My husband loves his chicken wings, potato chips, enjoys his beer, and I can pretty much guarantee you that he's never going to track a macro in his life.
And that's fine. He doesn't have to.
But when you're someone who's paying attention to your nutrition, trying to get enough protein, or working toward a particular fitness goal, it can sometimes make things a little interesting when the person you're living with has a completely different approach to food.
We Don't Always Eat the Same Thing
I think there's this idea that if you're trying to improve your nutrition, you need to figure out how to make every family meal fit your goals. And while that's certainly possible a lot of the time, it's not always what happens in our house.
Our kids are in their mid-20s now, so they're not sitting down to dinner with us every night. When they are home for dinner, we generally eat the same meal. I might adjust my portions depending on what I need that day, but I'm not making myself something completely different.
When it's just my husband and me, sometimes we eat together, and sometimes we make our own dinners.If what we're planning for dinner fits my macros, great. If it doesn't, I might decide ahead of time that I'm going to make something else.
It's really not a big deal.
You Don't Have to Eat Exactly What Everyone Else Eats
One of the things I think women struggle with when they're trying to change their eating habits is feeling like they have to work around everyone else.
Maybe your husband wants pizza, your kids want pasta, or everyone is in the mood for takeout. And you're here trying to figure out how to get enough protein, stay within your calories, or simply eat a little more balanced.
Here's the thing though - you have choices.
You can eat what everyone else is eating and adjust your portions, you can add something to the meal to make it a little more balanced, or you can make yourself something completely different.
There's nothing wrong with any of those options.
It's About Knowing What Works for You
For me, tracking my macros is something I've been doing for a long time. It's familiar, and I know how to make adjustments throughout the day but I also understand that not everyone wants to track their food, and they certainly don't have to.
The important thing is understanding what your body needs and having some awareness of what you're eating.
If your goal is to build muscle, are you getting enough protein and eating enough overall?
If you're trying to lose body fat, are your portions and overall calorie intake supporting that goal?
If you're simply trying to eat better, are you putting together meals that include a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and fibre?
Those are the things worth paying attention to.
You Can Have Different Goals Under the Same Roof
My husband and I don't approach food the same way, and we probably never will. He can enjoy his chips and beer, and I can continue paying attention to my macros.
Sometimes we eat the same meals. Sometimes we don't. And neither of us needs to change how we eat just because the other person has different goals.
I think that's something worth remembering, especially if you're trying to make changes to your nutrition.
You don't need everyone in your household to be on the same page, you just need to figure out what works for you and your goals, while still enjoying food and family meals along the way.
If you're struggling to figure out how to eat for your goals without completely changing what everyone else in your house is eating, this is something I can help you with through my online nutrition coaching.
We can work on making your meals more balanced, understanding your portions, and finding an approach that works with your everyday life, not against it.