How to Cope with Dad's HORRIBLE Diet
Replies
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To me, it seems like you are overly concerned with your definition of "healthy food". What's wrong with a whole egg, or a single piece of white toast? (especially within the scope of what I'm sure is otherwise a painfully healthy diet? )16
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Madwife2009 wrote: »IDK where you live, but I grew up where the diners always had customers that only drank coffee (for hours and hours, lol).
My dad was one of those guys!1 -
To those saying,just have coffee: the OP is saying her dad complains when she just has coffee.
I agree: eat the food- or as much of it as you can tolerate. One meal won't sabotage your overall efforts2 -
I say order two eggs cooked the way you want them along with wheat toast. Of course I don't understand people's phobia about eating a whole egg and all the nutrients that are in the yolk. Time with your Dad is getting limited at this point.19
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manderson27 wrote: »My mum is 93 I do WHATEVER she wants, if it makes her happy I will eat a the cream cake she bought specially for me (even though she knows I am trying to lose weight), I will sit with her while she has a cigarette even though I have quit. I will go to the shops she likes and drink the coffee even though I begrudge the price. Anything she wants she gets, she is my mum and I love her. And when she goes I don't want to ever think...I wish I had done more.
Eating crap with your dad is only one day so just enjoy it. Keep trying with the food but don't fret too much if it is not quite what you want.
My dad died 30 years ago I would give anything to spend some time eating crap with him again. Cherish each moment and to hell with the food.
I really love this ❤10 -
OK, so it's a sucky diner, but it's not about the food really, it's about spending time with your dad. It sounds like a place my grandfather would love--old fashioned, familiar, maybe a bit bland and greasy.
And for whatever reason your dad feels funny about being the only one eating and that's not that unusual.
My advice:
*Get the coffee, or tea.
* Eggs, even cooked in butter, with the yolk, is typically pretty easy to fit in a meal plan.
* Try the soup...especially if it's a clear soup like chicken noodle.
* Can you get a baked potato? It's hard to mess up a baked potato and if toppings are limited appropriately it's filling and healthy.
* Get some exercise prior to the meeting...if you can bank some calories, you can work in a smallish diner meal.
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cwolfman13 wrote: »I wish my dad was still around for me to join him once per week at a greasy dinner...I'd kill for that.
When I'm 86 I pretty much plan to do what I want and I'd hope my kids would just play along 'cuz at that point baby, it's borrowed time.
Love this. My dad passed away 15 years ago this week. He was very obese and I wish he had eaten better for all of us, but I would order an egg or a piece of toast and enjoy it with him if he was here.2 -
The flip side to a 'cheat day' is a fasting day. There are plans like a 5-2 (5 days how you like, 2 non-consecutive days of 500 calories) or alternate day fasting. You can work the rest of your diet around one less-than-perfect meal a week.2
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shagerty777 wrote: »I say order two eggs cooked the way you want them along with wheat toast. Of course I don't understand people's phobia about eating a whole egg and all the nutrients that are in the yolk. Time with your Dad is getting limited at this point.
This is what I was going to suggest. Even if they're cooked in scads of butter, it's just one meal. Two eggs, a couple of tablespoons of butter, and one piece of toast... 450 calories and Dad's happy. In the context of a week? That's nothing.18 -
Yes, let it go.
Eat toast or fruit. Eat half of something. If the eggs suck don't eat them. Don't bring your own food.
Drink coffee.
Why are you going to the diner? To be with your dad or to get a perfect meal? You will be fine if you eat one meal a week there once a week and eat better stuff every other meal.3 -
There are so many ways to accommodate for this weekly dinner issue. You can choose a small light side dish instead of a meal if you feel like you need to eat while there, or eat lighter that day/ rest of the week to still stay in your calorie goals, no exercise needed. A weekly cheat dinner is not to blame for a 25 lb weight gain unless you are going for the most calorific meal on the menu, and licking the plate clean.2
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CooCooPuff wrote: »I had to stay in a facility with seniors for a few weeks and all of my meals were from them. It was SUCH a downgrade from the hospital I had just come from. I wouldn't care what anyone said, I'm not eating that food again unless I'm in one of those homes for good.
You can talk to your dad with just a cup of coffee.
And as mentioned, one day of CRAP food shouldn't derail consistency.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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@ninerbuff, I was thinking the same thing. If one higher calorie meal details you so much, you gain, the rest of your meals for that week need to be evaluated as well.
I wanna know what's so wrong with bacon and eggs? Cause I eat that like, 3 times a week.5 -
Good grief. Eat a whole egg and some toast and enjoy the visit.4
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One meal ain't gonna kill ya. Eat whatever you wanna eat, but also realize that one meal from their menu isn't gonna throw the train off the track. Accept it as a challenge to be conquered.
My gramps is pushing 90 and eats at Chinese buffets. At Thanksgiving he eats more than all the women, all the kids, and half of the adult men. Can't hang with me though. At that age their life is already set in stone. Please understand the joy old people feel when they sit down and have a meal with good company.10 -
I have to agree with the people saying to just do the best you can and enjoy being with your dad.
I visited my dad a couple of months before he died. He was 88. He wanted to go to the casino, not my favorite place but we went. The whole way there he talked about having lunch and that they made the best ice cream sundaes and I had to try them. So we had ice cream sundaes for lunch. Later in the visit he wanted me to make all his favorite dishes, loaded with butter, cream, gravy. I happily made them for him.
It was a wonderful visit and I cherish that memory.
Go eat with your dad and enjoy his company. It's not about the food, it's about him and you spending time together.7 -
Chef_Barbell wrote: »
So... should I just let the healthy thing go and suffer through the unhealthy diner food EVERY week? BLECK!!!!!
Yes. This is time with your dad that one day you will remember fondly. Hopefully, you will not regret not spending time because of a once a week meal.
Edited because of funky grammar.
This. Just get something like plain toast to go with your coffee and then enjoy the time with your dad0 -
If you really can't find anything smothered in butter or grease, then just order the fruit cup. It's $3, I think you can manage.4
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Madwife2009 wrote: »I disagree with the other replies; if you don't want to eat the food there, then don't eat it. Have your coffee and tolerate the comments/looks. Why should you eat something that you don't want to? I wouldn't, that's for sure, Dad or not. It's your body and you get to choose what you put in it.
I agree. I've stopped the practice of eating food to make someone else happy. It's not just the extra calories, it's the way I feel when I eat to please someone else. I want to use my calories to please myself. Personally, I wouldn't eat anything I didn't want to eat. People around me are coming to accept that I'm just going to say no unless I want it.
I understand your frustration at not getting the restaurant to prepare your food the way you want it, but trying again seems like the best bet.
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I went through this with my own dad for several years. Once a week I would get to take him out for lunch...always his choice since it was his only outing. If food choices were limited for me (usually the case) I would either eat that as my main meal for the day or just get something small as was already suggested.
Seriously...just go...let him have fun...and enjoy the time with him. My dad has progressed to the point that I can't take him out at all anymore which saddens me.0 -
Ahhh I LOVE diners when I'm in a deficit. So easy to get what you want. I order two garden salads, a side of bacon, mix them together with hot sauce.4
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