Do you make your meals separate from the rest of the family?

I find it works to make a very basic meal, but make it customizable so everyone gets what they want. For example, I may cook up some taco meat, but put all the condiments in separate bowls. That way my brother can load up his taco with sour cream and cheese, while I can top mine with lettuce and salsa. Or, when I make meat balls, I keep them separate from the pasta. That way I can choose how much pasta I want. There may be a little more prep work, but I find this way makes everyone happy.

We eat the same things, it's just that I'll have a smaller portion (like a cup of stew for me, a giant mound of it for my husband, lol). Or I'll have just chicken and veggies and he'll have a potato on his plate as well. Or his salmon will be doused in sauce while mine is plain, etc. It works for us. Breakfasts and lunches we are each on our own anyway.

I don't, but then again I do not have kids. If I make a meal it's the things that I can eat a lot of without all the calories that are healthy. I make enough for the husband and if he eats it, great. If not, he fends for himself & I have left overs. If he makes a meal which is never healthy, I decide if it's something I want to use my allotted calorie intake on. If not, I fend for myself and he has left overs. Win/Win.

I usually only make 1 meal, but occasionally I get tired of dumbing down my food for the kids so sometimes I'll give them a 2nd option. Like tonight I'm making shrimp & grits from the skinnytaste cookbook. The kids will eat grits and chicken nuggets since they are 3 and 1 and don't care for shrimp yet.

For sure!
I need to let my kids be kids and enjoy their occasional junk foods as well as fun meals. I have 5, and though each kid is in peak physical condition, I cut them more slack with food than myself.
Also, my eating schedule is much different.

gypsy_spirit wrote: »

No. I make one meal for myself and my husband, I just eat less of it than he does. I don't eat diet food, and would not subject my husband or myself to that.

If it's a meal you are making either log the ingredients or create a recipe in the recipe builder.

Good advice. Start today and learn to eat appropriately for your goals/macros while eating the food you plan to eat forever. This does not have to be hard or a punishment. It can't be if you expect to do it for the rest of your life.

Definitely this! When I started this journey 5 years ago, my sons were 11 and 8. I vowed that what I was doing would not affect my family negatively. I also knew from prior experience that relying on "special" foods may work, but as soon as you go back to eating "normally", the weight flies back on, and then some!

So I used a combination of methods to meet my calorie goals. I made it a point to cook healthier meals most of the time for all of us, and I also used portion control.

Because I know I want to eat a "normal" meal with my family each night, I also make sure that I eat moderately during the rest of the day, so I will have enough calories left for dinner.

The end result:

I lost my weight and I am maintaining. (Also working on body recomp). My husband got on board and has lost some weight and now exercises regularly and watches what he eats. My sons are learning healthy habits, and are learning to like healthier foods. (Now, since they are growing, very active competitive swimmers who are now bigger than their dad and I, they do have to "supplement" with plenty of snacks! I try to steer them toward healthy ones when I can, but that is always a challenge! They can eat constantly and gain only muscle! Remember hearing what Michael phelps eats??)

Bottom line, create your deficit using foods that you will continue to eat for the rest of your life. You won't feel as deprived, and it will work long term!

Nope. I make one meal for the entire family. We all eat it. Last night we had chicken broccoli casserole. Tonight is pulled pork. Tomm is enchiladas. I just serve with a higher proportion of veggies with mine so I eat less of the main. So with the enchiladas I'll eat more beans. With the pulled pork I'll eat half a sandwich and a huge portion of steamed broccoli.

Screw it, I love broccoli casserole lol But I can take 8oz of chicken and make it into 6 servings. No cheese added and its delicious.

I live by myself, so yep, I do my own cooking.

I do often eat out at friends' or relatives' houses, though. It's tricky, but I'm learning slowly how to guesstimate portions even when I wasn't the one who cooked the food.