Parents coming to visit - need some help
 

Hi there,
My parents are coming to visit me in a few weeks and I'm trying to figure out a strategy to stick to my low carb plan. In the past, I've basically given up low carbing while they were with me (and they usually stay for at least 3 weeks) which proved disasterous. Now I've lost 12 pounds so far and I don't want to gain it all back in the weeks they are here. They aren't exactly anti-low carbing but my mom doesn't approve of lcing (and ironically, she's the one who introduced me to Atkins in the first place!) because she can't get out of the low fat mentality. She tried Atkins for a week and just didn't feel "right" about eating all the fat (so she told me).

So here's what I've come up with so far. I'd love to hear from others who have had challenges with guests and how they coped with it.

Dining out: my parents love to go to restaurants (although they've curved that for money reasons). Thankfully, dining out is one of the easiest things on low carbing :). Again, in the past my mindset about dining out was "eat the carbs for only one meal" but I don't want to do that this time. I'm planning on making sure I try to convince them to go to lc friendly resteraunts and if not, to order as lc friendly dishes as I can. We'll probably go to at least one Italian resteraunt, as my brother loves them and always takes advantage when my parents are here because the ones he likes are expensive and he's a cheapskate :lol: .

Cooking: My mom always insists on cooking for me (it's the Jewish mother thing :D ) but she always consults with me before she makes anything. She does have some carby dishes she makes but I know I can get her to make some lc friendly dishes too.

Dessert: This is going to be a challenge. I'm going to try to get my mom to make lc friendly desserts but I'm not holding out much hope. My mom is sort of a traditional baker - she doesn't like putting non-traditional stuff in things (like splenda instead of sugar and almond-flour based crust instead of graham cracker crust). If she doesn't then I plan to make some individual lc dessert while the others have the regular dessert if we have a family dinner. Also, my parents have the European style of having something sweet with their coffee. Again, I plan to make something before they come for myself (peanut butter cookies - they both hate peanut butter :lol: ) and have them buy some cookies they like for coffee.

Groceries: My parents, as I said, can't get out of the low fat mode so they like low fat dairy, etc. But I can stock up the fridge with those and still keep my own stuff.

Road Trips: we'll probably be making a few of those while they're here. I'll just make sure I have lc snacks for myself (like nuts and lc bars - I know the bars aren't great, but better it be those than to be tempted by a candy bar!) while my parents have the fruit they usually like.

Can anyone thing of anything else I may have missed. I want to make sure I have a good strategy as my parents can be very difficult (but I love 'em anyway :) ).

Tam

sounds like youve got it all planned i wish you luck and great visit with your parents... and if you do fall off the wagon just remember drink tons of water and hop back on the next day :)

It sounds like a great plan. The only thing I would suggest is go to a restaurant where the waitress would say " Oh, you're low carbing, how about an extra egg or cottage cheese instead of hash browns?" This is better than the server who might look at you like you are crazy and tell you " yeah, you can have that with no potatoes but it will cost the same!!!" I am saying this so that your parents see the extra support you get outside of the home.

Black57

Make a LC cheesecake to serve to them while they are in town. Also grab your Dana Carpenter's cookbook and ask your mom to try out some of these recipes - tons of variety there.
Enjoy the visit.