Single Parents?

Are there any single parents in here trying to lose weight? I was hoping that there would be. I am a single parent raising a four year old boy.

I'm also a single parent with a four year old boy. It's tough sometimes, especially when he refuses to eat what I do! Sometimes I end up having to make two meals for dinner.

I am so relieved that there is someone out there who is like me! My son does the same thing! He refuses to eat healthy. Although, he does like cucumbers and crand berries. When was your son born? Mine was born on June 20th, 2005

I'm a single mom of three. 13 yrs old boy, 9 year old girl, and a 5 year old boy. I started my weight loss adventure back in the ending of January. I've lost over 30 lbs so far. They have a section in the fridge and cabinet with their "fat" food while I have my own section of low calorie food.

Mine was born May 3 2005. He does have his favorite healthy things -- baked chicken, strawberries, and SALAD. He LOVES salad. But if I try to make anything new he just looks at me like I'm insane and refuses to eat. I think a couple of weeks ago he ate nothing but cheese sandwiches all week because he didn't want to try anything new. It definitely makes things a challenge. I cut out almost all of the processed foods and try to cook things from scratch now.

I'm a single parent too - 2 kids, 6 yrs and 4 yrs. It can be hard to get them to eat with me at dinner. I used to make different meals for them but I gave up on that. I make one thing now and they either eat it or they don't. What I find amazing and sometimes difficult is that they seem to have their father's metabolism and aren't emotionally tied to food as I am. I think the emotional tie to food is more of a learned thing so I hope this means I'm succeeding at that training. It's amazing though to watch my daughter eat half a cookie and then put it down say "she's had enough." That's certainly not something she gets from me!

I can't believe your son eats salad! Of course my son loves raw carrots as long as it's with ranch dressing. I don't let him drown them in it but it's hard to argue when I chop up a large carrot and he eats the whole thing. Which reminds me - my biggest annoyance: just to make me crazy, all the vegetables my daughter loves, my son hates and vice versa. Sigh. 

I'm a single mom too. I have a 6 and 1 year old daughters. I've always been a single mom, so I don't know what it would be like to have help! LOL!

My daughter loves salad also. Always had. The other two love fruit, especially apples. I'm amazed that they eat only a little junk food. That pretty much means that if I buy Oreos then I'm the one that gets stuck eating them. My kids are runts though. Tiny little boogers. My 13 yr old weighs about 65 lbs. I have to feed him loads of peanut butter and ice cream shakes. I, on the other hand, get to watch.

Hi Pinkrose (and everyone else who has these concerns),

I am now living with my bf of 2 years (we moved in together last march and I actually lived in a different city an hour away until last sept), but up until March, I too was a single mom and have done the weight loss battle for many years. I am pretty lucky, my son wasn’t picky and tried pretty much anything. Now at the age of 12 I have to demand he eat salad or a piece of fruit and he will but I have to push it. Its not that he does not like those healthy foods, he just rather have cookies!! (so would I heehee)

Here are a few things you can try to hopefully get your child (and this goes for anyone) to eat healthier:

1. the old "you eat what is in front of you or you don’t eat at all" can work for most kids, but not all, but this may be worth a shot. If they are hungry enough, most kids will try anything.

2. Cook healthy without them knowing! There are tons of tips, tricks and recipes out there that cut out fat and high calories but dont cut out the taste! I for one now make chocolate chip cookies with using at least 50% whole wheat or chilli, meatballs, burgers with turkey or chicken rather then beef. There are tons of other things you can do to "healthen" up any recipe

3. Make it a game.. a theme night like - lets try a new veggie night or something fun. Get your son involved. Tell him when you go shopping its up to him to pick a new fruit or veggie to try that week. EVen at 4, if a child feels involved its amazing what they will try.

I don’t know if any of this will help, but hopefully it does! But please, keep strong and good luck! Maybe if he sees you eating better he will to!

Good luck and stay strong!!