Our kids don't miss their nuggets, pizzas and chips
WHEN mum Debbie Court decided to change her diet to help her lose weight the rest of the family was soon following suit and they all discovered that healthy food can also be tasty.
With a husband and five children to feed, meal times could have been a daily battle but instead 38-year-old Debbie discovered that her family were more than happy to tuck into fruit and vegetables.
A member of Weight Watchers as a teenager, Debbie had watched the pounds creep on since then but four years ago decided it was time to overhaul the family diet – big time.
Rejoining Weight Watchers, out went the old regime of takeaways and chips and in came the fruit kebabs and home made curries. And the children loved it.
Sixteen-year-old Ross, who is about to begin sixth form at Solihull College, 14-year-old Ryan and 11-year-old Lana, both pupils at Lode Heath School and ten-year-old Georgia and eight-year-old Louis, both at Coppice Junior School, have found new favourite foods.
“We used to eat things like pizza, pie and chips, a lot of takeaways, a lot of processed food, cheese on toast and a lot of sweets, snacks and crisps,” recalls Debbie, of Solihull. “We ate a lot of ready foods such as chicken nuggets, waffles, turkey drummers.’’
So, with the help of the Weight Watchers recipe book, Debbie turned herself into Delia Smith.
“We tend to do a lot more home-made because then we know exactly what we are eating,” she says. “We make a lot of curries, chili, fish pies and omelettes. If the children want a pizza we can make our own. We always have puddings, but they tend to be fruit and yoghurt, jellies, banana and custard. We don’t do without but we have had a complete change of diet and lifestyle.”
The family also massively increased their fruit and vegetable intake, helped by the fact they have taken on an allotment behind the house.
“We’re growing green beans, peas, courgettes, tomatoes, potatoes, beetroot, carrots etcetera,” says Debbie.
“All things we can then use. And it means the children can be involved in looking after the allotment and in preparing the food. And we make sure we do healthy lunch boxes for school.”
Debbie’s changes helped her shift more than five stone and her husband, Darren, a 38-year-old graphics worker, soon decided to follow suit.
“I didn’t want to be fat and 40,” he says. “When I saw how much difference it was making with Debbie I wanted to do the same. I have lost four stone so far. I haven’t found it difficult. I have always been into salads and fruit and vegetables. It was all the other things that were the problem.”
And the family have increased their activity levels – helped in no small amount by the new arrival in their household, puppy Ebony, who is now two years old.
“The first time I took her for a walk I could hardly manage it but now it is me wearing her out,” says Debbie.
And her healthy lifestyle message has been swallowed whole by the entire family.
“I really like eating healthier food because it means I can eat more of it,” says Ross.
And Lana has her favourite. “I like the curries the best,” she says while Louis likes his omelettes and beans.
Ryan opts for fish pie while Georgia is very clear.
“I don’t have a favourite. I like them all,” she says.
Debbie says: “It is all about balance really. We do still have things like ice cream and snacks but we also look for healthy alternatives.”
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