KIDS

TavistockToad wrote: »

WA_mama2 wrote: »

I either save my kid's leftovers for later (kids are always hungry, it seems) or toss it. It's wasted in the trash and it's wasted in my stomach because I didn't need the calories. I'd rather uneaten food be in the trash. I've said to myself "I'm not a garbage disposal!" more than a few times while breaking this habit.

If stress eating it affecting your progress, reach out and seek some help. There's no shame in it and don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

All of this!

+1

Pressure to eat the kids food? Why? Put their food in fridge if it can be eaten later by the kids or if they do not want it, then why should you?

I am sure it's very stressful dealing with young children! I second the suggestion to feed them what you eat. You're not a line cook or a garbage disposal! I was a very picky eater growing up but both my brother and I would always eat plain chicken or simply seasoned pork, some type of potato, and a green vegetable (maybe add some butter to the veggies for the kiddos). My mom just had to figure out what my brother and I would eat- green salads, peas- not the best, not the worst- and green beans worked for us. We would also eat pasta with tomato sauce, meatballs, and a green salad- things like that. Can you steer them towards what you're eating and can healthy leftovers be repurposed as lunch? This also teaches (conventional) healthy eating habits (a carb, a protein, a vegetable...). Good luck!

Serve your kids smaller portions. If they're still hungry you can always ante up with a piece of fruit.

drink more water. when i feel like i want to munch (from stress, boredom, etc.), i drink a huge glass of water. if i'm actually feeling hungry after, i can reevaluate then. 95% of the time, the water fills me up though.

I've got four daughters (9, 6, 3, and 9 mos). Those bits that they don't finish aren't doing anyone any bit of good whether you throw them in the garbage or they end up on your butt, and they actually do you and your family harm if they prevent you from being a healthy weight. It helps to look at it that way. Toddlers have notoriously finicky, unpredictable appetites, so it's not uncommon (or unhealthy) for them to eat a lot at one meal and barely touch the next. Serve your kids reasonable kid sized portions, that will help reduce waste, but with an 18 month old in the house, leftovers are inevitable. Drop the guilt - you can't pack up those leftovers and send them to a starving person. Eating them yourself won't help anyone. (And don't try to get your kids to "clean their plates" either, lots of us have very bad habits because of that mentality! Let them learn to listen to their own hunger cues; it will serve them well in the future).

As for stress eating - I've never really been a stress eater (if anything stress kills my appetite), so I don't know that I can offer any really useful advice beyond what has already been given. Do try and make regular time for yourself. Get out of the house *by yourself* to do something *just for you* at least once a week, if you can swing it. Getting away from the noise and constant demands of small children will help you feel more calm when you return. There is a reason they tell you to put your own oxygen mask on first when a plane is going down - you can't be of any use to anyone else unless you take care of yourself first. Make you a priority - have a daily ritual that you can do to relax (a nightly bubble bath, a morning walk before the kids get up, a cup of tea in the afternoon, a glass of wine in the evening - you can make room for it in your calorie allowance). These types of things can help you relax and refocus and put things in perspective.

My dd is a difficult 16 years. My dh has had severe anxiety for 7 years. We've been through some stressful times.
I stress clean or pace instead of eating. Listening to music helps me when I am stressed.

Kid's food- Cook or buy less food for them in the first place, throw away what they don't eat or put leftovers away for later. Leave some extra calories for it and include it as part of your meal. Eating it so it won't go to waste- that is an excuse.
Stress- set a timer for 10 minutes and practice meditation, listen to music, play a musical instrument, sing, exercise, knit/crochet, draw/paint/sculpt, garden, chew gum, drink a cup of tea, eat carrots not chocolate or a pizza. Get a babysitter, mother's helper or hand the kids to your partner so you get some time to yourself. Take a hard look at your life and prioritize- let go of some stuff, practice saying no, are you doing anything you enjoy?
If you are depressed or anxious seek professional help. Get in therapy. Get on meds if you need them. Do it for yourself and your family.

My daughter eats what I eat and what my husband eats. She doesn't and hasn't ever gotten special meals or "kid foods" like buttered noodles or chicken nuggets or kraft mac 'n cheese unless they are what we are all having for dinner. And I don't eat her leftovers. I'm not a garbage disposal and I'm not going to act like one.

As for exercising, I'm going to guess that you have a partner (spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, whatever) with whom you share childraising duties such as keeping your 1.5 yo's fingers out of electric sockets while you are exercising. Let him/her do that. Your 7 yo is well old enough to play on his/her own while you exercise as well. Part of raising kids is teaching them to be independent and that the world (i.e., your life) doesn't revolve strictly around them. You taking time out to take care of yourself is as much for their development as it is for your good health.