Household with different dietary needs

[JuliaB]

I can't be the only one with this problem, but I'm having trouble finding much information about it.

I have a pretty sedentary lifestyle, unless I put conscious effort into getting exercise. My boyfriend, with whom I live, is an arborist (he takes care of trees), which means he's very physically active during the day. Many days he is using ropes and harnesses to climb way up into trees with a chainsaw or other tools.

Since living with him, I keep putting on weight, and he has trouble keeping it on. I do most of the cooking, but I have to cook very differently than I previously did when I was on my own. He needs probably twice the calories I do daily (at least), as well as plenty of protein and, yes, fat. He eats like a horse and has not an extra ounce on him. The problem is that this is that when I cook for his needs, it's not good for me, and when I cook for my needs, it's not enough for him.

I've read that people tend to continue eating longer when they are with someone who is still eating, which may explain why the "portion control" thing has been so hard for me.

I could really use some help here. Any ideas? I cook from scratch, but I'm not a natural at it and mostly use recipes. Otherwise, I'm a pretty flexible eater.

 Thanks for your tips!

[steff]

Yup, been there.  First, congrats on your scratch cooking!!!  Secondly, get a smaller plate to eat from.  That way you can pace yourself and not try to keep up!  Third, you can eat fat, leave off most of the carbs.  You eat the veggies and the meat and he can eat the carbs.

[JuliaB]

I think I should give the smaller plate tip a try! That way, even if I go back for seconds, it won't be the end of the world. 😛 I've tried doing that with the he-gets-the-carbs-not-me thing, but then he gets jealous of what I'm eating (even if he has just as much meat/veggies as I do) and makes a fuss (rolling eyes here). The smaller plate might actually solve that, too. Hmm...

Thanks, Steff!

[maryc]

As a personal chef that cooks for clients with different requirements here is a suggestion.  Make 3 servings of meals,  1 for you 2 for him.  On every meal plan should be heavy on the plants and veggies and salads.  Try to eat about 50% of your veggies raw.  All of this takes longer to eat( your time factor) contains alot of water

 to hydrate you and is a good idea in gerneral.  Always have on hand fresh salad ingredient things-cut cleaned ready to grab veggies and hummus ,  lots of colors, and try 1new thing each week.  For my family and my clients i soak and clean and spin all my salad ingredients 1x  a week and then i have it ready whenever i need it.  if you need more ideas feel free to ask.  maryc

[steff]

Your welcome.  I used to have the salad plate from Corning Ware.  I think it was an 8" plate.  That worked really well. 

[Natalie]

In my house there is my husband, 3 kids (ranging from 8 - 19years) and myself.  Each of us has our own dietry requirements, both with food allergies and needs for our varying lifestyles.

I have found the best solution is when I make a meal up, I serve in the kitchen buffet style and allow everyone to serve themselves.  Since we eat in the dining room, and food is served up in the kitchen the tempation to go back for seconds or top my plate up isn't there as I am not looking at it.

This helps with portion control for everyone