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’m also baffled by the idea that you somehow have to be wealthy to put together a 500 calorie healthy meal! Lean protein has never been cheaper or more available than it is now.

It’s a mixture of genes, personal trainers, private chefs, and more free time

don’t beat yourself up OP the people that like to say you can have it all don’t mention the second part of the sentence… “if you can pay for it”

Hard hitting campaigns do not work. We know what does. The government will not do it.

We buy good food items(salmon, avocado, nuts, fruit, veg, natural joghurt etc), shop at Lidl, but still spend about 600 pounds a month on food.

No alcohol though.

I think a healthy diet is expensive in the UK

Because it's not just about that.

What's your life like? Are you stressed and overwhelmed? Do you have the headspace to even think about what your eating? Are you miserable and using food to cheer yourself up? Do you even have any food knowledge or cooking skills? What's your social circle like? Are your friends and family slim or are they overweight? If the latter you may not feel much pressure or motivation?

Ok...some people can do it. Some can't. Like loads of things in life.

Once again....it's not a moral failing

A variety of healthy nutritious food is significantly more expensive than a UPF such a white bread, oven chips, chicken nuggets.

How can you pretend it’s not?

If you are money and/or time-poor, the odds are heavily stacked against you being slim.

@Comedycook at various points in my life all those factors have applied to me but none of them have prevented me eating a grilled chicken breast and vegetables for dinner. But I don’t see it as a moral issue, just a health one.

I think it is a lot more expensive to eat healthily. I eat lots of fish, vegetables, salad, nuts, plain yogurt etc and my food shop costs a lot. I usually shop in Lidl, but even then, it's expensive. It would be a fraction of what I spend if I just lived on pasta.

So some things affect you differently to other people.

Imagine

You sound joyless and quite frankly awful. Just because you don't experience endorphins after exercise it doesn't mean your dh is talking bollocks. Do you often put his experiences down?

And for many many people food is extremely enjoyable. Not just the taste but the social side of it and the coming together with loved ones to share something and to talk and catch up. All of that is wonderful.

I mean you wouldn't dare say to someone with anorexia...I've been through similar but at least I managed to eat something would you?

It depends on the foodstuff - you can create hearty nutritious soups from potatoes, root veg, beans - that’s not expensive. And if you’re eating a lot of white bread, chips, chicken nuggets + chocolate you may well be spending more money than someone who’s eating healthier but smaller quantities - particularly if you add alcohol.

It's about time isn't it. I struggle with my weight.

Today I had the ingredients to make a healthy vegetarian meal after work and potentially get to the gym for a swim.

Instead work overran. I got in at 20:30 was totally starving so grabbed something quick and carb laden from the cupboard then chased it down with two chocolate biscuits as I'm tired and pissed off. The gym got binned and I'm about to go to bed as I'm working again tomorrow.

This thread is so depressing.

If you're happy with your shape and enjoy eating chocolate, crisps, and stuff like that everyday, fine. There's no need to play the comparison game by tearing Pippa down and accusing her or undereating, or being miserable.

So anyone who is less than a size 10 has or is bordering on having an eating disorder life for choosing plain yoghurt over chocolate biscuit? I love both by the way, but eat Greek yoghurt most days as it's a good source of protein to fuel or recover from a run or gym session.

Most of my food choices are based around my need to fuel my body as a runner training for a forthcoming event. I eat normally, and love my carbs. Yesterday's dinner was veggie lasagne, salad and garlic bread, and tonight's was Thai tofu and vegetable curry with rice. I am 5' 2" and weigh just under 8 stone, wear a UK size 8 in most shops.

I suspect Pippa will probably also base her diet around her training and general lifestyle. Im sure genetics play a part, but it's also not hard to see that Pippa eating the right things and her training are significant factors to how she looks, rather than undereating. It simply isn't possible to exercise as much as she does on just lettuce leaves.

Same here. Who’s happy all the time or hasn’t been through challenges? But I don’t like feeling overly hungry or overly full and I don’t like shite food. Nothing to do with morality.

Fish and nuts are expensive for sure. But I think it’s possible to eat healthily relatively cheaply but the diet might not appeal.

It’s time, and it’s knowledge. All this talk of making soup, salads, roast chicken, steamed vegetables. I was never shown how to cook roast chicken, make soup, steam stuff. I left home confident about how to cook a pizza or make pasta with a jar of sauce, and I lived on convenience food, because it was easy, and what typical university student spends their time making soup? I then chose to learn how to cook, because it interested me, and I had a job and a lifestyle that afforded me the time to do so. I could
also afford to eat out and try dishes that I then wanted to be able to cook at home. I can completely imagine that if my life was different, I’d had children younger, been working long hours, that I’d have just carried on eating convenience food, because it was easier.

Have you ever watched 600lb life ..ok a very extreme version of what we're discussing. But virtually all those people on it have experienced severe trauma and often abuse. My mum died when I was a teen and I comfort ate for years...maybe another girl would have stopped eating after that trauma? Maybe someone else would turn to drugs or alcohol.

That's my point.... everyone responds differently to things. Ok you are fine and don't let life affect your eating habits...good for you. Is it really so incomprehensible to understand that people all behave differently and for many reasons?

Yes yes apparently it is that hard for some people to understand that not everyone is exactly the same as they are

I wanted to add, there has been quite a lot of people I know who have lost a lot of weight by simply eating the same as they were but half the size… I think they recalled it being uncomfortable for a little while bc they were used to the larger sizes, but your stomach can reduce in size so long as you keep up smaller portions

I think this is a case of willpower more than anything imo

I have no problem understanding that other people react differently to situations.

All this talk of private chefs etc is frankly ludicrous. Rich or poor you can still have major trauma in your life and I’m sorry but I don’t think you have to be wealthy to eat a healthy diet. The proportion of income people in the UK spend on takeaways and meals out is astonishingly high. Chicken and vegetables are not expensive and nor is fruit in season. Likewise frozen food.

I think Pippa looks really strong and healthy, good for her.

Then you do not understand the public health research.

This is really tiresome. It's not just about money. Of course you don't need a private chef.... obviously people are talking about extremes. But yes, some people do find eating healthily a challenge. If you don't then great. There's lots of things I find easy but I'm sure others find hard...that's life.

When have I ever said that was incomprehensible? The point is it’s not a given that trauma >>> overeating. And it’s only recently that overeating has become such a widespread problem at a societal level.

They live in a different orbit

No job

Staff

Chef

Home gym and spa

Their only job is to stay attractive