuse to change!
    and oh-my-God do they love their cakes, ice cream, baklava, cream-filled, butter-slathered, fudge-covered, deep-fried foods! lol
    its EVERYWHERE!
    chocolate is everywhere toooo.. just staring at me looll

    i couldnt change them but i finally got them to understand im gonna make my own food from now on.. even if were having dinner together.

    its so much easier when i lived by myself!!!


    Yes yes yes!! Isnt it horrible!? Gosh....especially when you come home and your soooooo tired you just dont have the energy to make anything and want more than just VEGGIES to snack on ya know?

    My family HAS TO have their dishes with a slice of bread, potatoes, or some form of carby filled foods and they constantly make red meats instead of healthy lean cut meats. As of now we have 3 bins of icecream in the freezer, a banana cream pie, and TONS of candy everywhere!:grumble:

    I wanna just die when I see it all because I love the food they make but I restrict myself from it because they are trigger foods for me....which means if I have a small serving I will get up and get more.:devil: I cant control myself very well


    I need to start making my own food but Im broke and have no room in the fridge for my own shelf of groceries :sad:
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