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.

@Comedycook I've never come across that and as another personal observation, most of the elderly people I know who are healthy and mentally sharp still are all quite slim and active. They volunteer in various organisations in my area and even in my family, the slimmer ones are less afflicted with any health issues. Generally speaking of course.
Like the Queen and husband who lived to a good old age still being able to work.
Though of course Charles seems to have some health issues now at 75.

@LetusandLoveit snap, your diet sounds identical to ours. I generally make a cake or a pudding for the weekend and then just 70% choc the rest of the time. No crisps etc.

If I ate whatever I fancied, I'd be the size of a bus

Yes same. I don't eat or enjoy crap food. I very rarely have a takeaway. I hate alcohol and fizzy drinks. I like expensive chocolate, nice cheese etc. decent quality food can still make you fat!

But yes, what you want is crucial. So thin people who say they eat what they want may not actually want much.

You may find that an overweight person is actually demonstrating more will power than the thin person because what they want varies so much.

I think it's akin to "It's Wingardium LevioSA, not LevioSAR/" but the other way around. The mum is saying "It's frittaTAR, not frittaTA"

No you couldn’t because any ED is disordered eating whether too little or too much.

Maybe it's about portion size.

But yes, what you want is crucial. So thin people who say they eat what they want may not actually want much.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'want'. Too subjective.

I have a hearty appetite, but I don't eat what I could (before I'd feel stuffed.) So as an example, if I make a pudding I'll have a portion that fits in a ramekin dish, rather than a soup bowl/plate.

If I'm out for lunch, I rarely have dessert even though I'd love it.
At home if we have a roast dinner, I'll have roast potatoes, but one or two small ones, whereas DH might have 6.

I've a friend who when she eats soup for lunch, always has 2 slices of bread with it or rolls. (She's unhappy with her weight, by the way.)

I don't and will fill up on fruit or yoghurt. Small differences that make a difference long term.

For me, the trade off is eating smaller portions so I don't end up having to buy bigger clothes (all my weight goes right to my waist and belly) but not totally depriving myself.

<waves> to kindred spirit!

The number of people who are reading into posts stuff that simply isn’t there…

“I was slim just walking with my pram, what's wrong with you?"

BIB: was never said. The comment was merely a response to the claim that it is impossible to exercise with a small baby.

@SpongeBob2022 PM aside, 'posh' people will always have an advantage in life because they have resources to enable them to make good choices. I'm not sure how this can be denied as although it's a generalisation, this too is factual.

I can’t believe people are still saying this. Rich people also have the resources to eat more delicious food in larger quantities if they wish. They can eat out in restaurants as much as they like.

Anyone can make good choices - you do not need money for that. As a generalisation I genuinely think this is delusional. It’s only in the west
and only in the last 50 years that poverty has become associated with obesity.

It just sounds like a mental block people create or reassure themselves with as to why they are as they are.

Exactly, and I made the 12 donuts comment about someone who was questioning why she had put on loads of weight while also saying she had eaten 12 donuts the day before - that is just being stupid, I mean at the donuts all you want but don’t then question with wide eyed innocence why you have gained weight. The point I was making was about lack of eduction and, sometimes, complete denial about why weight is gained and what ‘healthy eating’ actually is.

Look at how many times on this thread that people have suggested that there is something wrong with eating steamed fish and vegetables, that is a perfectly healthy meal, I mean ok eating it every single day for years like Victoria Beckham is totally ott but eating it as a meal choice one a week because you like fish and you like vegetables isn’t weird or disordered eating.

Also people on this thread are suggesting that only eating non processed food is an eating disorder! That is absolute madness! There were no UPF foods years ago, did everyone have eating disorders then?

Absolutely agree people are reading stuff into posts that isn't there.

Like the number of people arguing against the idea that it's only possible to be slim or exercise if you're rich when nobody has said that. Just that it's easier.

Which is so bloody obvious that I am just not going to try explaining again.

Of course I walked with my pram. And did baby yoga and other exercise with my baby having been up half the night. Is that as easy as handing my baby to a nanny and going off to uninterrupted exercise session after my night nanny has looked after my baby, of course it isn't!

Eating fish and vegetables is normal. The disordered eating comments are relating to people who only eat this and so eat very few calories every day.

I also haven't seen anyone say eating fish and vegetables isn't a normal meal. Just that if that's all you eat, a la Victoria Beckham, it isn't a normal diet.

And it also isn't very affordable. I am lucky - we can afford good quality sustainable fish and we eat that and vegetables regularly as a meal, but it is expensive

Isn’t that pescatarian diet? Which is a valid diet?

Just that it's easier.

It’s not even easier! That’s the point.

@PoliteTurtle a pescatarian diet means you exclude meat. That leaves a far wider variety of meals than simply fish and vegetables every day.

Not if that absolutely all you eat, no.

I am pescatarian and also eat... fruit, dairy, rice etc

just a quick Google and actually I don’t think that’s all she eats.
According to Beckham, she "eats lots of healthy fat: fish, avocado, nuts, that sort of thing," and also regularly drinks alcohol, unless she has a "reason not to."
The statement about how she only eats fish and veg was made by her husband and I believe hasn’t recently disclosed to the public what she eats regularly, in my mind she is on a pescatarian diet as you described.

https://www.businessinsider.com/victoria-beckham-weight-diet-exercise-routine-david-beckham-vogue-australia-2022-7?r=US&IR=T

It’s been said but what you are describing from the pics is as much down to exercise and genetics as diet. I don’t know anyone who eats steamed chicken!

Of course I walked with my pram. And did baby yoga and other exercise with my baby having been up half the night. Is that as easy as handing my baby to a nanny and going off to uninterrupted exercise session after my night nanny has looked after my baby, of course it isn't!

Really makes no difference. Pushing a pram up a hill is reasonably challenging exercise. And I did yoga/t’ai chi at home - you don’t need classes I just had DVDs. There was one called “the art of standing still” - you literally stand one spot in a certain position & it uses all your leg muscles - surprisingly hard to do. Latterly I bought a treadmill which wasn’t very expensive and picked up an exercise bike for free on Freecycle.

I find it utterly bizarre that people saying they eat mostly non-UPF food (i.e. natural ingredients like meat, fish, dairy, vegetables, fruits, nuts and pulses that have had no or minimal processing), eat moderate sized meals and limit their intake of other foods is somehow seen as having a problematic relationship with food and they're denying themselves a normal existence. This is a normal way to eat! Our grandparents ate like this, did they all have disordered relationships with food?

Anyone can make good choices - you do not need money for that.

I completely agree, we always have choices. We are just very good at saying we don't or not doing anything about them because we'd rather not. We live in a world where the basics of cooking are a click away on the internet, where there are more resources for cooking thriftily than you can shake a cookbook at and there are whole supermarkets geared up to providing cheap food (including fruit/vegetables etc).

Much easier to knock people who at least try.

@BrightYellowDaffodil Not one person has said that eating non processed food is disordered eating. Some of the more detailed comments here are examples of disordered eating and that has been pointed out.

@Mirabai Good for you. I spent my time sitting on the sofa cluster feeding in pain.

There have been plenty of posts saying that it's not normal/it's a joyless existence.

Now come on...no excuses. Other people manage it. 😉