Food suggestions for hubs...
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DianaElena76
Posts: 1,241 Member
So my husband has decided he doesn't like ground beef anymore. He also doesn't really like pork. And he's complaining that there's nothing to eat in the house (which is a lie, there's just nothing grab-n-go). I don't remember what it was like at first except that I ate a lot of cheese. Any ideas for quick lunches for him? I already suggested boiled eggs, luncheon meats, cheese, leftovers, salads with some type of meat, Greek yogurt without added sugar... I don't know what else to do. (I intended to help him out by preparing his meals for him, but I've been extremely fatigued this week and keep oversleeping, leaving no extra time in the mornings!) I found a Rice Crispies Treat wrapper on the counter this morning, and when I got home from work yesterday there was an open bag of potato chips and pack of Saltine crackers out. I really need for him to be successful in this WOE.
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Get that stuff out of the house and keep almonds, pecans, pepperoni, beef jerky, cheese, pumpkin seeds, pre cooked bacon... Stuff like that around for quick grabs.
If he has a microwave at work you could use low carb tortillas to make a pizza roll up with some marinara or pesto and pepperoni and cheese or whatever sounds good in it. I also like cheesy eggs with some salsa rolled up in them. Actually, all kinds of good stuff can be made with those.
I've even used cookie cutters to get 2 equal pieces to make a sandwich with. I just stuck the extra pieces into the sandwich.
Just a few ideas off the top of my head...0 -
Can you make some pots of chili (chicken or ground turkey), stew (beef, chicken, whatever), or hearty soups (like chowder) and portion and freeze them so he has quick meals to just microwave when he's hungry? I also make sure to always have at least 1 kind of meatball frozen so that my family can microwave a few when the moment hits them, and I also form and freeze burger patties (no need to be ground beef) for us to grill or pan sear.
If you make an egg bake or frittata, that can be something he can eat a piece of everyday.
I Breathe I'm Hungry has A LOT of meatball variations.0 -
Great ideas! And I totally forgot the man LOVES jerky!0
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In the thread Filthy Burgers I posted a link from the NY Beef Council. Part of it dealt with freezing patties and cooking them from frozen. Although I personally would make them with ground beef, you could probably work up a substitute with ground poultry.0
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Bacon jerky! Pepperoni chips or cheese crisps (put on paper plate (in little tiny piles for the cheese) & nuke until crispy for pepperoni or browning on the bottom for cheese). I wrap bacon around chicken breasts (I know, I know, but mine doesn't like dark meat) & bake them ahead of time, then toss them into individual containers. You can do that with anything you can cook ahead of time, including Nom Nom Paleo's Crispy Chicken.0
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My go tos for grab and go are turkey pepperoni, jerky, string cheese, almonds, mini baby bell cheeses, tuna salad packets. I also try to make extras for dinner to take with for lunch the next day. I also make big batches of soups and chilis and freeze in individual portions so they can go straight from freezer to lunch box to microwave. No prep or thought required.0
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Do up a bunch of chicken breasts in the crockpot? How about tuna salad or chicken salad? Cottage cheese? Boiled eggs?0
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I know you want to be supportive, but it doesn't sound to me like he is taking much responsibility for adopting this WOE. If he needs grab and go ideas, it might be good for him to research them and then buy/prepare the items needed. If he is unable to do that because he is not "handy" in the kitchen, then he could ask for your help- but ultimately he has to take this project on-- otherwise it is just something you become responsible for instead of him.0
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I know you want to be supportive, but it doesn't sound to me like he is taking much responsibility for adopting this WOE. If he needs grab and go ideas, it might be good for him to research them and then buy/prepare the items needed. If he is unable to do that because he is not "handy" in the kitchen, then he could ask for your help- but ultimately he has to take this project on-- otherwise it is just something you become responsible for instead of him.
This is how it feels right now. Part of it is that we haven't been able to go buy good options for him (or me, for that matter, but I'm adapted and can go with the flow much more easily) because of our financial situation right now. I know once we are able to stock up on jerky, pepperoni, string cheese, pork rinds, and other things he enjoys eating it will be better... but right now I am frankly overwhelmed. I offered to help and truly intend to, but you are right--HE needs to be responsible for his eating.0 -
This is how it feels right now. Part of it is that we haven't been able to go buy good options for him (or me, for that matter, but I'm adapted and can go with the flow much more easily) because of our financial situation right now. I know once we are able to stock up on jerky, pepperoni, string cheese, pork rinds, and other things he enjoys eating it will be better... but right now I am frankly overwhelmed. I offered to help and truly intend to, but you are right--HE needs to be responsible for his eating.
It is so hard to find that balance between helping and taking responsibility for another. I know you want him to be healthy SO MUCH. It has been my experience my hubby cannot read my mind...I have to be very clear and specific and leave nothing to interpretation or inference. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it might be time to have a discussion with him about what he thinks his responsibilities are in this--and what your expectations are, and then making sure the "ground rules" are clear as to whom is doing what. It can be so helpful.
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It sounds like he isn't ready. I know his test results came back and are forcing him into this WOE but he clearly isn't ready to cope with that. What will it take? One last carb heavy meal? A week of getting to eat everything he wants and then cutting himself off? I mean, I'm pretty harsh here but he's a grown man and should act accordingly. I'm unsure why a grown man is leaving wrappers and food on the counter but I digress. He needs to come to terms with this being the best option for him all on his own.0
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Pork rinds, nuts, pepperoni sticks, bacon, trail mix (minus the dried fruit), leftovers (burger patties, salmon patties, steak, etc), fritata (egg bake), cans of fish.
Good luck!0 -
I don't eat ground beef because it is supposedly full of the scraps and gristle.
I can say I do tell a difference in how I feel if I eat much of it. Real pieces of meat do me much better.
I don't eat much pork either
So I relate to what hubby is saying
The only way it works for me is to pre cook lunch
I cook fibrous veggies and use egg beaters and turkey breast sliced lunch meat but read added sugar numbers!!
Boiled eggs and low fat Swiss are favorites
Snack veggies like radishes and celery or tomatoes and cucumbers with onion are good
Just bite the billet and pre prepare
I would say that had been key to my diet
It worked. I look back at all the work involved in dropping 130 or so lbs of fat and adding back 20 of muscle...
The food intake part was critical. It just takes me time to cook so I had to do it the night before.
Good luck !!!
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Interesting thought. I mean, not always cleaning up after himself may not be unusual, but even if its not, he knows he just made a commitment. He knows he shouldn't be eating those items. And he knows the wife was going to see the evidence. He didn't hide it... At least not those pieces of evidence. There could be some that did get thrown away and went unnoticed...
But anyway, he may just be the kind of person that needs the constant push. That certainly can make things more challenging for you, but it's worth the effort if you can create any influence on him and create any improvement to his health.
Many of us have mentioned a stubborn person in our life that needs to change their diet and cut the carbs for their health. They make us crazy with all the excuses they give for why they can't do it. But, it's just that they don't know what we know. They don't know, other than us telling them, that it gets easier. And that all those insane cravings will be calmed and can be dealt with so simply only a few weeks in. Some people just have such a hard time with the idea of being "deprived" that they can't see past it. For me, this is my sister. She makes me crazy!0 -
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Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »
Interesting thought. I mean, not always cleaning up after himself may not be unusual, but even if its not, he knows he just made a commitment. He knows he shouldn't be eating those items. And he knows the wife was going to see the evidence. He didn't hide it... At least not those pieces of evidence. There could be some that did get thrown away and went unnoticed...
But anyway, he may just be the kind of person that needs the constant push. That certainly can make things more challenging for you, but it's worth the effort if you can create any influence on him and create any improvement to his health.
Many of us have mentioned a stubborn person in our life that needs to change their diet and cut the carbs for their health. They make us crazy with all the excuses they give for why they can't do it. But, it's just that they don't know what we know. They don't know, other than us telling them, that it gets easier. And that all those insane cravings will be calmed and can be dealt with so simply only a few weeks in. Some people just have such a hard time with the idea of being "deprived" that they can't see past it. For me, this is my sister. She makes me crazy!
Thank you for this. He WANTS to do this, he really does. He was an athlete in college and has only in the last couple years put on a spare tire. He loves being active, working out, building muscle.... He just needs guidance and constant reinforcement and encouragement. I feel like I need to be a behavior therapist most of the time in my home, for the kids and him. But also a big part of it is that I am by nature a flexible and forgiving person, meaning that I will not push my ideas on him and "force" him to comply. I also do not have the same physiology as him or the same medical conditions as him, so I don't want to say that how I eat is how he needs to eat. So I haven't been clear with him on what he can and cannot have (except obviously no candy, cookies, bread, cake, bagels, pasta, etc.). I've only been "loosey-goosey" like, "Well, I eat eggs and cheese for breakfast, a meat and a veggies for lunch, and a meat and a veggie for dinner." He needs more clarity, but I'm afraid to tell him one thing and have his doctor tell him another. Next Friday I am going with him to his doctor so I can ask all the questions I need to ask in order to guide him appropriately.
Also, yeah, he is the kind of guy who will leave an empty soda can or a food wrapper on the counter overnight. He's a grown man, and I haven't yet been able to coax him out of that habit.
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He definitely is stuck in the mindset of what he CAN'T eat, and I know until he realizes all the things he CAN eat he's going to be miserable.0
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KittensMaster wrote: »I don't eat ground beef because it is supposedly full of the scraps and gristle.
I can say I do tell a difference in how I feel if I eat much of it. Real pieces of meat do me much better.
I don't eat much pork either
So I relate to what hubby is saying
The only way it works for me is to pre cook lunch
I cook fibrous veggies and use egg beaters and turkey breast sliced lunch meat but read added sugar numbers!!
Boiled eggs and low fat Swiss are favorites
Snack veggies like radishes and celery or tomatoes and cucumbers with onion are good
Just bite the billet and pre prepare
I would say that had been key to my diet
It worked. I look back at all the work involved in dropping 130 or so lbs of fat and adding back 20 of muscle...
The food intake part was critical. It just takes me time to cook so I had to do it the night before.
Good luck !!!
Honestly, I don't like ground beef either, but on basically one income with a household of 5, how else could I stretch $10 into 3 dinners? I can't wait until we are firmly back on our feet again and I can afford better cuts of meat.0 -
Pork loin is super cheap. Pork roast with a mix of white/dark meat and not too terribly much fat tastes a lot like chicken breasts. I can be prepared in mostly the same way. It can be made like pork chops, but to me, depending on the preparation it does not TASTE like pork chops. I always hated pork until I discovered a good recipe for pork shoulder (not low carb - working on converting) and pork loin. I can sometimes get it for like $1.39 per pound...0
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Thank you all for the wonderful ideas!!!0
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A health consideration is the link to ground beef and prostate problems and cancer. Ground beef well done is highly linked to cancer.
IMO a man would be better off not eating ground beef and getting less protein than open that door.
Some problems are much worse than losing weight slowly.
http://m.naturalnews.com/news/034549_prostate_cancer_processed_meat_diet.html
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/23/health/well-done-red-meat-prostate-cancer/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/402312-prostate-cancer-foods-to-avoid/#page=1
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Thanks for those links. That subject is near and dear to me.0
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Thanks, @KittensMaster. I had no idea....0
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Is there some reason he can't eat what he wants in moderation and you eat what you want. I always struggle when we can't hear the other side.He definitely is stuck in the mindset of what he CAN'T eat, and I know until he realizes all the things he CAN eat he's going to be miserable.
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_Terrapin_ wrote: »
Is there some reason he can't eat what he wants in moderation and you eat what you want. I always struggle when we can't hear the other side.He definitely is stuck in the mindset of what he CAN'T eat, and I know until he realizes all the things he CAN eat he's going to be miserable.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10231334/hubby-health/p1
The first two posts.
So, medical issue in the form of diabetes.
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I make my own minced beef. It's really easy. Cut your meat into cubes and put them into a food processor with a regular blade. Pulse until it's minced. Done.
If you want to be really fancy spread the cubed meat on a tray and pop in the freezer for 20-30 mins. The only difference being that the meat fat doesn't stick to the food processor as much.
It tastes so much better. Especially for burgers and meatballs.
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Okay, medical issue from another thread. So, both of these can be improved by reducing calories correct? Would it be possible to get his input? I never really liked these threads with speculation about another person; it is difficult enough to assist people on this site who want help let alone someone not participating in the conversation. . .ie spouse.0
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Diabetes is instantly helped by reducing blood glucose levels. That is easily done by reducing carb intake.
Once blood glucose levels are reduced it is easier to lose weight
There is still the required calorie deficit, just with the condition of lowered blood glucose
Two hoops to jump thru instead of one
Diabetes is unfortunately too common.
Many here are intimately aquatinted with it
I used to be type 2
130 pounds ago and 2 years of lower carb lifestyle fixed all those metabolic syndrome issues
But you don't have to be diabetic to try a lower carb calorie controlled diet
It just gets down to what you like and feel satisfied with
For normal people of no health issues, any reasonable diet works.
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Reducing calories overall would include reducing carbs. Taking someone from 60% carbs to 10% would be replacing 1/2 their overall intake with fat and protein. Instead, as many successful people who were diabetic and are on MFP, simply reducing carbs, losing weight, eating in moderation seemed to wrk just fine. So, for her husband, what is going to be easier to adhere to? A massive change, or small changes to diet? I think the trail of foods left behind provide a pretty good clue.0
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