Oonagh

I think most of us probably came to a low carb lifestyle, and LCE, because we wanted to lose weight. I've come across a few fortunate souls that discovered LCE at the beginning of our weight journy, but I suspect that most of us have tried and failed at many diets before discovering this way of life. As I read posts and talk to people in the non-virtual world, I keep hearing about how hard it is to low carb when spouses and children are constantly consuming carbs, junk food, and sugar, sugar, sugar. I don't want to sound self righteous, because I have to struggle daily with the carb and sugar issue myself.

I would say that almost everyone who has adopted a low carb way of eating feels better mentally and physically, whether or not they have lost weight.

So, why do we continue to feed our families junk that we wouldn't eat ourselves?
Free will, for one thing! As Kat said in her recent blog, you can talk yourself blue in the face and people won't change until they feel a need. Been there and done that myself. I will be fighting that sugar battle for the rest of my life, I suspect.
BTW== I don't mean to be sexist, Men are wonderful cooks, and the men in my family were the main cooks... if I seem to be talking to women it is because most research I see shows that women, working or not, are still mostly responsible for cooking, shopping, menu planning, and food choices.

Husbands, wives, siblings, parents--- all have their own battles to fight, and we can do best for them by modeling good choices and showing how much healthier and happier we are. However, the person who does the shopping and cooking makes a huge difference in what is eaten in the household.

Years ago, before I restarted low carbing I realized that if I asked my husband if he wanted vegetables or just meat and pasta, or meat and potatoes, he would choose meat. If I just cooked the veggies and put it on his plate he ate them without complaint.

We usually shop together, but if I don't put any junk food in the cart, he seldome does either.

My son was astonished when he went to school and saw what people put in their kids lunchboxes or what was served in the cafeteria. He had never been around junk food and was used to eating his vegetables. He was a total rice and pasta junkie though, because when my husband stayed home with him that is what they liked for breakfast and lunch! But, Daddy was really conscentious about also adding fruits or veggies, even if canned or in those little baby food packets.

My son and dh are both naturally thin, they have to struggle to keep calories on, not off (at least till age 45 lol). but they have gradually started eating low carb with me. My son still loves spaghetti, but he doesn't complain if I serve his favorite sauces over veggies sometimes. The thing is, if I give him a choice, he is like his dad-- he will prefer the high carbs. It might be a bit sneaky, but I just don't offer choices most nights of the week and they eat it and feel better.

If you live with a junk food junkie, try not buying it for them. Provide alternatives: cheese, fruits, veggies, cooked chicken or steak bits, my son loves multi grain fiber crackers ( about 7 carbs- WASA brand) with feta and tomatoes for his after school snack.
Any teenagers or men I know would eat healthy stuff rather than actually drive to the store themselves and buy junk food!