Convenience food

[judecorp]

Someone (nikki_herself?) once posted that someone insinuated to her that it should be a lot easier for her to eat well since she is now a stay-home parent. I guess the thought process was something like: no cookies/cake/goodies around the office, no candy jar, no "working lunch" at a less than health restaurant, no tempting fast food, etc. The rationale was, "You can fill your house with healthy food and then just eat that! No problem!"

I can't speak for anyone else, but I have eaten nothing but CRAP since I have been home. And it's not even like my house is full of crap, but it has been, by necessity, overstocked with convenience foods like macaroni and cheese or instant oatmeal or frozen lunches. Processed crap. Never mind the fact that it is so tempting to go through fast-food drive-throughs while your child naps in the car seat behind you rather than considering lugging her out to get something proper... or trying to eat when you get home and she inevitably wakes up.

But even when I'm NOT eating processed junk, it's still junk. Let's take now. What am I eating? Potatoes. I'm not kidding, I'm eating potatoes. Leftover potatoes from dinner the other night. There was a tupperware container in the fridge and I opened it and there they were. Potatoes. So I heated them up, and here I am. Eating potatoes. With a slice of cheese on top. (A guy's gotta have some protein, you know? *g*)

Comments

[lunamoonwmn01.livejournal.com]

God, I so hear you on this. I'm in a pretty structured 12-step program for food, and had been for 3 years before Edie was born. I follow a fairly strict food plan in that I don't eat any sugar and have to eat certain things like 4 oz protein, 6 oz starch, fat, fruit, 8 oz veggies, etc. for lunch and dinner for example. Like, I *have* to. It is so fucking hard now - sometimes all I did when she was tiny was feed her, then feed me, then repeat. But I'm glad for it because it has kept me feeling good and I have like 3 lbs. left to lose to be at my pre-preg. weight. And I don't say that in a "I rock" way. I have to do this program because I have an eating disorder. If I didn't have to be so stringent, I wouldn't be at this place. So I have no idea how other moms do it.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was wondering how you were able to keep to your food plan while chasing after a little, active baby. I know that Edie needs a lot of hands-on just like August does, and there are some days where she doesn't nap, or naps so briefly that by the time I say "Oh, I'll just fold this load of laundry," or "Oh, I'll just wash these dishes first," I have lost my window to actually make something good to eat, so I sit on the floor with her and scarf a granola bar or something.

I actually just bought a bunch of protein powder so that if I end up missing a meal, at the very least I can make myself a little shake and not be totally devoid of substance.

I'm so glad it has been going well for you and that you are close to your pre-preg weight. My pre-preg weight is a distant memory right now but I am confident that when I am out of the house and moving more, it will get better. I hope.

[lunamoonwmn01.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the advantage I have is that Edie has always been a good napper, even as a newborn. But it still is so hard. And it means that after taking care of her food has to be my #1 priority.

Not that you asked for assvice, but I would say try to focus on just making sure you eat. Before you get online, get dressed, shower, etc. It can make such a difference in your day. Plus, if you get over-hungry you obviously are so much more likely to eat crap or overeat. The other thing that helps is to buy healthy stuff that you like and don't worry so much about variety. If you eat a turkey and cheese sandwich plus an apple and some carrot sticks every day for lunch (for example) it's easy, fast, and simple. Or get pre-washed greens and dressing you like, and then a couple of times a week cut up veggies and buy things like cherry tomatoes and add some protein and there you go.