I am just beginning to plan for Alli.  I have not yet started because I am trying to figure out how to include my family without making two meals.  The alli recipes are for one person only.  If I want to make what is on the menu for my family( 4 adults and 1 child) I have to continually refigure each recipe.  How have you handled this?

M Marshall

 Hi Miss M,

I usually try to figure out the meal for 4 as well.  A good example would be the salmon burgers/croquets/patties:  Salmon comes in a can 14oz or so the recipe calls for 3 oz so I just multiply the ingredients for so many servings.  This helps in many ways because then I don't have to figure out how to store a partially used can of salmon!

So basically you will apply this "formula" towards any recipe.  I would start with the main ingredient first, usually meat, make the portions the same for everyone.  If you have someone that is a big eater (like your hubby or a teenage son) count two portions for them and depending on the age of the child they may be able to eat a portion or even half - and the other half can go to someone else.

This has worked out really well for me, my family gets to eat better, they learn about portion control, and best of all it is ALOT! easier on me.  Good luck!

 I don't have problems with the portions as it is just my husband and I.  He isn't a big eater so I just double the recipe.  What I wonder is why there are so many nuts in all the menus?  They are very high in fat content and would put me way over my allotted grams.  Also why is there no salads, like tossed, included in the menus.

  I never add the nuts to anything as I feel they would not help at all.

llano1

Lucky you, Llano.  My husband won't eat my "diet food".  So I had a bit of a challenge to face.  My biggest problem at first was too many bits and pieces of things left around from my menus.  So now, I add those to whatever version of the main course I'm making for him.  Most of the time, he gets these bits and pieces in an omelet for breakfast, or added to his salad as a topping.  Sometimes I put the extras in a sauce or gravy for him, not me.

Example:  Roast a chicken.  The others can have all the gravy and mashed potatoes they like.  I take my portion and cook up a little pasta with spaghetti sauce.  If there is leftover chicken, I measure it out into portions to make chicken salad for myself for lunch.  No skin of course.  If you look at the lunch menus, there are many options for chicken.  Salad, wraps, tortillas with black beans.  They're all very good

The pork tenderloin recipes I've tried are all very good, and hubby likes those.  If there are leftovers, I make sure I portion out exactly what I can eat the next day or next week.  Wrap or freeze.  Give him whatever starch he wants.  I stick with my menu.

Salads:  There is no reason not to include salad greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded carrots with every dinner.  Just stay away from the croutons, full fat dressings, bacon bits and so forth.  Salad is practically calorie free.  Enjoy it!  I'm satisfied with lemon juice and/or vinegar on my salad now.  If I have cooked off turkey bacon, sometimes I'll allow myself a little, and I mean little bit on top.

Pasta:  There are a lot of very good pasta dishes on the Alli menu.  If your family doesn't think your version of the pasta dish is enough, go ahead and make meatballs, garlic bread or whatever for them.  You take your portion out first.

Nuts:  If they're in the meal, that means they are needed to bump up the fat grams you need ot make the Alli capsule work right.  If they're not there, Don't for heaven's sake add them!

Best of success folks!

Mary

 Correct me if i'm wrong but nuts in moderation are okay too. They are "good" fats, if that makes any sense. That's what i've learned over the years. Sometimes when I'm making an entree salad, i'll include some sunflower seeds, to bump up protein and good fats. :-) just a thought.

If you cook lowfat, nuts are one way of getting enough fat grams into your meal.  I'm allergic to nuts, so I use real sour cream instead to get my fat grams :)  Tampabayb