Comments on: Making Healthy Changes When Your Husband Isn’t on Board

By: Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Fri, 27 May 2011 03:48:10 +0000

@S., I think there's a real delicate balance here. I don't think that our husbands should be dictating what we ourselves eat. They can't force anything down our throats. :) We may prepare those foods for them, if that's what they request, while preparing something different for ourselves and our children. I think that we can be gently encouraging them, while still happily preparing foods that they enjoy, and praying for a change of heart. If a husband begins to force someone to eat something that they don't want to eat, then we have a bigger issue than submission and respect, bordering on abuse. I think that is the very rare exception, however. There are some things, though, where we just need to let go of our desire to control, and trust that it's in God's hands. We can't control what our husbands do any more than we want them to control us. We do need to respond in respectful submission to their wishes (and it is still 100% ok to let our own wishes and opinions be known, too). But, I have seen some women make health and foods such a big issue that they ultimately caused a breakdown in their marriage. Their husbands began to feel such disrespect and resentment that the relationship was torn down. That is too high a price to pay for better health, quite frankly. Fortunately, S., you are not married yet and so you have the wonderful option of making your views on healthful foods and eating clear at the beginning of a relationship, and so this may never be an issue for you at all! :)

By: S.

S. — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:18:36 +0000

I'm a conservative Christian myself but I feel that I'd be sinning against my body if my husband (I'm not married) were to tell me that we have to use low-fat dairy, margarine and was indifferent to hydrogenated oils and these junk processed foods and wouldn't listen to me (or at least consider my POV) if I knew that such foods would kill my kids down the road. I know we're not supposed to undermine our husband's authority but what if you KNOW that your husband's POV on a food would be fatal down the road? are you just going to accept it anyway?

By: Errol Woolums

Errol Woolums — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 04:42:34 +0000

I adore the way you capture the essence of the message, truly great writting manner, I enojoyed it!

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:01:52 +0000

Good heavens lady, what century do you live in? "Make it your priority to please him"? You sound like a Victorian governess. Live a little - I'm sure The Lord would want you to. You poor thing.

By: msmarystrikens

msmarystrikens — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:59:23 +0000

Hi! I really liked your forum, especially this section. I just signed up and immediately decided to introduce myself, if I'm wrong section, ask the moderators to move the topic to the right place, hopefully it will take me well... My name is Mary, me 29 years, humourist and serious woman in one person. I apologize for my English

By: Fruitfulvine2

Fruitfulvine2 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:06:56 +0000

My husband is very much on board with all the changes. He is the one who started me on this journey. When he figures that I am going way overboard he usually makes a gentle comment that pulls me back. .-= Fruitfulvine2´s last blog ..Ministry Trip to Guadeloupe =-.

By: Fruitfulvine2

Fruitfulvine2 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:03:18 +0000

My husband is pretty much on board since it is he who started the ball rolling. Whenever it seems that I am going too far overboard, he makes gentle statements to reign me back in. .-= Fruitfulvine2´s last blog ..Ministry Trip to Guadeloupe =-.

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:55:37 +0000

Man this really puts things in perspective!! As frustrated as I get with my own situation, it took this post for me to see how easy I actually have it. My husband and I became equally intrigued in healthy living a couple years ago (actually he technically started it, when we met he was using "weird" deodorant because of aluminum in conventional... which interestingly enough he learned from the musician Sting, when he met him backstage... who knew?). He loves to handle all the grocery shopping and food preparation. I tried to stage a takeover once, because I felt lazy as a homemaker who did no cooking for her children, and he got so offended!! You are so right, the marriage is the priority :)

By: Audra

Audra — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:30:06 +0000

Thank you so much for this post! My husband has not eaten vegetables in ages. He had one leaf of lettuce after much begging on my part to try a fantastic dressing - at our engagement celebration dinner nearly 11 years ago! That's it! We have gotten into fights over me just setting peas out where he can see them. For the longest time, he asked me to eat salads in another room since they smelled like vegetables.

I have made my own bread in the past - very hearty bread - and he has like that. I've slacked off with preparing healthier meals since we had our first baby but you have spurred me on to continue! Thanks!

By: Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:18:32 +0000

@Kitty Hurdle, A good place to start on my site is the category Baby Steps:
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/baby-steps
Lots of different posts on small, simple ideas for making one change at a time.
I've also got an ebook on the concept of baby steps, called Healthy Homemaking: One Step at a Time. You can read more about it and purchase it here:
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/my-books/my-ebook-healthy-homemaking
Welcome to the journey of natural living... it's a good one! :)