Anybody else's DHs fight you constantly about nutrition?

[tngirl11]

I'm seriously so tired of my DH complaining when I buy organic and all-natural things. I'm guessing that I'm probably not the only one with this problem. Is that true? He acts like I'm crazy for thinking that it matters and complains about how expensive it is (even though I work really hard to accomplish it without spending loads of extra money). I'm particularly upset about it because I made the mistake of sending him to the store tonight for some organic milk and yogurt . He came back ranting and raving about how much it cost. I told him that's why I am always going out of my way to go to Trader Joe's or Whole Foods so that I don't have to pay that amount and that's why I spend time grinding my own wheat and making my own kefir, etc.--so I can save money! Geez, I'd just like a little credit now and then. I mean, I'm not going to change anything because I can see how healthy my kids are and how they're developing tastes for real, whole, nutritious foods, but still, it gets really frustrating!
Sorry this turned into more of a vent
If you have this problem, how do you deal with it?

[Pinoikoi]

Kind of.. my dp thinks that kids need to be kids (have fun, be goofy and EAT WHAT THEY WANT).. however, when I grocery shop he thinks I do a really good job of planning what we need, keeping a stocked pantry, and getting a lot of food for what I spend..

His main complaints are: 1) not enough snack foods (we have PLENTY of fresh fruit on hand lately- he wants things like chips) and 2) I spend TOO much time in the grocery store (we go as a family and I am always searching for a coupon or comparing labels- he would rather toss the thing in the cart and move on).

How do I deal with it? Well, I usually allow him and the kids to put SOMETHING in the cart that they picked out.. just to appease. It grates on me though. Dp really doesn't care what I spend (he is the spender, and I am the saver in our scenario so I mean it when I say he REALLY doesn't care what I spend).

[californiajenn]

I convinced my DH to listen to The Omnivore's Dilemma while driving in the car for work and he was a mostly changed man. He doesn't complain about what I buy but has been eating junkier food while out a lot more lately so I'm going to put Food, Inc. on in the next few days to give him a good reminder.

[AnnieNimIty]

Beet chips and kale chips I find and popcorn nip the salty snack cravings in the bud. Just an aside.

[dentmom]

Yes, I could've written this post.

[3princesses]

Originally Posted by dentmom

Yes, I could've written this post.

Me too!!
But you should feel good about all you are doing! I have just recently opened my eyes to all of the processed foods we are consuming, and I am making changes that are really hard, but I know it will be worth it

[sewingmommy]

My DH is the total opposite....really into eating organic fruits/veggies and free range meat ...he will only buy meat from Whole Foods or Trader Joes...however he will buy what is on sale rather than a name brand ....

[elanorh]

DH was a white-bread guy when we married --- he's coming 'round.

He recognizes the importance of eating healthy foods, and knows that whole grains, fresh fruits/veggies, and organic/locally grown foods are best --- and we have switched to almost entirely organic and/or locally grown (as much as is possible where we live). That said - he's the one with the income, and he does get really crabby about how much this costs. So even though he wants to eat this way, he doesn't like how much it costs.

One way to deal with it, if you can manage it, is to grow as much of your own food as possible - Mother Earth News had an article in the latest issue about how much food can be grown in a 5x20 foot plot (it worked out to something like nearly $700/worth in CA, and even more in 'worth' in Iowa) .... that would be fresh, locally grown organic foods that your dh wouldn't see the 'bill' for (the costs were AFTER subtracting the costs of seeds, compost, etc. for the vegetable bed). You may want to pick up the magazine and read that article.....

If you've got space to plant your own fruit trees or berry bushes, that's another way to make it more affordable. A longer period before they're ready to harvest, but still will save money in the long run. If all the apple trees I planted two years ago produce at the high end of what they're capable of, I will be selling some apples! I would not be able to use them all, even though they are good storage varieties and I'd be able to can a ton of apple sauce, apple butter, apple pie filling.

If you live with a smaller space to garden in, The Bountiful Container is a good gardening book about container gardening including vegetables.

Another thing which helped get dh on board with this was watching The Corporation and Supersize Me on our netflix subscription. He said he didn't want to watch them, but he did watch while I was watching them and that really helped convince him that we were doing the right thing by switching to organic milk, etc. If your dh is a reader, The Omnivore's Dilemma would also be a good way to introduce him more to this idea.

At this point, our family's perspective is that our food my cost us more money, but we are investing in our children being able to eat healthy, safe, nutritious foods when they are adults, by choosing locally grown/organic foods right now. Every expensive food I buy, is a plant grown without petroleum-based pesticides/fertilizer. (And yes, I know that "organic" has been watered down quite a bit but it's still better than conventionally grown, IMO).

[OJazzy1]

My DH is not totally on board either, he thinks I am a little extreme and we don't even eat all organic as there is no way that we can afford it.
He also was a "white bread" type of guy but he is starting to reform bit by bit as long as I don't push too hard and introduce things slowly! haha, he's almost like a kid!

Now reforming him on sugar on the other hand is another story....

[grcelizabeth]

Same problem here! DH somewhat understands why I'm all for organic and against chips, crackers, processed stuff. DH didn't really get it until he watched "Food, Inc", "The Beautiful Truth", and "Super size Me" (he's not a reader). He's all on board for organic and I have to get really creative to keep our budget at $300/month for family of 5. I can't wait to have my own garden.

[wantingagirl2b#4]

Yes Yes Yes boy does he complain and say I am too the extreme! So glad I'm not alone but sorry we are in the same boat girls~LOL
I surely don't buy all organic mostly the 12 top pesticide load items but really meat is where we should start and I haven't accomplished that one yet. Most of us are not much of meat eaters so that is a blessing but my dh loves his meat and to buy free range meat I would blow our budget!!
Alot of talk on here about Food Inc. where can I find that? I'd love to listen to it.

[lookatreestar]

mine is the same way. i try so hard to explain it and he just does NOT get it. however i just keep the good stuff in the house and if he chooses not to eat it that is fine too. i just try to provide information and support. he does love veggies and he will eat anything once!

[dentmom]

DH actually told me he thinks organic is a scam.

[tinybutterfly]

It has taken me nearly 25 years to make a dent...and it will be nearly 28 years we've been married in April. But he finally came around.

Our pantry is still a mixture, but more good/healthy things are making their way in, he does not fuss about organic milk or butter prices anymore and he got us a free range, no antibiotic locally raised turkey for T-giving this year.

My next step is more organic produce and organic cheeses.

Oh, and I have dh and ds#2 on a fake, soft whole wheat bread trying to ease the step up to real whole wheat bread. This is a HUGE step for both of them. Huge. It's still bad bread, but we are making progress in the right direction...I can be patient.

Ds#1 eats whatever and has always been more on board with all this. We eat the good, real whole wheat bread.

Good luck all!

P.S. Poor dh, the first time ( and last time) I fed him tofu, you would have thought I was a Martian offering him a plate of space slugs.

[Sol_y_Paz]

There is hope! Keep trying. Keep reminding. Media can be VERY helpful in your crusade for better health for your family and your world.

[Caneel]

Originally Posted by dentmom

DH actually told me he thinks organic is a scam.

Mine too. But he is slowly changing his mind.

I can't figure my DH out.

He is super picky about food quality, wants homemade stuff over boxed or prepared, actively avoids fast food and chain restaurants yet, in his words, "organic is bullsh&t"

While cost really isn't the issue, he has complained many times about the cost of organic, grass feed milk. I ignore him because since I am the one that does the grocery shopping, he doesn't get a say. (he would think nothing of spending $17 a pound for a favorite cheese so he isn't settting any good budget example by his own actions)

Supersize Me and Food Inc. totally rocked his world, especially the e coli stuff. He was basically ignorant about factory farming and processing. It never crossed his radar.

Another thing that is helping is meeting local farmers and seeing his food. We recently got a side of beef from a friend. My DH visited that farm (pre-beef decision) and sees how they treat and raise their animals. Nowing that our beef was processed locally by a 3 generation butcher, who we also know, makes him feel good about not buying the unknown origin beef at the grocery store.

[Caneel]

Originally Posted by tinybutterfly

P.S. Poor dh, the first time ( and last time) I fed him tofu, you would have thought I was a Martian offering him a plate of space slugs.

DH still hasn't recovered from his one and only tofu experience, its like his is having PTSD over it. His behavior is completely ridiculous. He loves raw shellfish, snails, smoked eel and other shutter-inducing foods yet thinks tofu was created specifically to kill him.

If he even sees the package, he starts in on how I better not expect him to eat "that sh&t"

[elus0814]

My DH is pretty much indifferent. I do the food shopping and meal prep so I buy and make what I feel is best. He refuses to watch Food, Inc. but I'm still working on it. He really likes meat and we eat a lot of it. All the meat we eat is conventional since we don't have a source of grass fed beef or pastured chicken. I'm hoping to buy a deep freezer so I can buy a large quantity of meat from a farmer but it hasn't happened yet. We make our own bread with organic flour and just about all of our packaged food is organic since I'm able to buy it out of town in bulk and bring it back (we live in a less populated area). We also buy organic milk, eggs, butter, and most cheeses as well as fruits and veggies. Again, living where we do organic produce selections are limited. We can get apples (sometimes not in the best shape), lettuce, carrots, and sometimes celery and potatoes. We get what we can organic and have relaxed our standards to include non-organic produce for variety. I don't think DH thinks organic is super important but he does recognize the importance of healthy eating and from scratch non-processed foods.

[funkymamajoy]

Originally Posted by dentmom

DH actually told me he thinks organic is a scam.

Mine too. He fights me on it, and the cost, but won't read anything about nutrition.

[mykdsmomy]

My Dh still brings home hamburger helper He says it's what we can afford.

I'm working on getting him to read more about what actually is IN the food he thinks we can afford.

He read the Omnivore's Dilemma but he still takes an "all in moderation" approach to most foods.