You always hear these stories about military wives transforming their lives with healthy eating during deployment. They lose all this weight, look more incredible than you ever thought was possible, and make you wonder how they did it all.
But then there’s a secret group of spouses who maintain the type of military wife deployment diet that no one really talks about. I know this secret group exists because I am in it. Hashtag confession number one.
For those of you who don’t know about this secret deployment diet, here is what secretly goes down:
1. Monday is frozen pizza.
If you are feeling particularly ambitious, you’ll get a take-out pizza from the gourmet Italian eatery around the corner (aka Dominos).
2. Tuesday is Thai food.
If you don’t have a local Thai place you love, Japanese or Chinese take-out is a perfectly acceptable substitution.
3. Wednesday is salad.
Have to eat something healthy mid-week to keep yourself going, and to combat feelings of guilt over eating take-out two nights in a row.
4. Thursday meet friends out to eat at local restaurant.
If you have kids, it’s probably some chain restaurant that serves below average food. If you don’t have kids, it’s still probably some chain restaurant that serves below average food. Let’s face it, there isn’t much choice around base.
5. Friday is wine. Just wine.
Yes. Wine is a fruit, which is a food group acceptable to consume all by itself. Although, if you are really looking to make it special, you’ll enjoy a side of cheese or chocolate alongside your glass. Hashtag keeping it classy.
6. Saturday is spouse’s choice.
Whatever you’re in the mood for. Maybe you cook. Maybe you make a sandwich. Or maybe you grab another bite out to eat.
7. Sunday is something made from scratch.
Gotta fit in at least one home cooked meal per week. Grill some chicken, potatoes and make another salad. Seems good enough. Right?
8. And last but not least…breakfast consists of coffee and chocolate.
Coffee and chocolate OR coffee and cookies becomes a regular staple in the morning. Maybe not every day, but at least two or three times per week. And if you have kids, breakfast occurs before they wake up because no good parent would teach their kids that eating chocolate for breakfast is a good idea.
The best part about this secret military wife deployment diet no one talks about is that you actually loose just as much weight during deployment AND you didn’t spend any money on all that fancy healthy food. Basically, you skip lunch and eat a small breakfast, so eating take-out for dinner almost all week pretty much evens itself out.
Homecoming arrives and your military homecoming outfit looks fabulous! Everyone wonders how you lost a few pounds and fit into your skinny jeans.
Don’t worry. I won’t tell them how you did it.
Want more on military life?
- 10 Things Strong Military Spouses Do Differently
- The Best Advice for the Military Girlfriend
- I’m Terrible at Being a Military Spouse
- Military Base Gate Etiquette: 10 Small Ways to Avoid a Giant SNAFU
What’s your best military wife deployment diet secret? Let’s chat in the comments!
Jamie @ Life of Creed
Oh, this is a great post!!!! Yes, I would have to include to the diet making Hamburger Helper, lol. It was one of those easy to do meals to make for the little one after a long day.
Chrissa - Physical Kitchness
Oh how I LOL”d! You forgot “chips and queso binge when feeling sorry for yourself’. That was a staple for me.
Marya
I’m finding that I force myself to eat a great lunch and by dinner time I can’t wait to put the kids into bed and go to sleep. I go to sleep slightly hungry usually and I am sure that it is partly the sadness and missing him.
And I hope the sadness and hunger pays off with a leaner body for when he gets back.
I work out too. But only when I can muster the strength. It’s my first deployment. And it’s lonely. Communication varies. But currently no emissions and that’s usually a surprise. Like you said. When you get the email you do the lottery dance !
Lee
One of my staples when my husband deploys is omelet’s & chocolate crossaints , with an unnaturally amount of iced coffee .
Julie
Add cereal to this as well and you nailed it for us this year??
He’s almost home!
Courtney Cunat Spencer
Wow this is a little sad how close it hits to my las week! LMAO no one tell my hubs!
Allison Polizzi
It’s a lot of salad and leftover grilled chicken. My kids don’t behave well enough to be taken out to eat. They do eat frozen pizza or spam nearly every night…
Lynn
I should feel ashamed to admit that many dinners during deployments were a bowl of cereal or a bowl of popcorn. But I’m not. The kids thought it was great.
Danielle
With kids I do try to be better with how we eat when he’s away, but let’s be honest….my 11 year old son and I are really the only ones that EAT the dinners I make and my 7 year old daughter picks at everything which turns into an argument…..PB&J, cereal pasta and any fast food options from the base consume most nights of the week