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Junk Food in the Family?

Dear Heather:

Do you have any tips for families who are trying to eat healthier? My family has a really hard time eating healthy foods because I have growing teenage boys who insist I buy chips, cookies, and ice cream when I go shopping. The problem is that my husband and I find ourselves snacking on junk food because it’s in the house. I told my sons that I’m not going to keep that stuff in the house anymore – but part of me feels guilty depriving them just because my husband and I can’t control ourselves. Any advice?

Thank you,

Rebecca V., California

Dear Rebecca,

This is a common complaint I hear from my clients.

Most of the moms and dads I counsel say they have a hard time passing the bag of chips or jar of cookies on the counter without sampling a taste. I don’t care how much willpower you have, it’s nearly impossible to avoid eating junk food if it’s in the house.

What I recommend is keeping healthier snacks and drinks in the house which will benefit the entire family. I know that your sons are growing boys who require a lot of calories, but that doesn’t mean they have to fill their bodies with high-fat, high-sugar snacks. Stock the cabinet with tasty, healthy choices and you’ll feel better about what you’re feeding the family.

Here are just a few ideas -

*Granola Bars
*Nuts & Raisins
*Graham Crackers
*Peanut Butter and Whole Grain Crackers
*Light Ice Cream
*Low Fat Yogurt
*Popcorn
*Flavored Seltzer
*Whole Grain Cereal
*Baked Potato Chips w/ Salsa

Change doesn’t happen overnight, so introduce some of these new “healthy” snacks in stages. Slowly introducing healthier snacks can help you phase out the junk food without causing a revolt! You’ll be surprised to see that your sons might not miss the chips and cookies as much as you thought, but be patient. I hope this helps. Good Luck!

Sincerely,

Heather Campanile, RD

November 2, 2005 in Weight Loss Q&A | Permalink