Sensible diet

mrsieve
mrsieve Posts: 36 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I work 3rd shift and have 3 kids (ages 6, 4 and 9 months). Anybody have any idea of any sensible (and cheap) diet I can follow without buying/cooking things that the rest of the family won't eat?

Replies

  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    Eat what you make for the rest of your family in smaller portions. It's all about staying within your calorie goals; you don't need to eat any special foods. If you are eating less and you get hungry, you can add more volume to your diet by adding in some vegetables and other nutrient dense foods.
  • jigsaw_me
    jigsaw_me Posts: 616 Member
    Eat what you make for the rest of your family in smaller portions. It's all about staying within your calorie goals; you don't need to eat any special foods. If you are eating less and you get hungry, you can add more volume to your diet by adding in some vegetables and other nutrient dense foods.

    ^^this ...

    also switch around your snacks and what you drink. Both of these generally calorie traps (ie have water instead of soda, fruit instead of chips that sort of thing).

    One way to do it, is to add into your diary what you normally would eat and then start playing with substitutions.
  • mrsieve
    mrsieve Posts: 36 Member
    Any thoughts/success on flexitarian diet? Started reading into it and not sure if I want to buy the book or not.
  • jigsaw_me
    jigsaw_me Posts: 616 Member
    I wouldn't .. i would just eat 'normally' (within cals), easier to sustain in the long term.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,190 Member
    Eat what they eat, but with a crapload of veggies on the side. The meals where you arent catering for a crowd (breakfast, lunch) pick a tasty, balanced meal which fits your calorie goals. You dont need a 'diet' just to be able to work with what you're eating and what your making. Weight loss doesnt have to be separate meals and deprivation. If our worries about what you make for them, choose lower fat cuts of meat, google lighter recipie for the same thing... it doesnt have to be hard!
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    You don't need a special diet. Make sure you get enough protein, fats, and fiber. Eat your veggies. And, other than that, eat less and move more.
  • cardbucfan
    cardbucfan Posts: 10,571 Member
    It also doesn't hurt them to eat healthy. I get it, I have two kids and a husband and if they could exist on junk food, they would! But I make a healthy dinner. They can eat that and if they are still hungry they can then go to town on the snacks we have.
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    Why wont your family eat things that you do?
  • mrsieve
    mrsieve Posts: 36 Member
    My kids are actually all veggie lovers, I just didn't want to start getting drastic diet plans with "weird" foods, or what-have-you. I definitely see the pros of adding lots of veggies in though. My husband is the biggest carnivore I have ever met and its hard to make meals without (or with little) meat involved.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Any thoughts/success on flexitarian diet? Started reading into it and not sure if I want to buy the book or not.

    just use MFP to create a calorie deficit and eat the foods you want..if you have time to exercise you should, but it is not required…and MFP is free...
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    Any thoughts/success on flexitarian diet? Started reading into it and not sure if I want to buy the book or not.

    "Flexitarian?" Heh... I had to google it... Pretty funny as that's kinda sorta how I eat naturally.
    I will NOT be using that word to describe myself, though. I see no need to add to the "50 Shades of Vegetarianism."

    I suggest what everyone else suggests... Moderation & moving more.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    My kids are actually all veggie lovers, I just didn't want to start getting drastic diet plans with "weird" foods, or what-have-you. I definitely see the pros of adding lots of veggies in though. My husband is the biggest carnivore I have ever met and its hard to make meals without (or with little) meat involved.
    What's wrong with meat? Focus on lean meats in portions that help you achieve your goals. I try to get 150ish grams of protein a day, and I get there by eating a lot of chicken, pork, yogurt, etc. But, I'm not going to say no to a steak either; I'll make it work with my calories, which is easier than you think when it's served with a heaping side of veggies. :smile:
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Find healthier meals to make, and just have less of it. There are a bunch of websites (skinnytaste, cooking light etc) with recipes.

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