SLIMMING WORLD: Settling down and starting a family changes your life in many ways, most of which you’re thrilled about. But gaining weight is one potential side-effect that’s definitely not welcome.
Some slimmers date their struggle with weight to the start of a serious relationship. Others find that pregnancy, and the demands of a young family are the cue for the pounds to pile on. Older children can thwart your healthy-eating intentions in dozens of ways too, like wanting a permanent stock of sweets and biscuits, refusing to eat anything but chips and pizza, or leaving half their meals so that you feel obliged to ‘tidy them up’!
Given all these potential obstacles, is it really possible to reach your slim goal and cater for a family at the same time?
Absolutely, say slimmers who have done just that. The key is to make sure that your slimming campaign works with family life, not against it – and that’s where the unique family-friendly qualities of Food Optimising come in.
The good news is that Food Optimising is healthy for you and the family; meals are based on rice, potatoes, pasta, lean meat, fish, with plenty of fruit and veg, all of which are important to everyone’s health.
It’s fine for children aged five and over to eat the same healthy meals as you do. Younger children, especially under-twos, should not have reduced-fat dairy foods: give them full-fat yogurts, spreads, milk and fromage frais. As children’s stomachs are quite small, too much high-fibre food may fill them up without providing them with all the nutrients they need, so don’t give them high-bran cereals, crispbreads and so on.
As with adults, depriving children of their favourite treats like sweets and crisps can be counter-productive. But do try to avoid giving them sugary, salty or fatty snacks every day and always have lots of healthy alternatives on offer.
Every week in groups across the county we help our members and their families Food Optimise their way to a happier, healthier future if you’d like to get more details on our groups check out our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/slimmingworldindonegal/ for details of your nearest groups