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need healthy meal planning tips for a couple & 2 kids related to different needs/etc

groovygrlgroovygrl member
in Working Moms
So MH & I would like to work on a meal plan for the next month in an attempt to be better about planning ahead, controlling portions, healthy eating, etc w/ a goal of weight loss & healthier living. We don't really eat unhealthy right now  and I cook pretty healthy meals (low in fat, etc) but we are pushing 40 & could use some better habits.  I only want to drop a few pounds but he has bigger goals than I do.  The issue for me is not that I don't know how or what to cook but finding things that will work for my needs, his needs and the 2 four yr olds. He has a thing against carbs so I have to limit making anything w/ pasta, rice, tortillas or other carbs/grains but of course kids love that stuff. Also making enough of something to compensate for him skipping the carbohydrate part from a caloric standpoint is a challenge for me (e.g. there is this pork & spinach stirfry I make that we love. However, he won't eat the brown rice with it, so he has to eat like a ton of the pork to compensate & feel satisfied so I end up having to make a ton of meat b/c  if he is hungry after b/c he only ate the meat & spinach, he will hit the pantry & fridge, which defeats the purpose, but making 2 pork tenderloins for 2 adults & 2 little kids seems ridiculous... just an example of how our meals often play out)  Then addressing the picky factor for the kids, I feel like I will end up having to make all sorts of special things or like the same 3 things constantly to pull them into the mix. We generally have the kids eat what we eat and I don't usually do special meals for them (unless we're eatings omething I really know they won't eat, like shrimp, or if I decide to make them mac & cheese but we really don't want to eat that for dinner) but I also don't make things that I know they will hate or not even be willing to give a try and I'm certainly not cutting carbs out of their dinner b/c they wouldn't eat much (not to mention I have one who is always constipated anyway).

I just feel at a loss even trying to get a plan on paper when I think about my own caloric needs, then his which are higher but need to be sans carbs, and then also make sure to include stuff the kids will eat & keep their diet balanced. He only does well (or thinks he does) with really regimented/strict plans and when I suggested we work out a plan for a month, he said, ok but we'll need to buy a book or find an already made plan online to use. I was like, why can't we just choose healthy meals & do our portions accdg to our needs? So we're butting heads, but I am in charge of shopping & food prep so to have to adhere to some sort of premade plan from some diet book is just not my style and I wouldn't want to make 1/2 the stuff on it anyway most likely...

Argh. Maybe I"m just venting but has anyone found good approaches, templates, or ways to deal w/ this?
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Re: need healthy meal planning tips for a couple & 2 kids related to different needs/etc

  • jlaOKjlaOK member
    I am trying to lose weight and limiting carbs while still cooking family meals that my 3 year old will eat.  I do a lot of meat, veg, carb meals and just don't eat the carb portion myself.  I'll do something like turkey burgers but eat mine without the bun, tacos and eat the taco meat in a salad while DS and DH have theirs in tortillas, or spaghetti and meatballs and just eat the meatballs.  If I end up cooking something where I'm limited on the amount of it I can eat because it's not very healthy I'll just make myself a side spinach salad (just spinach leaves and lite balsamic dressing) to help fill me up.

    Hope that helps.
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  • KewiiKewii member
    I'd suggest finding substitutes for foods that work pretty well. 

    I eat sort of carb free.  Not always, but I try to limit them. What has worked for me is substituting out some of the heavier carb stuff for similar things.  For example, I almost never make rice and instead almost always use quinoa.  For spaghetti, I like to use spaghetti squash.

    if you find a couple of substitutes that work, it can make your meal planning a lot easier.

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  • APendolaAPendola member

    1st thing that comes to mind is something where you build your own meal…like tacos or fajitas.  You can make a healthy taco filling and toppings…your DH can wrap these in romaine lettuce to skip the carbs and your kids can have the tortilla shells.

    2nd thing that comes to mind is that if your hubby wants to eat a special diet, he should be helping you more with the cooking.  It sounds like you are doing a lot of work with the meals.  Maybe he can help prepare some meals for himself.  Ie. He can make some sidedishes in advance that he can have in place of the grains.

    Also, carbs are not all bad.  Maybe your DH will be open to eating some small portions of carbs like sweet potato and squash.  I think it’s best to limit the carbs from grains, but carbs from veggie sources are packed with nutrients and good for you.

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  • Nita14701Nita14701 member
    I'd look into beans and legumes for him as a side- maybe their are a few recipes of bean salads or dips that he could have  when the kids are eating the pasta (make a bigger batch of  2 or 3 for the week).
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  • mexicolombianamexicolombiana member
    edited January 2014
    This might sounds a bit rude, but it really sounds like HE should be in charge of meals if he's going to be picky or difficult about meals and not eat what you make.  I really don't mean that in a rude way but he should really be planning and cooking his own meals (if he has time with work and stuff).  That's how I would do it.  If I cook something and my husband doesn't like it, seriously I don't care.  He's a grown man and can go eat cereal or something if he doesn't like something.  

    Now, of course if I'm cooking I try and make stuff I know he'll eat but he's pretty damn picky and it's really annoying and I don't want my kids picking up his crappy eating habits (like not eating any vegetables and stuff). 

    Also I'm a bit biased because I am the world's least pickiest eater and will eat anything placed in front of me for the most part, so it aggravates me when people are picky eaters.  (obviously food allergies are a different issue). 

    For the most part II eat pretty healthy mostly by just reducing my portions.  I don't think you really need to change the way you eat (unless your eating habits are awful- and it doesn't sound like yours are) people just need to eat smaller more balanced meals.  So I wouldn't do anything drastic.  It sounds like you guys are already eating fairly healthy balanced meals.  Perhaps reducing portions would help.  

    EDIT: I re-read your post and it sounds like this is exactly what you're trying to do, and you're butting heads which makes me feel like he really should be writing out his specific meal plans to see if they work for your family. 





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  • groovygrlgroovygrl member
    THanks all! All very good ideas. He is open to some starches like sweet potatoes so that does help. We sat down & planned meals for the week this week on Sunday night so hopefully that will continue... he doesn't really cook other than grilling (and I have to prep whatever it is to go on the grill or everythign would be sans seasoning, marinade, etc all the time), and he also doesnt get home until 7 pm most nights so him doing actual cooking is a no-go even if we were grilling or making a meal that he could handle, and him stopping at the grocery store after work means even later home time, soooooo.... After 10 yrs of marriage I don't think I'm going to change his non-interest or ability to cook. He does help w/ shopping when I give him specifics & I'm not picky about brands or particular items.

    As for the ridiculous amt of meat, I don't mean like a couple extra pieces, I'm talking he would eat a whole pork tenderloin single handedly in order to feel satisfied if it were available... LOL. But he knows he can't/shouldn't & he tries to bulk up on veggies as much as he can/I will make.- but the problem is, if I make the 2nd one to have the little bit of extra, he will likely eat much more than he needs b/c it is there. (which is not my problem, I know, but in trying to help, I think it is a good idea to limit how much extra temptation is laying around)

    I also like quinoa & will try it more...one of my kids won't touch rice regardless so no loss there & the other is more adventurous so she may give it a go.

    Appreciate all the ideas!
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