Cooking for different caloric needs

I was taught to eat everything on my plate also. When I moved out on my own I stopped this and cook the correct amount for myself.

Pounds lost: 45.0

0 14 28 42

56

My problem is portion control. Grew up with a mother that made me eat everything in my plate. To this day, I do not have that mechanism in my brain that tells me "I am full", so I have to control myself what I eat and there are times when it is difficult, especially if it is something I like.

Total SparkPoints: 141,626

	100,000 112,499 124,999 137,499	149,999
SparkPoints Level 20

Portion control is the easiest solution. I know that some people also have the problem of finicky eaters and that can cause a different problem. There are some things my husband just doesn't like so I seldom cook those items or save them for a potluck dinner at church, etc. The things he likes that I really don't I just get a very small portion.

current weight: 165.0

178 166 154 142

130

Welcome to the team. I would just give me my portion and just give your husband a larger portion. I know a husband and wife that has the same problem as you, and they just make the adjustment in the portion control, and it works for them. You can do it.

Total SparkPoints: 141,626

	100,000 112,499 124,999 137,499	149,999
SparkPoints Level 20

Thanks for the advice and suggestions. I'm sure we'll find something that works for us.

I only cook one meal and add more food to my husbands plate. Will bake a little larger sweet or russet potato. That sort of thing. He does eat healthy snacks during the day too.

Pounds lost: 0.0

0 10.3 20.6 30.9

41.2

i made seperate food for myself. then i eat with him. it's more work, but were both happy.

Snacks in a healthy balanced diet does not mean chips or lots of cookies or cakes etc..

He could eat diabetic friendly snacks, such as an apple and an ounce of cheese, or an ounce of nuts, or maybe a half of a ham sandwhich (or a whole one if his caloric requirements allow. There are some great articles here on spark that address this..... Remember that smart snacking is a good way to prevent over-hunger and keep the body metabolism up.

The other option would be, as someone else mentioned, increasing his portion sizes. Instead of 3 ounces of meat, he could have 4 ounces, instead of 1/4 cup mashed potatoes, he could have 1/2 cup, instead of a small salad, he could have a large one, and maybe an extra serving of the veggies. Just keep the ratio percentage the same and you will both do fine....

Good luck....

It probably is that simple! I'm probably making this more complicated than it needs to be. I know we would both really benefit from following a set meal plan, and I'm just worried about us not adjusting his properly, like he ends up eating more snacks than balanced meals.

If it were me, I would adjust portions size or eat any extra snack for the one on of you that need the extra calories, perhaps I am over simplifying this. Or I don't understand. Sorry if I didn't help.

Hi! I'm new to this group and I looked for an answer to this, but didn't see one.

I own two cookbooks that help with meal plans and recipes for meals for eating about 1500 calories a day. This is great for me, because that's how many calories I need to maintain my weight. However, my partner's caloric needs are higher, around 2000. We both want to eat from these cookbooks and we always eat dinner together, so that meal needs to be the same for both of us. How would you recommend modifying the meal plans in these cookbooks so that he gets the calories he needs?

ETA: One cookbook is the SparkPeople Cookbook, and the other is Doctor's Detox Diet, which is very similar (and, don't worry, not related to traditional detox diets at all).

Edited by: CHLOEAGH at: 11/16/2012 (22:32)