Husband & Wife lose weight while kids eat normal - HOW?

My husband and I are both overweight and are earnestly trying to lose weight - albeit we're off to a rough start. However, we are in planning mode for our meals and trying to get what we need, while on a very restricted budget (husband has been out of work for over a year now). We have two small kids - ages 5 and 1 year. We need to restrict our calories at different rates from each other, and yet need to make sure our kids get what they need. In other words, I am not into having my kids eat lesser calories (one of them already has a genetic issue causing weight gain problems).

How have others worked around this? For example, I need about 1300 calories a day while my husband needs around 1800. We don't have the ability to make a whole bunch of separate meals. What have others done to make this work in their home and lives?

I'm feeling overwhelmed and ignorant of how to do all this. And I'm trying to take it one step at a time. I appreciate any feedback. Please don't think I'm rude, but the earlier comment about my child's genetic issue is not up for discussion on this. We are seeing specialists to help out in that arena.

Thank you

Um.

Eat the same foods but just less of them to stay under your calories.

Weight loss for most people is not rocket science and I think people make it too complicated with exclusions, rules, etc.

There is no reason you cannot lose weight and eat normal food.

We eat like the three bears. I make one meal. Husband gets the larger portion, I get what I need, and the kiddo gets the smallest portion that fits him.

Precisely! Typically I serve one meat, one carb, and two vegetables. All that varies are the portions.

My kids are a little older than that but... We do not make much of a change between what I eat and what my wife and kids eat. Portion size is a big factor, I really believe in moderation as the way to loose, not depriving ones self. When i didn't care, i would often eat more than one portion of food, most often 2, sometimes 3, now I control what I eat and keep it to what I need (funny thing is I don't actually have to 'control' it any more, i instinctively know what I should be eating and stick to that). We have veggies and salads at the table all the time, my wife and kids will have some of that but do eat more of the pastas, potatoes etc, I am the opposite, more veggies and salads, less of the other stuff.

Teaching your kids at a young age to have better eating habits is important too, genetics often says that if the parents are overweight, the kids will often be prone to that too - not saying that it will happen - the odds are just more stacked more against them, our family would be a good example of that.
I am hoping that some of the benefits my kids get from this (or rub off on them) is:
You don't need junk food around all the time, but it's still fine to have it from time to time
Healthy eating is not that hard and can be very flavorful
Fast food should be a treat not a staple
Everything is good in moderation, we must learn how to exercise control.
Exercise is not just for loosing weight, it is also to keep fit and healthy - daily exercise is important

I agree to just serving food for the family. You eat until you meat your calories, your husband does the same, your kids eat whatever they need to eat.

If you and your husban want to add a salad to your meal, or skip the bread, or whatever, then do it. If you want squash or tofu noodles instead of pasta, then have it. It's not necessary for you all to eat exactly the same things, but it's not really unnecessary either.

Families have sat together at a table of food for many generations without every member eating the exact same foods or portions of foods.

I manage my weight, my wife doesn't (and is breastfeeding). Two toddlers at home, the oldest (3) eats a small portion of our "main". My wife is vegetarian, I supplement with some lean protein premade (e.g. chicken breast or lean ham, etc.). I get a large portion of salad that's always in the fridge and/or vegetable soup.

Bread is also available for supplementing carbs. Essentially, we make a "base" meal for everyone, it gets mushed for the baby. It then gets partially seasoned and a portion served for the 3 y.o. My wife takes whatever she wants and adds cheese. I take my portion and add meat. We can add bread, sauces, etc. at the table.

It just requires some planning and getting used to it.

IMO, everyone can eat the same foods. It all comes down to portion control.

Yup.

Calories are from portions, and nutrition is from what you're eating.

Everyone, diet or not, should eat things that are good for them.

Dieters just need to watch calories.

^^What she said! Yes losing weight is has a lot to do with the numbers game of calories, but getting healthy and feeling good comes from the quality of foods too. A 100 calorie snack of baby carrots is better for you than 100 calories of Doritos, right? Right. Keep up the positivity and I look forward to seeing your success/update thread!

I make 1 meal for my family every night, and have lost weight anyways. Last night it was spaghetti, with garlic bread. I weight out my food, and logged it in my diary, didn't have any garlic bread (even though I usually have some of that too), and gave my kids and husband their usual portions. I love to cook and make tons of different casseroles, meat dishes, soups etc, and have just basically adjusted my portions. Oh yeah, the only other thing I have really changed is adding more veggie sides In with my meals. You don't have to eat different to lose weight! And it's probably not sustainable to make a whole bunch of large food changes at once anyway.

suggestion about your garlic bread. i make what i call my 'ghetto garlic bread' --its the 35 calorie bread by nickels or something similar. i use minimal amount of spray butter and then sprinkle on a generous amount of garlic powder or garlic salt(your preference). then i pop them in the toaster---if you have two slices its the 70 calories(give or take some for the spray butter).

Portion control.

1300/day for you seems really low as well. 1800 should be OK for him (though seems a bit light)