Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

[Mandilyn]

Hi All,

I am re-starting atkins, and a major reason has been my son. It isn't even so much the fact that it is easier to play with him, but the fact that I have seen so many of my sugar and carb traits starting to wear off on him. Wondered if any of you have younger children, and in doing this have noticed a change in your childrens eating habits as well. The first time I went on atkins, my husand was home and I would cook separate meals for them, but now husband is away a lot with work, and he eats what I do. I know I control what he eats, but has anyone noticed their childrens cravings change along with yours.

[meaty]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

I cook different meals for my kids. Sometimes I think that I should give them what I eat, but I dont want them to lose any weight. My oldest is 15 and she needs to lose weight. She won't follow this woe with me. She is 200lbs and 5'4

[Outback Jess]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

I have a 16 yr old daughter who has done Atkins with me for a year. She has completely changed in what she eats...she has lost 30 lbs and exercises 5 days a week, and drinks a lot of water...she has her ups and downs...but she is thriving....She's not had sugar or pizza for a whole year!

[kellyf48]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

Everyone eats what i eat. my kids do not have weight issues and i want to keep it at that. If i have steak and salad so do they. I also buy some stuff i dont eat that is healthy for them to eat, like fruit and granola bars and cereal, but i dont cook seperately.

[Brook]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

I'm like Kelly. I don't cook separate meals for the troops, but I might cook a separate side dish for them that I don't eat. I also keep healthy snacks around the house for them.

My kids' tastes have changed dramatically over the 5 years I've low-carbed. You'll see those changes too if you keep the junk out of the house

[kellyf48]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

Hey Brook I just checked out your melting page....so awesome. I am truely inspired now.

[MojosRising]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

same here, I cook seperate side dishes for the fam (when I cook )

but I do notice when i'm eating unhealthy my dd gets a lot more sugar. I try to limit it for her so she doesn't wind up in the same boat I am in. I'm still hoping she'll get her daddys metabolism... but its not looking that way. She's practically the splittin image of me... shes probably gonna have to watch her weight and junky carbs too. But hopefully I can help teach her

I worry about this a lot as both my parents were overweight and my whole family has struggled with weight issues. I don't want to pass this down to her either

[Lynsey]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

Same with the others. I have 5 kids ages 5-21 (two are adults, but both are either still at home or back home). For the most part we all eat the same main meal, but they have an added side like potatoes or rice. They snack on the same things I do, cheese, raw veggies and dip. On the rare occasion that they want something totally carb laden, like spaghetti or hamburger helper, I use those nights as my treat myself night and have a meal I can't afford to feed 7 like crab legs and butter. I'm lucky enough that some of my kids are big enough to fend for themselves, so I don't end up cooking two seperate meals, I let them cook theirs and I cook mine when we do split up. My 5 year old dd (only girl) I have to watch the most, she would eat exactly like mommy if I let her and probably keep her carbs under 20, but I make sure she has things like fruit, Cheerios, she gets plenty of dairy, and whole wheat bread to make sandwiches. Last night she wanted a snack and got herself a bowl of cold left over cooked broccolli.

[meena-beena]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

I have 4 kids and all of them have unique issues when it comes to food.

My eldest (9) has no apparent issues. He is healthy and at a "normal"--man how I hate that term--weight for his age. He can eat basically anything I put in front of him and has no desire to push past his limits.

My middle son (7) has a wheat intolerance. This means he can't process anything made with gluten (white flour). This means he has to have a special diet---special bread, pasta, cereal, etc.

My daughter (4) has my addiction issues when it comes to sugar and flour products. She can't control her cravings and spends a lot of time begging for snacks. She is overweight for her age and weighs as much as my 7 year old. Try as I might, she is still too young to understand that she has inherited my own issues so I try to keep things under control as far as her eating by not bringing anything into the house that she can't say no to. i.e., cakes, cookies, candy, etc.

Then there is the baby who I have no idea yet what her food issues will be.


The whole key here is geting around exposing your children to anything that might make them feel different or badly about their self image. I struggle everyday not to let my kids here any negative talk about myself. i.e., I feel fat, I look like a cow, These clothes make me look terrible, etc.

I always try to cook one meal and we sit and eat together. My non-gluten kids eat the gluten free stuff and they can't tell the difference. They know I do low carb and soetimes there is a lot of talk about why I can't have the pasta/bread/etc.

I'm always careful to not say "diet"--another term I hate--and explain instead that I have an allergy to those foods. It's easier for them to understand.

[BabyGotBack]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

My kids are 4 and 5...I do end up cooking them separate meals a lot. Partly b/c I like everything with garlic and spicy, and they don't. But they are trying a lot more veggies and fruits than they ever have and I'm also keeping less high carb packaged snacks in the cupboards.

[meena-beena]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

Veggies are a challenge in my house. Basically they will eat most veggies if they are raw. Once I cook them though, they become taboo.

The only veggie they'll eat cooked is potatos and they'll eat those anyway I make them--fried, mashed or baked.

[Mandilyn]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

Thank you all so much for your replies. And Brook, Your melting page is amazing, what an inspirtation.

[kellyf48]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

That reminds me i have a friend w/ 3 kids and she does ww and she doesnt like to cook so the kids eat only hamburger helper ,burgers and fries and noodles .She eats veggies and healthy stuff, i don;t think any of her kids have ever had a vegetable!

[Laceylyn1031]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

I have found my kids ( two 7 year olds and 4 ) eat much healthier. I dont cook seperate meals but I do give them a side dish thats different. Also with snack they have fruit or pretzels. Its so funny how we rub off on our kids. My children ( without me preaching to them at all ) have almost entirely given up juice, they always want water...My two 7 year olds were lecturing my fiance the other day because he was drinking soda and he " should be drinking water because its hot out and soda wont help you sweat! " They're so funny, its amazing what they observe when you dont think they're listening.

[hrgillespie]

Re: Re-starting, wondered about lifestyle changes with children

Interesting Post ........... I had to think about it a little. And this will probably show some ignorance from me so please feel free to enlighten me with your knowledge

I have always thought or read somewhere that Carbs are essential for brain developement????? So I have always kept that in the back of my mind when feeding my children. I have seven children 5 girls and two boys and none of them have any weight issues. (ages 22-2) What I do is cook my meat and veggies, make a salad and then do something like a pasta dish or potaotes for them. I always keep bread and granola bars ect in the house. We are a sugar free family as far as beverages, snacks ect goes I try and make sure I get low sugar or sugar free stuff. Fruit is always available. Hubby is my biggest adversary nutrition wise in my house he is a junk food junkie and eats tons of it with little to no effect on his weight! ( yes I want to smack him!)

I guess I am like most who posted they make side dishes for the family. But I also buy ice cream/ pops/ fruit snacks ect for them ........



Heidi