Dinner Drama

There's no reason you can't eat beef or potatoes or bread or white rice. I eat that stuff all the time and I lose weight. It only matters how much you eat. Keep a calorie deficit and you'll be fine.

Check out skinnytaste.com for recipes that are lower in calories.

My husband wasn't very adventurous when it came to food when we first got married. Now, he likes all sorts of different things. Sometimes it's a struggle to get him to even try something, because he claims he doesn't like it even though he's never had it, or it's been years. But once I get him to try something, 9 times out of 10 he ends up being surprised at how good something tastes. Besides, if you're the one making the meals, then he either has to deal with what you make, or make something for himself!

I would try allrecipes.com. and skinnytaste.com.

Maybe try little substitutions, like ground turkey for ground beef in some recipes. You could make a nice, filling, healthy, chili with lots of beans and ground turkey in addition to the tomatoes, onions, and spices. Grill vegetables either in the oven or on an outdoor grill. Many people who don't like vegetables find that grill ones aren't too bad. To encourage eating them, make kebobs, with a piece of steak or chicken for every two pieces of vegetables. Try grilled asparagas too.

Maybe try and "sneak" veggies into meals that you typically make. If you make ground beef casseroles rinse and drain the meat and then added pureed carrots, zuchini, spinach, broccili, mushrroms etc. to the recipe. They most likely won't even know the veggies are in there:) The same would go for spaghetti sauce...you can really add alot of fresh things into the sauce that makes it healthier.

Can you make smaller portions of brown rice and white rice or white pasta and whole wheat pasta (some for him/some for you)?

OK so it's not really the husband but I get what you are saying. My better half has to deal with my horrible diet. Fortunately for her she can eat whatever she wants and never gain an ounce. Yet she still eats healthy. She drives me crazy!

There is no reason why you can't enjoy some meat with your husband and kids. I am in no position to talk about the extra cost but I don't see why you can't have a side salad with the fixin's you like or a side of veggies to limit your meat portion. Fresh and frozen/canned veggies are not that expensive (again I can't speak for your financials) and what is left over can be used the next day.

Look, it's extremely hard to diet when you are in house full of those who may not need to diet or not doing what you are doing. Between the better half never gaining weight and the kids who are so active with sports it's a real challenge for me as well. TEMPTATION TEMPTATION TEMPTATION let me tell you! Which is also the reason why I myself am on the slow road to lose weight.

There are options that will not break the bank , you just have to experiment a little more to find the right solution.

Just because you make something for him doesn't mean you have to eat the same thing and if you do eat the same, manage your portion size. For a pasta option, look for Dreamfields, good for reduction of carbs and tastes the same as your average pasta. Potatoes - I use Baby Reds - cut in half, place cut side down on LIGHTLY oiled baking pan, sprinkle with seasonings of your choice and bake at 350. Also just because he doesn't like veggies doesn't mean you can't make for yourself. It takes a little extra time in the prep to work around every ones likes and needs but in the end you can reduce your calories while still giving your family the foods they want.

Well, my first thought was the one my parents took with us: if you don't like, it, you don't have to eat it, but I'm not making you anything else. Pretty much could be used with anything you fix but seafood.

I agree with the suggestion to substitute ground turkey for ground beef. I use it for everything but burger patties and don't notice a difference. Make the basic salad for your husband but load yours up with other veggies. The other thing would be to let them have their beef but make your fish/seafood for yourself. Yeah, maybe dirty an extra pan, but might be worth it.

I keep frozen veggies: My husband wants spaghetti- I use frozen veggies for the noodles.
I keep a bag of salad at all times: My husband wants tacos- I have a taco salad.
He gets what he wants, I get a lower calorie meal.

My husband started off very much this way, but after years of working on him, it's getting better and he eats more stuff.

Another thing you might try is freezer cooking on a weekend for you and portioning things in single servings to freeze so that you can sub yourself a healthier option when you fix dinner. Once a Month Mom has some good recipes for regular and "diet" meals.

My husband hunts and we use a lot of ground venison instead of beef, which is a lot leaner. I can't stand the texture of ground turkey, so I had to find something else.

Substitutions, really lean ground beef. Ground turkey. Turkey hot dogs. Turkey sausage. Turkey bacon (not my favorite). As for potatoes, just limit them. Vegetables, first of all, I'm the one who does the cooking, so my motto is, "if you don't eat it, you can starve". Needless to say, I don't have a problem getting anyone to eat vegetables. Also, I make a meatloaf sometimes and I will chop up spinach and add to it. And don't tell em.
So find a way to sneak it - it's great stuff. Find more lean options for the good food. Of course, chicken will get old if you eat it everyday the same way. Find different ways to cook it - one day chopped in some veggies or pasta. One day baked with veggies. One day grilled the chicken and then pop some mixed veggies in aluminum foil on the grill.. Amazing. We're from the south, so I know what you mean by meat and potatoes. Mine didn't want to change either; however, you can always use this excuse. When he says "I have a headache" or "my back hurts" or complains about any of his ailments - tell him because the garbage he eats is making his body feel horrible and demand that you guys have to change the way you eat and think about food.

Healthy tastes good - remind him of that! LOL. Good luck!