Economy and Family makes my DIet SUCK!

I have hit a GIANT brick wall with trying to not only lose weight but to change my diet over all.  That wall would be MY FAMILY.  More specifically my DP and DSS. 

Nevermind the fact we are on strict food budget which doesn't leave a lot of room for junk food AND good Food.  I wish I could just say...we aren't eating XYZ any more. IN the past statements like that have lead to major rebellion at the table.  Or as my DP puts it when only  fruit and veggies are available for snack...WE HAVE NO FOOD IN THE HOUSE.  wth?? Apparently food in the house= having tons of processed food that doesn't require any thought for eating it.

How is everyone else balancing the needs of the family and their needs and a tight budget.

Not that every meal can come from this or anything but have you tried crock pot meals? I do a crock every Sunday, portion it out, freeze it and viola! meals just for me, perfectly portioned for over a week :). Couldn't cost more than $10 for the whole crock too and I have a big one.

Another way would be to buy supplements. I buy protein powder and bars online (eBay, netrition.com, or buildingbrawn.com depends on whoever is on sale). A whole month of bars and shakes (granted one per day of each) is around $51.

I alos cook with foil (god I love that). Salmon, 1/2 a lemon, evoo, salt, & pepper in a packet at 350 for 35-40 mins? omg heaven. I'll do that with brown rice. Mahatma brown rice if cooked properly looks and tastes similar to white rice... so maybe that will help?

Good luck, hope you can get everyone turned around :)

Your family will adjust, it just takes time.  Try showing them how tasty healthy snacks can be.  Kids love dipping.  Dip your fresh veggies in ranch for them.  How about celery dipped in PB.  Apples dipped in vanilla yogurt (you can even add cinnamon or other flavors to the vanilla yogurt).  If you buy the junk, then you are more tempted by it yourself.  Show them ways to make it tasty for them, but not damaging for you.  Also a great snack that I keep in the house for the kids is PB crackers, breakfast bars (nutrigrain), yogurts.  Kids like sweet things.  Make them healthier.  Besides eating healthy is not just good for you, but good for your whole family.  I do buy chips on occasion.  It is a treat (small bags).  There tastes will adjust and it will help them way into adulthood so that they are not struggling.  

Now, if we go to MCD's with the kids, they want the apples, not the fries most of the time.  

Your family will adjust, it just takes time.  Try showing them how tasty healthy snacks can be.  Kids love dipping.  Dip your fresh veggies in ranch for them.  How about celery dipped in PB.  Apples dipped in vanilla yogurt (you can even add cinnamon or other flavors to the vanilla yogurt).  If you buy the junk, then you are more tempted by it yourself.  Show them ways to make it tasty for them, but not damaging for you.  Also a great snack that I keep in the house for the kids is PB crackers, breakfast bars (nutrigrain), yogurts.  Kids like sweet things.  Make them healthier.  Besides eating healthy is not just good for you, but good for your whole family.  I do buy chips on occasion.  It is a treat (small bags).  There tastes will adjust and it will help them way into adulthood so that they are not struggling.  

Now, if we go to MCD's with the kids, they want the apples, not the fries most of the time.  

yes l agree with dburgert, your family will adjust it takes time, dont force it and dont preach, if they see you enjoying it they will want to try. At first even my husband wouldnt taste my food, now we all eat most meals l make, like the stir fried asian vegetables and chicken breast with brown rice, l just eat a smaller portion of the rice, they say it tastes better than the chinese rice we used to get. The whole meal for 6 costs us less than $10 plus we have left overs. They also eat the flat out wraps filled with black beans, salsa and and chicken breast again less than $10 and you can give the non dieters chips and soup to go with theirs and you have a smaller portion of the chips if you must. we usually split the wrap in half except my 16y/o he eats a whole wrap by himself. l guess what l'm saying is, find what everyone likes and make a healthier version of it and dont make a big fuss about it, cuz when ppl hear 'diet' they shut down and think bland food. The whole family loves my version of Pannera salad with gorgonzola cheese, walnuts, apples, whatever salad greens you have, chicken breast, onions, l toss mine with a home made vinigrette, or yo ucan blend frozen raspberries and toss it in, they would swear you ordered out. l eat this as a meal you can give the non dieters pasta as a side and you eat urs without the pasta. This way everybody is happy goodluck.

Keep the fruit and veggies already chopped up in the fridge.  If someone wants an instant snack, they'll be much more likely to be happy with carrots and dip if all they have to do is grab some pre-chopped carrot sticks and ranch dressing out of the fridge (instead of having to chop up the carrots themselves). 

Bread makes great fast snacks, so keep a loaf of whole grain bread around for them to throw a slice in the toaster and top with whatever spread they like (peanut butter, hummus, jam, a couple of slices of cheese, etc.)  Whole grain crackers would be good for this too.

If you make sure there are "instant" snacks available, your family should be able to cope with them being decently healthy.  And, if not, they can take a walk to the store to buy themselves a single serving of whatever it is they're craving.

And, of course, the best dieting trick is that, if they must keep junk in the house, tell them it has to be junk you don't like.  When I had roommates, they could keep all the peanut butter cookies they wanted around and I didn't care because I can't stand peanut butter.  :-)

I'm living at home with my mom and my sister, and we're on a pretty tight budget too. Sadly, they're not exactly into healthy eating so while my mom will buy good food for me, she also buys not so good foods for them which means she ends up spending more money and I'm constantly surrounded by temptation.

I agree with most of the comments above.  My husband tells me often that there is no food in he house (when there is plenty of healthy options).I keep a big basket on my kitchen table with fresh apples, bananas and min boxes of raisins. I also buy 100 calorie popcorn bags( i often catch this Buy One Get One or when it's on sale a the grocery). I also buy him snacks that I don't like so I am not tempted. I agree...it comes with time. 

My son loves apples, bananas, rice cakes.... and his "cookie" is a graham cracker. I hope over time that my healthier eating habits would rub off on my husband. He definately eats much healthier at dinner (since I'm cooking).

As for the budget, I'm spending more time at Sams Club and buying in bulk. I love to buy fruit (both fresh & frozen) in bulk at Sams. Also, I invested in a deep freeze last summer and I have saved a fortune. When local groceries run special, I stock up on meats. Now, when i got the the grocery store each week, it's to buy fresh veggies. 

Hang in there!

I've had a reasonable amount of success by looking whiny children dead in the eye and say "You want food xxx? Go get a job and pitch in to help buy it. Otherwise, this is what you've got. Eat it or do without."

Wouldn't you know, my oldest went and got a job.

YMMV, especially if your kids are younger. ;)

Original Post by hatamoto:

I've had a reasonable amount of success by looking whiny children dead in the eye and say "You want food xxx? Go get a job and pitch in to help buy it. Otherwise, this is what you've got. Eat it or do without."

Wouldn't you know, my oldest went and got a job.

YMMV, especially if your kids are younger. ;)

 LMAO!!!!!!!!! This is what my parents did to me and I honestly can say that is why I never look a gift horse in the mouth!! You should be so greatful as to have someone cater to you, make your food, and work hard to provide for your well being... "Little Malynda the world does not revolve around you and life will not be handed to you on a silver platter; if you don't like your food that is fine but this is not a restaurant... eat now or go hungry" and I always ate it (grudgingly) but that's probably why I am so good at eating clean now lol.