My husband hates healthy food...help?!?

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Replies

  • Josalinn
    Josalinn Posts: 1,066 Member
    When I was younger the rule in our house was "If you don't eat what's for dinner, you don't eat at all". It worked on me as a kid, not so sure how it would work on a grown man though! lol

    "If She doesn't eat with ME, then she doesn't eat at ALL!"
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  • Kenazwa
    Kenazwa Posts: 278 Member
    I have a similar problem. I'm striving for a vegan diet; my husband, son, and his daughter aren't interested. So I've been cooking meat a few days a week and otherwise trying new vegan recipes that the others can use as side dishes if they want. Also, if someone doesn't like what I've cooked, they can fend for themselves.
  • CaitlinW19
    CaitlinW19 Posts: 431 Member
    Check out emilybites.com. She post really great comfort food type recipes. I try new recipes all the time from healthy cooking bloggers (skinnytaste, Iowagirleats, backtoherroots, etc) and hers have the best success rate in my house hands down. Most recipes start with comfort food as the inspiration and make them heathier but honestly, they taste amazing and not healthy....

    My personal favorites so far are Sloppy Joe Casserole (that's for dinner tonight at my house), Spagettii Pie, Crock Pot Beef Stew, Chicken parm casserole and chicken parm meatloaf muffins. Her deep dish pizza casserole is great too! Everything I've made from her site comes together pretty quickly too, so it's great for weeknight meals.
  • lauraaugustus6
    lauraaugustus6 Posts: 2 Member
    This is one of my favorite recipe sites. Not all are healthy, but they are all delicious, and you can pick and choose the ones with lean meats and lots of spices to give them a kick without all the grease and fat. :)

    http://www.mommiecooks.com/
  • jenschroll
    jenschroll Posts: 162 Member
    I wouldn't say my husband hates healthy food, but he is definitely picky and hesitant to accept change.

    Getting him to try vegetables has come down to including them in recipes he already enjoys. He used to hate spinach, but after it started showing up in stuffed pastas, soups, and other entrees he liked, I noticed that he would start including raw spinach on his sandwiches and even started eating salads with spinach. It's been like this with a few vegetables. He still got a long way to go with the veggies, but he has definitely made progress in that area.

    As for cooking, I've started using extra virgin olive oil and unsalted butter. He tells me that he notices no difference with these vs. salted butter or corn/canola oil. If he prefers something salty, I resort to using herbs and spices he likes in their places, such as various ground peppercorns, garlic, dill, basil, rosemary.

    I hope you guys can find some common ground or compromises. I have a laundry list of food allergies, and between that and his preferences, cooking a single meal for both of us can be an event at times. I enjoy meal time with him, too, and it's so nice for us to just sit down and enjoy dinner without jumping through hoops.
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    sounds like my hubby. Here are some tips:
    grind up some black beans into your ground meat as a filler, this way you use less meat, add more fiber and he doesn't know the difference

    never ever say the words healthy, always use the terms of new recipe, new food to try. etc. don't say good for you either

    they make a white wheat bread, you could always buy it then switch it out in the pantry for your regular white bread:( okay this is how you got to be special ops and keep the old packages of anything you want to switch out. find a time to do this, and then put the new bread, coffee, healthier noodles, whatever it is into the old package. walah: now its secret healthy stuff) I do this a lot, Never let them see or know you do this, or the secreat is out the window.

    you can also grind up vegies into your stuff and they wont know.

    tacos: you can have a taco salad, he can have it on shells, use the lean meats as bigger chunks, use nonfat plain greek yogurt as sour cream, load with vegies., offer hard and soft shells, low fat cheese.. feel free to swap the packages for these if you must.

    hey there is a recipe for oven fries and oven fried chicken ... find it and make it for him.

    a note on men:: they do need naturally need more calories than we do. so let him have some extra stuff

    do the meal planning yourself. and the shopping too. this way you can get what you want.

    try to bread your meats in flax seed and seasoning. its good for you and tastes good too. but like I said don't say good for you.

    try to tweek your comfort food recipes for lower fat options.. lilke fried chicken into oven fried chicken, breaded pork cutlets into flax seed breading on them, lasagna has a lot of room to fill it up with tasty secret vegies, lower carb noodles and cheese,

    those are just a few things I do.. plus don't be afraid to eat a little differently when you both eat. Save up your calories for the dinnertime meals so that you can both eat the same thing.. but you can also pair a salad with most every dinner (swap out the lettuce for spinach leaves) so he can eat more and you can stay on track. Good luck,, I swear men are worse than kids. At least with kids they have to do what you say.. lol:drinker: Don't stop being a special ops chef, its for the both of you even if he keeps fighting you the whole time. Be strong woman.
  • booboo68
    booboo68 Posts: 302 Member
    There is hope!!!! My husband was the same way and now he has seen the progress I'm making on my journey and he has recently started working out as well as eating new things and actually liking them. I think the key issue is that I was not trying to change him in anyway but changing myself.
  • grdad
    grdad Posts: 26 Member
    Just because he is thin, doesn't mean he is healthy. He can make his own meals and after a couple of days, he'll come around.
  • angiefaychai
    angiefaychai Posts: 9 Member
    I prefer a vegan lifestyle. My husband does not. He is asian and wants his rice with every meal..including breakfast, kid you not. We also have 4 children. What we do is this:

    I make at least a 3 fruit breakfast cup for us all. I also will make muffins or homemade granola or such for the kids. Sometimes, they will want yogurt. Whatever...hubby makes his congee out of leftover rice and meats from the dinner leftovers... no prob.

    Lunch, I make a large salad for all with chickpeas or beans for protein. Kids and hubby may want a sandwich or bowl of soup. We all have a fruit as well.

    Dinner: I make a large salad and two cooked veggies of some type we all agree on. I make a main course hubby and kids will want. Sometimes they are vegan dishes that all love, sometimes not. I choose to sample or not. No problem. Fruit for dessert. And two of my children eat vegan by choice. Two prefer to eat meats with their father.

    We all eat as we prefer. No problem. All get plenty of veggies and fruits thereby getting all the nutrients they need. The rest is what it is. You can not force someone to eat. Nor should you. Put the choices before them. Let them choose. They may surprise you.

    As for recipes, my kids and hubby love many of the recipes I make that have a meaty texture and taste without even realizing they are eating vegan half of the time. You could try those recipes...such as cottage cheese loaf or lentil loaf or mushroom steaks with mushroom gravy....made correctly, they are flavorful, hearty, nutritious, and filling. My son had to watch me make lentil loaf one time before he would believe it was not "real" meatloaf...And even though I did not trick them into anything, just by sampling, they found new items they love...

    I just choose not to partake of his rice at dinner and such. Or anything else I don't wish...such as his fried chicken and such...

    Good luck with finding a happy medium...learning how to balance both needs can be tricky, or it can be easy...stay positive and proceed with love...that is how marriage works...:)
  • MonaLisaLianne
    MonaLisaLianne Posts: 398 Member
    ^^^ That was my thought, too. Cook what you like, and put a loaf of white bread and a stick of butter on the table for him! :wink:
  • graceylou222
    graceylou222 Posts: 198 Member
    Does he enjoy veggies at all? It is still important to have carbs with meals so maybe have baked potatoes (get I can't believe its not butter, low fat cheese, low fat sour creams).. sweet potatoes, you can make corn fritters, cauliflower fritters. Also you can still have breaded meats but bake them instead of frying them up in the skillet. :)
  • chunkybun
    chunkybun Posts: 179 Member
    I've found a lot of adaptations for my husband and I:

    I do a lot of pot roasts (moose usually as my husband is a hunter too). Veggies will take the flavour of the meat.
    He gets a large portion of potatoes with gravy & a few vegetables. I take a large portion veggies, less potatoes/no gravy
    He gets butter or sour cream on his veggies, I use lime juice and chili powder (so good!)

    With soups/stews, he will get toast with butter, I'll have a couple of crackers.

    I'll make him garlic bread with garlic butter. I'll just rub garlic onto dry toast for me.

    Sometimes if he wants bread with dinner, I'll give him 2 1/2 pieces, I'll have 1/2

    When I make vegetarian meals, I'll cook up a smokie or some bacon for him.

    This doesn't have to be a battle, like everything in marriage, compromise will get you a long way.
  • I would just tell him to eat what I make or make his own dinner. Simple. He's a grown man - if he doesn't like healthy food, then he can make or buy his own crap. You're not his mom.
  • crystal075
    crystal075 Posts: 33 Member
    I can definitely relate. We eat our meals together, but I will only eat small portions and with all veggies for my entrees. He will eat the starch and larger portion of our meals. Other times, I just cook him separate meals than mines.
  • nbrown88ca
    nbrown88ca Posts: 33 Member
    If he doesnt like it he can cook his own food.... just because he doesnt want to improve his life doesnt mean you need to sacrifice.
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    Does anyone have any ideas for any other swaps I can make while still keeping him satisfied? Or any great recipes or sites with recipes that he'll eat without complaint?

    Shouldn't you be asking HIM those questions?

    Seriously, he's a grown man. Cut the cord. Unless he's got officially diagnosed health problems related to his diet, then what's wrong with the way he eats? He's not gaining weight, he literally brings home the meat and grinds it himself. You're lucky.

    It may require more work on your part to make separate things for him, but why is YOUR diet more important than his?
  • emuravyeva
    emuravyeva Posts: 103 Member
    My husband is a picky eater. Really, really picky eater. Policy is simple: my house is not a restaurant. Eat what I cook. Or make your own food. But I meet him halfway at least 40% of the time.
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    Why not just cook the way he likes, and then you just eat a smaller portion?
  • Pr1ncessWarrior
    Pr1ncessWarrior Posts: 69 Member
    protein protein protein...water water water....and move move move. Have you tried taking a Zuchinni and ried it up alittle and use it as your noodles for your Spaghetti. I have the same problem in my house and I used that excuse for the last 5 years and I got bigger and bigger. Now that I have 40pds to loose I have managed to learn things to substute so we can both eat what we want and I can do the healther version. I do make sure I enjoy some of my fav foods once in awhile. I am down 25 pds and he is certainly enjoying the new me.
    Quinoa for you instead of potatoes for him and a sweet potato is good for both. I make Quinoa for the week so I just have to warm it. Make sure you have lots of fresh cut vegs and fruit for you when you get hungry. Rye bread helps with cravings pistachio nuts are also good to keep you feeling full.
    Use the internet to find things you can substute dont use him as an excuse not to be sucessful at your goals. He should support that and will when you start sporting a sexier body and having that great energy... good luck
  • mallory5385
    mallory5385 Posts: 45 Member
    I would go to skinnytaste.com they have lots of recipes that are alternative to the unhealthy food. They look really yummy!
  • AsaThorsWoman
    AsaThorsWoman Posts: 2,303 Member
    My husband hates fruits and vegetables. Know what I do? Nothing. I married him. We're happy. I'm not going to try to change him or the way he eats.

    If I want veggies, I make a single portion.

    ^this^
  • fredman2
    fredman2 Posts: 57
    We have a rule in our house "If you don't like dinner make your own"

    I have a rule in my house, it's 'if you don't like (whatever it is) then do it yourself'.
    That applies to cooking, cleaning, painting, chores, anything..
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    We have a rule in our house "If you don't like dinner make your own"

    I have a rule in my house, it's 'if you don't like (whatever it is) then do it yourself'.
    That applies to cooking, cleaning, painting, chores, anything..

    lol

    I love these posts. Sure, make all the rules and watch what happens
  • zoquo
    zoquo Posts: 75
    Cook his meat deep fried (you just dont eat it) then have a side for him of all the healthy food that you eat. Also a good cross over food is lasagna make a big one without meat and just chuck a steak on the side or use meat substitute inside he probably wont know the difference. Have yourself a smaller portion and give him two plates full! Just balance your plate with more healthy and less unhealthy and vica versa for the man child. lol
  • Doc_V
    Doc_V Posts: 20 Member
    My boyfriend is in construction and I'm an ex-chef. We eat entirely opposite. He wants brown, hot, and plenty of it. I like weird spices, sour and spicy, and I'll make anything into a salad. I eat lower carb and he would live off white bread and peanut butter (and I'm pretty sure he does when we aren't together).

    For me, we do a lot of braised and grilled/pan sauteed meats. I'll roast a chicken, braise cube steaks, make a pot roast. Soups and stews are good too. I have been working on upping protein so that part works out. I'll have a huge salad with the meal, while I make him rice/pasta/potatoes. He's trying to eat healthier now so he's starting to try my weird foods, but I've found baby steps are good. He won't eat salad, but he'll inhale roasted or grilled veggies.
  • AsaThorsWoman
    AsaThorsWoman Posts: 2,303 Member
    We have a rule in our house "If you don't like dinner make your own"

    I have a rule in my house, it's 'if you don't like (whatever it is) then do it yourself'.
    That applies to cooking, cleaning, painting, chores, anything..

    lol

    I love these posts. Sure, make all the rules and watch what happens

    That's one way to passive aggressively ask for a divorce.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    So don't cook your foods for him. There are some things my wife won't eat, no big deal.
    Then he can cook his own damn food?

    That does not fit the bill of a loving and devoted spouse.
  • xmichaelyx
    xmichaelyx Posts: 883 Member
    sounds like my hubby. Here are some tips:
    grind up some black beans into your ground meat as a filler, this way you use less meat, add more fiber and he doesn't know the difference

    never ever say the words healthy, always use the terms of new recipe, new food to try. etc. don't say good for you either

    they make a white wheat bread, you could always buy it then switch it out in the pantry for your regular white bread:( okay this is how you got to be special ops and keep the old packages of anything you want to switch out. find a time to do this, and then put the new bread, coffee, healthier noodles, whatever it is into the old package. walah: now its secret healthy stuff) I do this a lot, Never let them see or know you do this, or the secreat is out the window.

    you can also grind up vegies into your stuff and they wont know. ...

    I swear men are worse than kids. At least with kids they have to do what you say.. lol:drinker: Don't stop being a special ops chef, its for the both of you even if he keeps fighting you the whole time. Be strong woman.

    While I believe that there are men in the world who need to be lied to, coddled, and generally treated like 5-year-olds, it's really sad that there are women who put up with them. If your relationship requires lying and cajoling, a "strong woman" in this case would leave and find a real man.
  • 4homer
    4homer Posts: 457 Member
    Does anyone have any ideas for any other swaps I can make while still keeping him satisfied? Or any great recipes or sites with recipes that he'll eat without complaint?

    Shouldn't you be asking HIM those questions?
    what!? have her ask her husband instead of bunch of strangers on the internet? I mean COME ON we obviously knew better about his tastes then himself!
  • rlongfel
    rlongfel Posts: 4 Member
    My wife has become very good at "hiding vegetables" from the kids. She will shred up veggies and use them in many recipes that require ground beef (ie - meatballs, meatloaf, etc.). Also, as a side dish, I will often have bulgur wheat as a side with either beef or chicken stock in it for flavor - not bad. There are some other little things you can do. Cook with coconut oil, cut down on breads, etc. that he may not even notice.