healthy family meals for weightloss

[pizzaqueen]

hello! So I have stood on the scales tonight and it's got really out of control, something has to change. I've put on about 20lb since May but even before that I was a couple of stones overweight so I have about 3.5 stone to lose altogether.

I'm not amazing in the kitchen but I can cook basic meals, I find myself cooking the same meals every week and need some ideas for healthy family meals (dp needs to lose weight too and ds is almost 3). DP won't eat red meat. I have a slow cooker too which I like using and I plan all our meals and shop for the week (budget conscious).

I know our portions are too big so will be working on that. And trying to get more active too. I eat too much junk between meals so that's going to stop. I desperately need to lose weight but rather than a quick fix (and gain again) I want to make some real changes to how we eat.

Could you please share your meal plans with me so I can get some ideas for healthy family meals?

sounds like your meals are fine, it is just the portion size (as you know) and the junk between (as you know). Stop buying junk, up the vegetables and move around more.

very few foods are healthy or unhealthy per se. Too much red meat is supposed to be bad for us.

buy veg in season (or on offer at Aldi!), fill up with wholegrain pasta and rice (ignore the low-carb babblers, it is the simple carbs that need to be reduced) and serve everyone less. Your child will let you know if he wants more, most kids don't need anywhere near as much as they are given hence lots of waste.

Have you tried logging calories, using 'My Fitness Pal' or similar? DH and I have both lost weight very quickly using this and feel it's going to be a permanent life changer. We're just much more conscious of food choices and portion size (despite the occasional lapse like lunch at Carliccio's today - almost a day's worth of calories in one meal!).

I'm not brilliant in the kitchen and like simple quick things.
Using this book and being careful elsewhere I have gone from 13 stone down to 9

low fat feasts

Honestly, the change4life recipes are really good. I've been surprised at some of the stuff the kids have eaten from it. The iPad app is great as it does your shopping list too!