To wonder what posh Mums cook for dinner…

[Primrosecottagelover]

I have just seen Pippa Middleton’s bikini photos on the DM. Three different bikinis so far, washboard abs & nothing jiggles as she chases three kids. She could easily pass as a fibreglass mannequin. I’m wondering why it is that the Middleton women and affluent women (even middle class at my child’s school), always seem to be so impossibly slim. I struggle with my weight and I would love to see the groceries, fridge contents, packed lunchboxes and dinner plans of the other half. Obviously I know what healthy eating and cooking is but, the bodies of Mothers these days is next level. Why am I struggling to keep my tummy from flopping out while women in their 40’s pull off wearing linen mini shorts (not in UK) and high waisted jeans.

I honestly don't understand how people can look at those pictures of Pippa and think she is potentially suffering from an ED or that she's super skinny. She looks fabulous - but not at all too thin. She's toned, strong etc.

In her case (and her sister's) I'd say it's a combination of great genetics, a naturally active and sporty lifestyle (which I think plays out not just in terms of doing lots of exercise but also just in generally being more willing to MOVE - to walk places, to run around etc etc) and then healthy eating in the form of unprocessed food, cooked simply and well, and in the right proportions.

For example, we eat unprocessed food cooked well, but truthfully, it's often easier for me to whip up a quick vat of pasta because DH and DS are starving, it's relatively quick, and it's relatively cheap. If I had more time and more money, we'd be far more likely to eat things like grilled fish and meat with lots of vegetables and a few potatoes on the side (a lot of potatoes for DH and DS). But the tomato/chorizo/aubergine pasta we had last night probably cost about £4 in total. Steak, veg and new potatoes for us would cost at least £20....(and that's buying from the supermarket - double that if you're buying organic, from the farm etc etc) so even when we do steak, it's likely to be in smaller portions, bulked up with other things.

She can't help her body type.
Small hips and no waist. Catherine is the same.

She's recently done a Masters in sport science so she will be very focused on keeping fit. And it's not beyond our imagination that there may be another book (like her old ones!) or some commercial project so she has to look the part.

@Letsgotitans I never said that there was any issue with her figure type or what she looked like, I said she looked great. I did express surprise that so many seemed to want to look like that. Most women in the UK do not have that straight up and down shape and so its pretty pointless for them to aspire to that.

I do wonder why people want to look like pippa middleton - she looks like a boobless, bumless little weight lifting man. Yes, nothing jiggles but the woman doesn’t objectively look good…

These threads usually go the same way

The mums that are slim and muscular will come along and state what they eat, what their lifestyle is like and other reasons they stay slim i.e. they don't see food as anything other than a necessity or they eat small portions etc

Then others come along and declare it can't be done unless you work out 2 hrs a day, mega money as to not work and possibly have an eating disorder, or that yes we know back in beyond people were slim but life isn't like that anymore

If you look at most of the answers, it's a way of life with eating, being active, participating in sports and gym PT.

In many households, the kids will eat earlier (sometimes cooked by the nanny) and then parents eat much later and really low carb.

I'm like @Nots456 and so are many of my friends.

Breakfast is plain Greek yoghurt- full fat- with fruit.
Or poached eggs on toast
Or porridge - with fruit and mixed seeds.

Lunch is light- a salad with cheese or eggs or tinned salmon, homemade soup, cheese and fruit.

Dinner is always from scratch - lots of fish (baked), chicken (roast), stir fry, home made shepherds pie, casseroles, risotto, loads of vegetables with the above (at least 3 per meal), and desert of yoghurt and fruit. Occasionally a home made crumble or choc brownies as a treat.

We don't buy cake, biscuits, crisps, sweets, and I'm allergic to booze so that's off my list.

I'm the same weight I was in my 20s, 35 years on.

and then goes on to describe a restrictive diet.

not eating ultra processed food is not a restrictive diet, thats taking it a tad to far....

I misread that as 'farting constantly' ... must be all those green juices.

I live in a very deprived area and most of the mums who do happen to have bodies like the Middletons, are into sport.

I don't think I know any sporty women who are fat, regardless of their income/diet.

Really no need for this. Women come in different shapes and sizes, including athletic/lower body fat.

I know people often don't believe it, but some people are naturally slim. I am. I eat what I want, love chocolate and cake, drink moderately, eat burgers etc of I want to.

I'm also very active, don't have a car do walk/cycle, and I don't enjoy feeling over full, so I never over eat.

Some people just find it easy to balance their food intake and daily activity levels. I believe it's mostly genetic. Although avoiding processed goods makes it easier to stay in balance.

@Rivendeluge I get a rush from exercise too! People just get joy from different things, and that’s cool.

That's a really helpful post! Thank you for sharing. I love starting my day with organic porridge oats made with water, topped with fruit, seeds and nuts. I make all my own sourdough bread and scratch make my meals.

My downfall is my sweet tooth though and its something I'm working on. I go to the gym 4 tines a week doing yoga and cardio (new thing)

I'm a size 12. I couldn't be a size 6 because of my frame. Size 10 is optimal for me.

Thank you for sharing, I'm striving to use the car less and cycle more but I'm frightened of motorists who don't seem to like bikes on the roads!

I'll try to be braver.

Ah don’t be a dick, just because you don’t personally find her body shape attractive doesn’t mean you have to insult her, that’s really childish.

This is pretty much my diet, which I don't consider to be restrictive, but it also isn't a diet that will keep you at a size 6/8. I've been that size before and did it by smoking a lot, skipping breakfast, and only eating a sandwich for lunch and soup for dinner with no snacks apart from apples. Kept it up for a year and then couldn't do it a second longer, although I did love how I looked - just not enough to carry on with the boring, boring diet. Also, I gave up smoking!

I'm a size 10 now, which is normal for me, but PM is probably a good couple of stone lighter.

They have an iron will, which I really do admire. Its easier if you have a chef making your meals, but you still need will power.

I was a 1980s/90s skinny mum. Back then no-one went to the gym but I was always on the go, walked everywhere, ran the house, looked after the DC as well as working. I did decorating and gardening, and went swimming and played ball games with the DC. I have also never had a sweet tooth and don't like the taste of most ultra processed food.

It's not about will power if you enjoy it

PM doesn't look under weight though. She looks slim and healthy. I imagine she also eats around 2000 calories a day whilst leading an active lifestyle.

Posh mums don't cook? They will have a nanny cook for the kids. And likely Pippa will have a private chef or meals delivered with very specific calories, and she doesn't work so she can do lots of exercise. But is she happy? probably not.

I think this is key. I lost all my tummy fat when I cut out UPF and reduced starchy carbs. I eat whatever whole foods I like including plenty of heathy fats and never feel hungry or crave processed carbs.

Plenty of protein and fibre is really beneficial once you hit your 40s combined with some strength training to build muscle. Muscle is very metabolically active and burns a lot of calories to maintain it. The reduction of muscle as people age to a key reason for poor glucose control, insulin resistance and metabolic disease.

This is very similar to my diet though i drink a few glasses of wine a week too and I am a size 6/8. I probably just have slightly smaller portions and I am active.

You don’t have to fast and exercise for hours daily to be slim.

some exercise is obviously helpful and really important in general for good health. But the number one reason why so many people are now overweight is just eating too much and eating the wrong thing. I have always been the same weight. I am not rich and I am also rather time poor. So I don’t have time to do heaps of exercise and no time to spend hours in the kitchen.

The secret is not eating highly processed food.