The House of Different Diets

There are four of us in our household and we all have different dietary requirements.

My oldest son is a vegetarian and we all partake in that some times but the rest of us do eat meat as well.

My wife will no eat any fish, eggs or pork because she doesn't want to. But she will eat way more vegetables and other things then our oldest.

My youngest son will eat anything, except what our oldest eats!

As for me I monitor my macros and calories very carefully.

Some nights our kitchen is like a restaurant in that everyone gets a different plated meal. Most of the time I cook for myself and my wife cooks for everyone else, though occasionally the boys also prepare their own meals. I will cook for others if they want what I am eating, rarely.

Some nights we cook together each preparing different dishes that are shared for those who want to eat them.

Friday nights we always eat as a family and mostly eat whatever she prepares (she always includes a vegetarian option), often I will make a side vegetable dish or prepare something if it supports what she has in mind. Desert and baking are among my specialties so I often make Friday's desert choice and rarely eat it. Generally speaking Friday I eat whatever she prepares and do the best I can to measure and log it.

To answer OP's question our approach is probably expensive as we all shop together each selecting our own stuff except the total omnivore youngest, who steals everyone else's food. But we don't care too much about the expense as it is what works for us.

samspam1023 wrote: »

The background: My husband has had great success with keto (down 25 lbs so far), but I'm struggling with my own diet in the process. I don't want to go keto myself because I'm a distance runner. But logging my meals for the last two weeks, I'm eating around 40% fat. I gained 10 lbs last half-marathon season and didn't make the speed gains I hoped for. I'd like my macros to be around 40/30/30 for the off-season but I'm struggling to incorporate low-fat proteins. We also have a small child and I want to make sure he's eating a healthy variety of foods too.

The question: has anyone had success managing two separate diets in a household? Did you find it to be very expensive (it has been for us to buy smaller quantities and different types of food for each of us). Any advice?

Seems like your husband can have a lower fat protein and low carb veg and add some fat (cheese, etc.) and you and your child could eat the same protein and veg and add starches (?)

My partner is pescatarian and it can be a struggle. Would it be very difficult for you to cook two different proteins with whatever sides you are having for dinner? Lean meat for you and something with more fat for him. Then you can decide which protein the kids will have. I get it though. I rarely make my boyfriend and I separate proteins. I control our calorie differences with our sides dishes and carbs.

What are your usual sources of protein? I'm assuming that's a slightly separate issue to the different diets thing?

Caveat: I am no expert and (occasionally do struggle with getting my full MFP-recommended amount of protein in a day), but for me fish (we do include some oily fish for the healthy Omegas but also non-oily fish, do that about 2 - 3 nights a week), eggs, beans and legumes (because you can sneak lentils into ANYTHING!!) all help top up my protein without going too fat crazy. We also do a lot of cooking without fats, or with very little (heart health there as well) and steamed fish works a treat. We don't cook red meat, pork or poultry at home (my partner doesn't eat them and I don't like cooking meat) so barring the occasional meaty meal out that's us.

I will also say that our small person - who has many texture issues with food - loves beans and legumes. I know sometimes parents are warned about introducing them too soon, but I've not found digestive issues for him with them.

I also love Quark - it's a more intense, high-protein yogurt-type thing. I use that instead of yogurt, sour cream, toppings on puds....

Just taking a really swift look at some of your recent diary entries, be aware that processed meats and cheese are both going to have a fat (and sodium, if you're tracking that as well) impact, as well as their protein element. Not that you have to stay away from them, just be aware that that's where some of those macros are coming from.