Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

I spent £70.37 in Mr T, and then bought DS2 some Green & Blacks mini bars of organic chocolate as a going away present for £4 . So not bad at all at £74.37 overall :T.

DH has gone with DS2 to get some dollars and then we can finish his travel instructions.

enthusiasticsaver

Sorry to hear about your DHs TIA and hope he manages to address his health issues. It is always easier to exercise in the warmer weather but the diet could be addressed now. Is it worth having a complete purge of unhealthy food and just not buying it so he is not tempted?

Maybe an exercise bike to use indoors? You can usually pick one up at a reasonable rate second hand. We have one to get rid of ourselves since my DD decided to use the gym instead of finding room for the bike and we use a gym too.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thank you for your suggestions ES .

We do eat healthily in the sense that I don't buy chocolate, biscuits, cakes, desserts or sweets regularly. DH is only allowed chips or similar twice a week (the rest of the time it's baked potato or wholewheat pasta). DH is the only one out of the five of us who is noticeably overweight. The problem is his portion sizes and lack of exercise. He stress eats and gets through lots of bread etc.

I've spent 20 years trying and failing to get him to lose weight and decided in the end that only he can do it. The more I tried the more obstinate he got, if you know what I mean .

I am definitely encouaging him to do more exercise at the moment however. Hopefully he will do the Pokemon walks with DS1, and we're going to go to another NT place for a walk next weekend.

We've had exercise equipment in the past that has just gathered dust as he finds it boring to use. He really is a hopeless case .

I can only hope that this scare will make him take his health more seriously. At least he doen't smoke and is teetotal, so he has that going for him .

redofromstart

Can you get the boys involved by stealth? Can they get him to do more by doing it with him - which would be good for everyone.

Can you reduce the carbs and increase the veg without blowing your budget? Half of every plate should be veg and all that. Boiled eggs to snack on rather than bread. I keep a few in the fridge for when OH has the munchies.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks for the suggestions Redo .

DS1 is fully on board, and I told DS3 about the TIA today so he would understand why DH would be giving him less lifts. I'll tell DS2 when he gets back from America, but we don't see much of him generally even when he's at home.

I probably could decrease the carbs and increase the veg if I stick with cheap things like carrots and peas. DH can't stand boiled vegetables, but I could bake carrots and stir fry vegetables, or include more veg in curries.

I hate cooking but I must make more effort.

Boiled eggs to snack on could work. DH gets bored with his food very quickly, so I need to think of some other cheap but nutritious snacks for him too. Maybe I could get him some reduced fat houmous to dip carrot and celery sticks into.

redofromstart

If you can be bothered you can make your own hummus very cheaply:

Very basic Hummus
Drain a tin of chickpeas. Add them to food processor with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 tablespoons of water and half teaspoon of cumin. Blend until they form a smooth paste.
Can add garlic powder (which is gloriously cheap) for flavour.

Root vegetable curry type things? Would they appeal? Was thinking of the MrT stew pack at 50p this week which was good value for the contents.
Soup - minus the bread so would that work?
Will he eat lentils?
Will he eat white fish?

Head not working, I will have a think.

HairyHandofDartmoor

He will eat lentils and white fish. He does like root vegetables but I'd have to add some flavour to them before he'd eat them.

I don't have a food processor unfortunately and DS2 and 3 broke the blender by using it to make flapjacks :mad:.

DH says he would eat natural yoghurt to dip veggies in, as he could add herbs etc to jazz it up.

beanielou

YOu could get a wee cheapie hand blender.
MIne is great.

HairyHandofDartmoor

We could look out for a cheap one maybe.

redofromstart

White fish with veg - I make these with value white fish, veg oil and whatever frozen veg I have. There are fairly low effort and taste ok in the microwave but would work in the oven too.

Garlic powder (70p) would work well in his yoghurt, I sometimes mix low fat yoghurt with value mayo, lemon juice and garlic powder for a dip.

Simple soups that don't need blending then? Nice filling chunky soups.