Re: Speaking of stress eating...

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

My kids are older now, but I totally remember what you are describing. Here's what I used to do...

Once or twice a week, I would not eat with them. I would make them "fun" dinner ie: chicken nuggets, hot dogs, grilled cheese, etc (easy food). They ate. Later in the evening, my husband and I would eat alone. Sometimes we ordered out, sometimes we cooked a nice meal. It gave me a break from the stress of dinner hour.

Another thing I used to do (and still do occasionally) - I declare a "Mom time". What that is is a half hour of me getting to be left alone. I wait til my husband gets home, then retreat. Sometimes its for a bath, to read, take a walk, play a computer game, etc.

Hope these ideas help!!

Kim

IE since Aug 08

Subject: Speaking of stress eating...To: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2008, 12:13 AM

I recently realized that I am not a great intuitive eater when trying to eat a meal with my son (age 3).

First of all, dinner is stressful because he is tired and cranky by 5:30 PM, plus I am trying to teach him table manners. He asks a lot of questions (which I know is normal and great) but all of the commotion at dinner really distracts me from my food and I can easily eat 4 bites without really tasting them and savoring them.

What has worked for me is to sneak away to the living room with my food and claim I will "be right back". I sit there and savor each bite, closing my eyes sometimes so I can really feel when the food is starting to taste less good. Then I return to the table and my husband is a little confused...

So this solution is not ideal...but the period from 4:30-7:30 is really stressing me out and I could use some suggestions. I would hate to think I can never enjoy food around my kids again ; )

Life should be easier. So should your homepage. Try the NEW AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much Kim. That is good advice and I know it has helped me in the past. I have purchased some Kid-friendly foods and will try this strategy this week. Thanks again!

Hi ,

My kids are older now, but I totally remember what you are describing. Here's what I used to do...

Once or twice a week, I would not eat with them. I would make them "fun" dinner ie: chicken nuggets, hot dogs, grilled cheese, etc (easy food). They ate. Later in the evening, my husband and I would eat alone. Sometimes we ordered out, sometimes we cooked a nice meal. It gave me a break from the stress of dinner hour.

Another thing I used to do (and still do occasionally) - I declare a "Mom time". What that is is a half hour of me getting to be left alone. I wait til my husband gets home, then retreat. Sometimes its for a bath, to read, take a walk, play a computer game, etc.

Hope these ideas help!!

Kim

IE since Aug 08

From: jsscarneyaol <jsscarneyaol>Subject: Speaking of stress eating...To: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2008, 12:13 AM

I recently realized that I am not a great intuitive eater when trying to eat a meal with my son (age 3).

First of all, dinner is stressful because he is tired and cranky by 5:30 PM, plus I am trying to teach him table manners. He asks a lot of questions (which I know is normal and great) but all of the commotion at dinner really distracts me from my food and I can easily eat 4 bites without really tasting them and savoring them.

What has worked for me is to sneak away to the living room with my food and claim I will "be right back". I sit there and savor each bite, closing my eyes sometimes so I can really feel when the food is starting to taste less good. Then I return to the table and my husband is a little confused...

So this solution is not ideal...but the period from 4:30-7:30 is really stressing me out and I could use some suggestions. I would hate to think I can never enjoy food around my kids again ; )

Life should be easier. So should your homepage. Try the NEW AOL.com.

Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Hi and Kim,

I am new to this board and am just now

starting to learn about IE. I have noticed its basically impossible to practice

during dinners at home with my 7 year old bouncing off the walls, my 3 year old

crawling all over the table, and our lab puppy (whose face reaches the height

of the table) trying to snatch my food off of my plate. I guess I just got so

used to the chaos of dinner with babies and toddlers, it didn’t occur to

me until my IE counselor suggested it to have everyone sit down in our actual

dining room which is cordoned off from the dog. The kids are finally old enough

to be contained and its working out really well. I finally know what that room

is for!

Best,

Ellis

From:

IntuitiveEating_Support

[mailto:IntuitiveEating_Support ] On Behalf Of jsscarney@...

Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008

6:21 PM

To:

IntuitiveEating_Support

Subject: Re:

Speaking of stress eating...

Thanks so much Kim. That is good

advice and I know it has helped me in the past. I have purchased some

Kid-friendly foods and will try this strategy this week. Thanks again!

In a message dated 12/3/2008 10:54:27

A.M. Pacific Standard Time, kimhill38 writes:

Hi ,

My kids are older now, but I totally remember what

you are describing. Here's what I used to do...

Once or twice a week, I would not eat with them. I

would make them " fun " dinner ie: chicken nuggets, hot dogs, grilled

cheese, etc (easy food). They ate. Later in the evening, my husband and I

would eat alone. Sometimes we ordered out, sometimes we cooked a nice meal.

It gave me a break from the stress of dinner hour.

Another thing I used to do (and still do occasionally)

- I declare a " Mom time " . What that is is a half hour of me getting

to be left alone. I wait til my husband gets home, then retreat. Sometimes

its for a bath, to read, take a walk, play a computer game, etc.

Hope these ideas help!!

Kim

IE since Aug 08

From: jsscarneyaol

<jsscarneyaol>

Subject: Speaking of stress eating...

To: IntuitiveEating_Support

Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2008, 12:13 AM

I recently realized

that I am not a great intuitive eater when trying to eat a meal with my son

(age 3).

First of all, dinner

is stressful because he is tired and cranky by 5:30 PM, plus I am trying to

teach him table manners. He asks a lot of questions (which I know is

normal and great) but all of the commotion at dinner really distracts me from

my food and I can easily eat 4 bites without really tasting them and savoring

them.

What has worked for me

is to sneak away to the living room with my food and claim I will " be

right back " . I sit there and savor each bite, closing my eyes

sometimes so I can really feel when the food is starting to taste less

good. Then I return to the table and my husband is a little confused...

So this solution is

not ideal...but the period from 4:30-7:30 is really stressing me out and I

could use some suggestions. I would hate to think I can never enjoy

food around my kids again ; )

Life should be easier. So should your

homepage. Try

the NEW AOL.com.

Make your life easier with all your

friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. Try

it now.

[Guest guest]

Good for you Ellis! That is a very positive step and one that the

entire family can benefit from as well. I bet it becomes a beloved

time as well as meal time too.

Best to you, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Hi and Kim,

>

>

>

> I am new to this board and am just now starting to learn about IE. I

have

> noticed its basically impossible to practice during dinners at home

with my

> 7 year old bouncing off the walls, my 3 year old crawling all over the

> table, and our lab puppy (whose face reaches the height of the

table) trying

> to snatch my food off of my plate. I guess I just got so used to the

chaos

> of dinner with babies and toddlers, it didn't occur to me until my IE

> counselor suggested it to have everyone sit down in our actual

dining room

> which is cordoned off from the dog. The kids are finally old enough

to be

> contained and its working out really well. I finally know what that

room is

> for!

>

>

>

> Best,

>

>

>

> Ellis

>