How can I survive dinner at my in laws house?!
Question: Here is the situation: my husband and I go to his parents house 3-4 times per week. Nearly all the dishes served are high in fat, saturated fat, and calories (think southern cooking). The only vegetables are loaded with carbs(potatoes, corn, green beans). Weekends bring out the eggs, sausage gravy, and biscuits. I am at a healthy weight and would like to maintain. I enjoy going to my in laws for their company, but eating this type of food all the time is making me gain weight! They rarely come to my house because they don't drive after dark. How can I spend time with them but avoid their unhealthy food? I have very little will power to stay away from these foods. Is there anything I could say (politely) to get them to eat healthier? I've tried bringing nice salads (leaf lettuce, tomatoes, carrots) or fixing healthy sides (steamed broccoli) but no one touches it. I've tried eating a sensible meal before, but I still eat when we get there. Should I just pack my own dinner?
Answers: Here is the situation: my husband and I go to his parents house 3-4 times per week. Nearly all the dishes served are high in fat, saturated fat, and calories (think southern cooking). The only vegetables are loaded with carbs(potatoes, corn, green beans). Weekends bring out the eggs, sausage gravy, and biscuits. I am at a healthy weight and would like to maintain. I enjoy going to my in laws for their company, but eating this type of food all the time is making me gain weight! They rarely come to my house because they don't drive after dark. How can I spend time with them but avoid their unhealthy food? I have very little will power to stay away from these foods. Is there anything I could say (politely) to get them to eat healthier? I've tried bringing nice salads (leaf lettuce, tomatoes, carrots) or fixing healthy sides (steamed broccoli) but no one touches it. I've tried eating a sensible meal before, but I still eat when we get there. Should I just pack my own dinner?
my nutritionist tells me when this happens to only have one serving,that means after your done eating dont get more,or do the healthier way,bring your own food.
every fourth day you can have what you crave.
just portion size your foods,im maintaining my weight just like you.
Eat a lot of lo cal foods before you go. when you get there, you will already be full and you can drink a cup of coffee while they eat.
Talk to his mom and tell her that you love her food, it is so tasty and delicious that you have to be really careful not to eat too much of it because you gain weight so easily. Eat a little of the food, taking very small portions and trying to focus on the less caloric and fatty foods. Sometimes say that you don't feel hungry today, and so on. I know it is not easy, and it is important to protect their feelings.
See if you can adapt some of the recipes to make them in a more healthy way - this is often possible. Any changes will have to be gradual as people do not change eating habits of a lifetime overnight. Also talk to your husband about it and see if there is some way to get them to come eat with you sometimes - but I expect you will have to feed them more than salads and steamed veggies. People who are accustomed to heavier foods don't find such foods very appealing at first. So try doctoring them a little to make them more appealing to your inlaws. I hope it all works out.