Right now there are two special diets to be satisfied in our family – well, three if you count the picky husband diet. I have gestational diabetes and on top of trying to eat a healthy diet, have had to cut way back on carbs. My daughter on the other hand has cystic fibrosis and has to eat a high calorie, high fat diet. So how do I please everyone’s tastes while sticking to everyone’s diet? It isn’t easy, especially with all of this Halloween candy lying around. However, here are some ideas for you if you are in a similar boat.
Make more than one entree. One of my family’s favorite foods is meatloaf. Before Maggie came along, I always used ground turkey to reduce the red meat and fat in our diets. However, since Maggie’s diagnosis, I have used organic ground beef. The problem is that we eat it a lot. So, my new game is to make two meatloaves. I make one turkey for us and one beef for Maggie. I freeze the rest of the beef one and use it throughout the week for lunch and a quick dinner for her.
I have to plan ahead for meals. Counting carbs has made me a little crazy. I’ve had to measure more and plan better by cooking only exactly what I need. For example, we love pierogies, but they are high in carbs. If there are any left over, I may be tempted to eat an extra one. So, I count out four for my husband, two for Maggie, and two for me. No leftover carbs to torture me.
I’m also starting to make sure I add the butter and extra cheese for Maggie to the meals after I prepare them. So often I would just cook with butter and toss in more cheese. But then we all end up with the extra fat that only she needs. So I cook with olive oil, which is great for all of us, and when the meal is ready, I add that extra butter and / or cheese to her portion only. Not only does it cut back on my fat intake, but it saves food and therefore money as well.
I eat my snack before she wakes up from her nap now. I use to wait for Maggie to wake up from her nap and we would snack together. But it’s too tempting to take little bits of her snack that she isn’t finishing. So, I eat my low carb snack and relax for a few minutes while she snoozes. Then, when she wakes up, I’m not so hungry and can keep my hands off of her leftovers.
It isn’t easy to avoid unhealthy foods, especially if they are your favorites. But to have to cook for different specialty diets can add stress to your life that, at least in my case, only makes you want to eat more unhealthy food. So, plan ahead, prepare food for the week and move forward with confidence and will power.