How to diet when you have a large family?

Kim - posted on 08/07/2009

Amy sounds like ur heading in the right direction considering change. I have 6 and 7 on way there have always been the ring' ins and extra neices and nefews some nights i feed up to 15 thats just the kids. Initial changes should b small but its amazng how quickly the body adapts and craves healthier food. often where snakes are involved the body is thirsty and drinking a glass of water before snacking can satisfy or decrease the amount of snack. also good b4 or with meal to help feel fuller. Your body will begin to crave the water rather than signaling for food or junk. When i have wanted to loose weight i basically try to increase drink intake. this includes water juices soups. if u crave milk drinks i add 1/2 blender of ice. when peckish please try soups theyre cheep and u can have 6 bowls if u need. I use to put meals like curries and stews through my baby blender add a bit of rice 1/2 jug hot water and make soups of everything i could have as much as i wanted to feel full and it was easy for my body to break down. within a week stomach doesnt need as much and those cravings ease up. i no longer felt that hungry 30 days lost alot of weight i was always a big eater but doing this had lasting effect on decreasing my meal size and regularity. There are many different ways to make stews and rice very affordable with all the vegies and meet.we couldnt afford processed food to go around. eventually with health complications the could cost a hole lot more. fresh is best.we r in Australia so maybe the price of fresh meet n veg is alot different 4 u but health has to b priority. some stews without too much veg; chicken vermicelli, just a soy sauce and ginger base brown chicken add water cook 1/2 hour till chiken falling off bone easily, take bones out. add vermacelli at end cook for 2min longer ( vermincelli is in noodle section $1.) serve with rice. can blend this up as soup 4 urself on that initial liquid diet.rice cookers are great helps meals go around furthur nutritious no weight like carbohydrate meals.many multicultural recipies foods available with rice. costs $5 to $7 to feed 10 people this. meet or pork stew with soy garlic ginger base i do beens and potato with pork, or veg with meet. lambstew with whatever veg(potato pumpkin carrot greens) brown lamb and onion add water cook 15min, addveg cook til soft thicken at end with gravox or flour. all of these can be souped through basic mixer jug. i add bit of sweet/chilli to flavour some up. kids wil always familiarise themselves with ur home cooking once adjusted theyll keep coming back for more and always will remember you for it. i had one little boy come live with me who had only ever had take aways. for 1month refused to eat anything but 2minute noodles lemonade iceblocks or takeaway. I converted him but his health improved so much he sempt more content.If they re truely hungry they will eat good food too.its what u allow but change does take time and determination best of luck op something here can help u and your fam.

Kim - posted on 08/07/2009

Quoting Amy:

How to diet when you have a large family?

I have been dieting on and off for many years now, but just recently I feel like this is it. No more trying, I'm going to do it this time!
I have enough time to walk on the tread mill everyday and I joined a Tae Kwon Do class with some of my sons.
The biggest problem I have is that our budget isn't big enough for the diet I'm on (South Beach) and the way we normally eat. My kids won't eat salads and my husband can't do with out late night snacks.
We have 8 children and a niece living with us and it is just cheaper to buy processed food, and then of course I feel bad that I'm feeding them junk. We already make our own bread products and meals.
So how do you feed your families good healthy foods and still fall within your budget? What is your budget? How do you deal with times when there just isn't enough money for what the kids want?

Thanks.

Jessica - posted on 08/05/2009

Have you tried planting a garden? Do you have an Aldi near you? www.Aldi.com I have a family of 7 I buy for. 4 children 3 adults. I try and be as healthy as possible with our meals. It is hard because healthy food can be more expensive. But I find that raw foods instead of process foods last longer in our system and we eat less. Our local grocery store (Price Chopper) will have things on sale by 1 get 2 free.So I will stock up on what I can then. Also some of my friends do a co-op kind of thing. Where they pay so much to a farm and can get a huge box of veggies and fruits. And also depending on how well a product does they get to do an all you can pick that is included. My friend says it breaks down to 19 dollars a week. I may do it next season.

Diane - posted on 08/04/2009

I have 8 children as well but my problem is little exercise and my husband is the one who does 99% of the cooking because I don't like to and he does because he doesn't like fruits or vegges so he can make what he wants so it makes it hard for us to eat healthy and it is usually a busy day so hamberger helper is easy and not so expensive as meats and vegges especially in the winter. thanks

Danielle - posted on 08/02/2009

I think you need to have a serious chat with your family and get them on board! Hubby can have the late night snacks but perhaps he needs to cut back or choose a healthier option. It's ok if you're kids don't want to eat all the salad veg, but perhaps working with them to come up with a simple salad they'll eat perhaps twice a week for starters can lead to them eating it more.
I don't buy things like biscuits or cakes, we make them all as it's just more economic that way. I pour a huge amount of the budget into fruit and if they want their snack foods, they must also eat fruit, they need to learn to compromise and to fuel their bodies in a balanced way. I also don't supply cordials or fizzy drinks for my kids, they get milk and water and are allowed juice once or twice a day, usually with dinner.
Is your diet costing you money? Have you considered using a site like www.calorieking.com to lose weight? It's completely free and allows you to track everything you eat, get recipies, advice, help etc.
I wish you luck, I've just restarted out on weight watchers and will be dragging out the cook books again to menu plan!

Julie - posted on 07/29/2009

I struggle with this same thing as well. I exercise, and eat a fairly balanced diet. I have not been able to buy any special foods to lose weight, like weight watchers stuff. BUT I think there are MANY choices of just regular healthy foods that you can eat, and probably afford if you cut out some of the extras. I agree with Erin, instead of buying snacks, bake them... or make puddings and stuff that isn't pricey.
We have ONLY 5 kiddos, but it is a struggle to keep the grocery bill as low as possible. It's a constant struggle that isn't going to go away, but you can be creative and come up with new ways to get around your budget.

Gene & Erin - posted on 07/26/2009

Hummm.... this is a good question!

Our kids don't always get what they want - but whatever the cook fixes is what there is to eat. We don't live at Burger King.

But sometimes it is just easier/quicker to fix a hot dog, pizza rolls, etc. We do try to make sure we eat "healthy" most nights - but there are some nights that I know I'm not going to make the effort.

I think the best thing you can do is exercise - and it seems like you are. If there's not enought money for regular food - stop buy extra south beach stuff and focus on buying healthy food and snacks (NO JUNK - NO extra SUGAR). The kids will complain at first - but do they really get a vote (and don't worry, I'm preaching to myself too, I'm a junk food junkie). And when you do make cookies or something (maybe every week or 2 weeks) it will be such a big treat! And don't worry you won't be able to eat to many - the kids will eat all they can.

It won't be easy - it will take LOTS of disapline, your whole family will complain (even you), you'll stop and have to start over, but its a lifestyle choice and every important change takes time.

Just go for it - you know what to do!

Just don't forget that God made you (and your body type - womanly) and He wants whats best for you too!