lap band mom with children

I am a single mother to three young children. I am finding it difficult when it comes to making and preparing their meals. I try to keep it where I don't have to make a separate meal for myself but I find that I am doing that because the kids don't need to be on a restrictive meal plan. I am also having a hard time with the snacks in the house because the children take snacks to school and I am trying really hard not to give in to the temptation.  I do keep lots of fruit and veggies for them but hey, they are kids and they love their cookies and ice cream too.  Any suggestions.  My kids are no where near overweigt (one of them is too thin if you ask me, thanks to her skinny dads genetics)   Thanks

I only have one child an almost 3 year old girl but my hubby works nights so I have to feed her and me I usually cook some kind of Protein and then do a side for her of like Mac and Cheese or Rice whatever just have to control myself and not hit her stuff. As far as snacks her favorite treat is 100 calorie snacks strangely enough and so I allow those in the house. It is hard though because of all the cereal and things like that. Just got to have stuff you like and try to keep away from the junk.

After reading and talking to my nutritionist I am realizing more and more how unhealthy some of those so called healthy or low calorie foods are.  They are so full of chemicals to make them taste good and stay low calorie...they are no longer good for you. 

Cookies and cakes are ok once in awhile....even better if they are homemade.  We make the mistake of thinking just because people are skinny it's ok for them to eat more junk.  They still should only eat cookies and cakes once in awhile.  For a snack try apples and peanut butter.  Strawberries and dark chocolate is another great option.  During the summer I love melons.  Try cheese and crackers.  There are soooo many HEALTHY snack options that are not over processed, low calorie snack foods. 

If you have an iphone try the app FOODUCATE...it's an awesome app that you can scan the food items and it grades how healthy the food is (A-F) and then will tell you why they gave it the grade  and if they gave it a bad grade they will suggest healthier options...try it!!!!

As far as dinners go...everyone eats what I eat.  I made chicken and potatoes the other night...I just ate the chicken and added some salasa.  If I make cheeseburgers...I  eat the a turkey burger without a bun and cottage cheese.  I eat basically the same thing everyone else does...just a little different. 

As far as meals, I agree with what's already been said. Make a lean meat and non starchy veggie for everyone and a starch for the rest of your family. I also agree that kids, even if they don't have a weight problem, shouldn't be eating a lot of junk. When I was a foster parent, I told her no junk from the grocery store. We stopped at the convenience store in my development once in a while and I let her pick something out. She brought it home and ate it- done and done.

Another thought is to buy things they like, but you can pretty easily resist. Also, keeping the stuff in a seperate cabinent may help too. Good luck! You can do it!

If you create your meals and snacks like the others have said, and your fill is at the correct level, my doc's office believes you won't be so tempted.  I am trying this myself.  Here's hoping it works for all of us.  My issue is night eating.  It seems to be the monkey-on-my-back. 

My kids are older. Had I started eating healthier when my kids were younger, they would have picked up better eating habits from me.

Kids still should have cookies and ice cream, but it should be limited. Have lots of healthy snacks for them:

cheese sticks
yogurt
pumpkin seeds
sunflower seeds
almonds
nsa applesauce
sf pudding

I would try slowly phasing out some of the unhealthier foods and adding more healthy snacks. Eventually get to a point where maybe have it during the wk. they have the healthier snacks and on the w/e you could take them out for ice cream. Then you are not tempted by it in the house.

Good luck!

Thank u all for the advice. You are right healthy eating habits should start now. I am slowly weaning out the junk. And if they want cookies and cake we will make it together

I was a single mom of 3 young children (ages 4, 4, and 1) when I had lapband surgery in 2001.  I never had an issue determining what to feed my kids as they ate whatever I ate which was always protein, veggies and a healthy carb.  There was no need to tailor meals just because I was restricted on the amount I could eat. 

Snacks consisted of fruits, yogurts, pudding, applesauce and little snack size candies (like m&m's, reese's peanut butter cup...snack size cups of ice cream).  Of course, they're kids and they're going to taste cookies and candies, but it's crucial to set the eating pattern at home.  

Find the right healthy meal balance for you and then introduce it to your kids...in reality, they should be eating healthy just like you even if they're skinny right now, that can all change if you don't.

Regarding temptation, allow yourself to have one of the kids' snacks when the urge hits because doing so will actually help you not want to binge on it later...at least for me that worked well.

Good luck...