Diets with family and kids

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking about doing WW again, but wonder how difficult it is to do when you're also cooking/feeding kids and a husband. It's one thing to limit myself, cook appropriate meals, measure, count, etc, but now, the time investment seems like a lot when considering work, two kids and a hectic life. How do you make it work?
Thanks

[Anonymous]

They can only benefit by healthy cooking. You can make a lean protein, salad and/or steamed veggie (I do two veggies each night).

I keep frozen Perdue seasoned chicken breasts on hand and pop one on the Foreman grill for me if the rest of the family is eating something really bad. I also occasionally offer rolls for husband, who likes them, but don't take one myself. I don't fix them daily, because the kids seem a little too addicted to them. If I'm making baked potatoes, I do a regular white one for husband, and baked sweet potatoes for kids and me. Sometimes I'll make sweet potato fries as a side dish for the kids, and nothing for husband/me.

I guess I generally end up cooking three or four items each night that we eat in, from which we can all pick and choose. Kids and I generally choose healthier. Husband not so much.

[Anonymous]

I've done WW for years (losing and now maintenance) and it is HARD to do with family. I haven't been able to do it where we all eat the same thing; I generally eat separate things at dinner. It doesn't seem so bad, though, because a lot of time at least one child is eating a different item as well--we have a rule that they eat what we eat or they can choose a PBJ on whole wheat, and I would say this option is invoked most nights. I dislike having us all eat different things but I console myself by thinking that at least we are all having the meal together!

[Anonymous]

I just did WW and have a husband and 2 1/2 year old. I work full time. I lost over 22 lbs and kept it off for over 6 months.

You just have to make a healthy dinner for the whole family and measure out what you are having. It was not difficult at all.

I still had pizza every fri night I just ate 2 pieces instead of 3 etc.

You can do it it just takes some practice.

[Anonymous]

I'm with the PPs who say it's very do-able on Weight Watchers.

My family eats a lot of simple food, steamed or stir-fry vegetables, legumes, brown rice, quinoa, fish, pasta, salads. When I have time, I'll make low-fat casserole-type dishes to eat during the work week (light lasagna, mexican casseroles, light eggplant parmesan, baked ziti with lots of veggies). I use recipes that have the nutritional value per serving, so it's easy to figure out Points. Sometimes we do different proteins--my DD1 and husband eat chicken, whereas I'll eat Boca burgers. We keep easy foods in the freezer to suit everyone when we're too busy to really cook--chicken tenders, soy "chicken" nuggets, veggie burgers, blintzes (2 for 3 Points!), etc. It takes 10 minutes to steam a veggie on the stove, only a few minutes in the microwave!

You can eat what they eat as long as you measure. It's a great goal for EVERYONE to eat healthier. And we like modeling good habits. (I'm from a family of overweight people, and am working on the last few pregnancy pounds, already lost 10 on WW this year.) There will always be ups and downs and plateaus, but you just have to keep trying and moving in the right direction.

Good luck!