Do you find it hard to stick to your diet when everyday you seem to be cooking scrumptious meals for your hungry family? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Many dieters feel weak-willed when cooking for a family and let’s face it, who wants to cook two dinners – one for you and one for every one else?
Family dinners can be an important part of family life so try not to think of them as torture. You are providing a nourishing meal for your loved ones, what is so bad about that? Here are a few simple points that can help you stick to your diet plan.
One of the most important things to remember is that children need good food and plenty of it. They are growing fast and need plenty of fresh food and goodness to help them do this properly, so do not change their diet to suit yours. I’m afraid you must work around them. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t serve a good healthy nutritious meal – in fact, that is exactly what you should be doing.
Whilst preparing dinner, think healthily. Do not serve high fat foods everyday – the kids may scream for pizza and chips but try to modify your family recipe to incorporate some new low fat alternatives. Try oven chips, which have only 5% fat and always serve plenty of vegetables on the side. Remember to serve a healthy glass of milk or fruit juice at dinner, try to leave the sugary and fizzy drinks for special treats.
And how do you work your diet around the family? Think before you serve your own plate. Choose the lowest fat option first. Vegetables are virtually fat-free so you can eat plenty of these without eating a lot of calories and they contain many essential vitamins and minerals.
Next move on to a source of protein, i.e. whatever meat or fish you may have served your family – hopefully this will be something like grilled chicken or lean beef. Leave the sauces and extras behind, they can really add to the calories. Just enjoy the food.
Remember to talk to your family. No doubt they will ask questions as to why ‘Mummy or Daddy is eating differently’. By talking, it will help them to understand and hopefully become more supportive.
Losing weight can be fun for your family. In simple terms, losing weight is an ‘Energy In – Energy Out’ equation, i.e. if you eat fewer calories than you burn each day, then you will lose weight. One way to involve the family is to become involved in some physical activity that you can all share.
Go for walks or bike rides, fly a kite on the beach and for special treats why not take a trip to the country or nearby village and go for a wander!