How do I eat healthy when my family doesn't?

[LaLaDee 519]

I live with family members who do not eat healthy. My best tip is to keep your food separate. If at all possible, ask family to hide their treats. I have a separate pantry and separate shelf in the fridge. They order a lot of takeout. As much as possible, I try and eat home cooking so I have a lot of small, high Protein meals in the freezer. I cook a lot of separate meals but sometimes I can figure out a healthy version of a meal that can accommodate everyone. Sometimes I make burrito bowls for myself and they might add sour cream or Doritos. Or I will make spaghetti for them, but zucchini noodles for me. Often I’ll just throw in bread or cook them some rice to go with whatever protein I’m having. you honestly can’t make people shift their eating habits if they don’t want to. It is difficult having temptations in the house or watching people eat whatever they want. But it can be done!

[man_a_con 8]

I live with family members who do not eat healthy. My best tip is to keep your food separate. If at all possible, ask family to hide their treats. I have a separate pantry and separate shelf in the fridge. They order a lot of takeout. As much as possible, I try and eat home cooking so I have a lot of small, high Protein meals in the freezer. I cook a lot of separate meals but sometimes I can figure out a healthy version of a meal that can accommodate everyone. Sometimes I make burrito bowls for myself and they might add sour cream or Doritos. Or I will make spaghetti for them, but zucchini noodles for me. Often I’ll just throw in bread or cook them some rice to go with whatever Protein I’m having. you honestly can’t make people shift their eating habits if they don’t want to. It is difficult having temptations in the house or watching people eat whatever they want. But it can be done!

Thank you for stating this. I'm only post op 10 days and it's hard to see my family eat whatever they want. I am struggling with barely getting protein down and Water, while they consume spaghetti, burgers, fries, etc. I know I did this for me, but the support I have is not always supportive of my decision.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using BariatricPal mobile app

[GreenTealael 25,593]

My family ( those under my Iron rule- children ) eat like me, other family members who are adults (and don't live with me anyways) cannot be controlled, nor do I want to, I have to learn to live within this world which also means eating out with friends, co workers, at parties, pot lucks, buffets, movie theaters, gas stations, Starbucks, etc.

You cannot control the entire world, you can have some affect on the lifestyle that your family leads especially if you do the shopping and are partial leadership of the organization, otherwise you can only control you so best to focus squarely on that.

VSG2017 HW 249 SW 238 CW 167

[BostonWLKC 807]

I’ve been ok so far just not paying it any mind when others eat less healthy food. The way I figure it, we can’t eat a whole lot anyway so why waste it on a bite or two of something that is going to be less filling. I kind of take pride in the fact that no matter what anyone else is eating I am eating a high-protein meal .
However, I do like the idea of keeping your food separate… Or having them keep their food separate so you’re not even going into that cabinet or section of the refrigerator

[insta_adventurer 1,046]

I am four days post op and last night I sat in the other room while my mom and husband ate pizza and wings. I’ve also watched them eat chips... and tonight they are doing Chinese food.

Thankfully I don’t have much of an appetite or any hunger pains and the fear or messing up my new belly is real enough to make abstaining pretty dang easy.

[NYJenn 1,464]

I would throw a fit if my husband/Mom/etc ordered pizza, brought home doughnuts, baked a cake, or came home with a costco sized package of little Debbie’s this early in my journey (10 days out). I think it’s super inconsiderate. Down the line? Of course. But right now? That’s just Jerky

[insta_adventurer 1,046]

On 07/20/2018 at 19:59, NYJenn said:

I would throw a fit if my husband/Mom/etc ordered pizza, brought home doughnuts, baked a cake, or came home with a costco sized package of little Debbie’s this early in my journey (10 days out). I think it’s super inconsiderate. Down the line? Of course. But right now? That’s just Jerky

Honestly the Chinese food smells like bologna to me and just grossed me out. The pizza last night was a bit tough on the nose, though.

[NYJenn 1,464]

Where’s the love and support?

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

13 hours ago, NYJenn said:

I would throw a fit if my husband/Mom/etc ordered pizza, brought home doughnuts, baked a cake, or came home with a costco sized package of little Debbie’s this early in my journey (10 days out). I think it’s super inconsiderate. Down the line? Of course. But right now? That’s just Jerky

I think it's easier for us to avoid temptation in the early stages because we just can't handle it anyway, plus we're in the "excited to get started" phase. Once you get back to feeling "normal", resisting temptation will be all on you. While it would be nice to get a lot of support, it just doesn't happen with other adults in the house unless they want/need to lose weight, too.

Edited July 21, 2018 by Orchids&Dragons

[NYJenn 1,464]

I’m not expecting the world to change. But to ask my family to avoid eating crap (at least right in front of me) for a short time, isn’t asking too much. If they love me, they should be happy to help

[Creekimp13 5,841]

On 7/18/2018 at 9:41 AM, Tealael said:

*Oprah voice* EVERYONE GETS A NEW DIET!!!!

LOVE!

[sideeye 1,440]

On 7/18/2018 at 4:13 AM, luckyducky said:

My family buys in bulk (costco) and will come home with random big boxes of Desserts, high sugar cereals, etc. and my diet instantly goes down the drain whenever this happens.

I live on my own, and I had to go to Target to buy something very specific for a theme party. I was STUNNED at what I could buy there - all of the food would fall firmly on the "not great for you" side of the scale, but were also in larger containers than my local store and cheaper. I ended up buying random sweet crap I never would have bought otherwise, and then when I got home I started eating much more of them than I usually would, and finally just had to pull out a garbage bag and throw it all away to stop me from eating it all. I'd been suckered by the cost-per-unit siren song and ended up wasting money.

I live in a city so have more food flexibility (few big box stores, lots of smaller specialists and grocers) and have come round to the belief that veering away from long-term-storage food and bulk food is just how I have to go with all this. I end up shopping every other day and getting appetizer takeaways, which I used to think was too expensive, but I'm now pretty damn convinced it's making me stay in my parameters food-wise and spend less. For instance, today I bought a slice of quiche for lunch. Could I perhaps have bought an entire frozen quiche for the same amount of money? Yes! Would I have eaten it all before it went off? Possibly! Would I have eaten it all in one or two sittings and blown through my caloric guidelines for the day? Probably, if I was concerned about not wasting money/food.

Just having that bulk food in the house is unbelievably tempting, I don't know how those of you with kids do it.

Edited July 21, 2018 by sideeye

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

4 minutes ago, sideeye said:

Just having that crap in the house is unbelievably tempting, I don't know how those of you with kids do it.

It ain't easy!

[Seahawks Fan 771]

Just choose wisely & use a tiny plate!

[Seahawks Fan 771]

On 7/18/2018 at 1:13 AM, luckyducky said:

I'm on month three of a six month diet and exercise routine, and while i'm great at working out every day, I cant ever seem to get a solid hold on my eating habits.

My family buys in bulk (costco) and will come home with random big boxes of Desserts, high sugar cereals, etc. and my diet instantly goes down the drain whenever this happens. I feel on one hand it's my problem and my diet not theirs, bit I also feel like it's what's hindering my journey in weight loss.

I've tried to talk to them and even suggest family "cheat day dinners" to help keep the bad foods clear most of the time bit it gets shrugged off.

I'm at a loss here What can I do to help this situation?

Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

I share your problem & can’t say I don’t have a snack every now & then but I mostly eat easy prep lean Protein & produce. Look at my Instagram page at, “ my_tiny_healthy_plate “. I use a lot of fresh fruits and veggies but I also like Birdseye protein veggie packs & Veggie pastas. Their easy & delicious with enough variety to change it up for over a week. Walmart has the best price I’ve found so far. Fortunately for us a little goes a long ways.