How to Balance Cooking for Family and FAA diet?

[AmandaJ]

Hello Everyone,

I have a husband with a sweet tooth and two kids that want to eat what other kids eat at school. I have done well so far, but some days are much harder than others. I am having a hard time fixing them things like sandwiches and not be able to have one. I thought that I would be strong enough to bake without having a problem. NOPE!! I can do it as long as I get it out of my site immeditaly, but sometimes that can not happen. I was wondering if anyone has any advice or ideas on how to balance my family's diet along with my own?

Thanks,

Amanda

[Jackie]

Welcome to FAA.

Many have shared at meetings that they cook a protein that the whole family can eat and fix their vegetables and enough to share with their family and then fix their family a side dish that they like (mac & cheese). And those who have children say they offer a choice on snacks - the ones that are "clean" like apples or other fruit or baby carrots and their usual snacks and they say that they take the clean snacks about half the time. Others share that their family has a special "snack drawer" and those with that sweet tooth can help stock it so that you won't need to look at it. And some people say that they have asked their family to eat those "other foods" at lunch time and to not indulge at home. And you can also ask this question at the phone meetings during the last 5 minutes of the meeting - food addicts love to share what works for them.

[TYGtoday]

Hi Amanda,
I can relate to what you're saying. I don't know if this is true for sure, but someone who's knowledge in this field that I admire and trust otherwise, has said that when we bake that molecules of the sugar are floating around and get into our bodies that way, setting up the cravings.

When I first came onto the food plan, my husband was eating all kinds of junky foods. I had my own shelves for my food and I read labels of everything that went onto those shelves. He had his own shelves, and they were not at eye level when I opened the cabinet doors.

In addition, I was fortunate to have taken a very good First Step... I knew I was powerless over s/f/w and that my life had become unmanageable. I had reached bottom with this disease and was so grateful and relieved to have found that there was a solution to all the insanity... that solution was right here in FAA, which I had never heard of before. So I was more grateful than I can say to have found this and was ready for it when I got here (mostly... it did take a couple of months to go from 99% clean abstinence to 100%). Mostly, I don't want other people's food, and when I do see something and get one of those "food thoughts", I just say to myself, "Well, I used to do that... and now I don't". When I want to eat extra, I ask God to please remove the desire from me, and it is always removed, always.

The longer you follow the food plan, the easier it gets. When times are rough, have your phone numbers handy, or email addresses of new FAA friends, so that you can reach out. We never have to be alone again, Amanda! Back-up plans for when you can't reach anyone are reading some of the literature... that helps me a lot. And then there's always writing. I write Dear God letters. And of course, don't forget meetings. Hopefully you're going to plenty of meetings...they are a life-line in early recovery.

God bless you, Amanda. You can do this~ you are doing this! :!:

TYG

[here42da]

Hello Amanda,
Thanks for sharing your dilemma with the food and your family. I have found that in my situation where my husband is away for several weeks at a time, and it is only myself and my handicapped daughter, things go easier with the planning of meals.
As I have progressed in program, I began to give her the same food that I was eating. It was so much easier, then making two seperate meals. And we are both reaping the benefit of this wonderful way of eating. I hate to think of how I did in the past. It was certainly not a nutritions way of eating.
If we are out, or at a restaurant, or going to one my husband is very supportive in making sure I will be able to get what I need. For me it is also good to have things available with me so that I can make the adjustment necessary if the food provided doesn't work for me.
When my husband does come home, quite often, he will fix things that he can eat, however, I also go through the house to rid it of the things that might call out my name. I wash any leftover ice cream down the drain, or send it home with a relative, and send all cheeses and other foods back out with him when he returns to his job of truck driving out on the road.
You didn't mention how old your children were, but was wondering if they are old enough, that they would be able to fix their own things like sandwiches. You could make it into a fun thing. I also have a grand-daughter that is learning to eat very healthy and when she has the healthy snacks at school, other kids actually want what she has. How great is that?
For today I take it one step at a time, and one day at a time, and try to keep it simple.