Food Q&A: My Hubby’s a Junk Food Junkie!

Q: I have a hard time losing weight with my husband's candy and chips around the house. How do I ignore it all?

A: Living with a spouse who's not interested in healthier eating definitely presents a challenge. But, it's not a hopeless one.

If hubby's the one stocking up on tempting snack foods and desserts, encourage him to buy items that he likes but you don't. I'm a huge fan of milk chocolate, for instance, but dark chocolate does nothing for me. And a pint of mint chocolate chip is incredibly tempting, but I'd rather eat carrots than dip my spoon into coffee ice cream.

If you're the one doing the grocery shopping, stop buying the junk food altogether. Instead, pick up healthier alternatives that will help keep you slim — encourage your husband to try them. If that'll cause World War III, buy smaller packages of the items he wants so that there's less around the house.

If he's taller than you are, store the snacks up high so you can't easily give in to temptation. When your willpower's running really low, ask your husband to hide the offending items or to keep them in his car or office.

When your dear husband insists on eating fattening foods that you struggle to turn down, plan a more nutritious, satisfying snack for yourself at the same time. It's no fun watching him gobble down a big bag of your favorite chips while you sit and twiddle your thumbs. Enjoy your healthy snack, and even allow yourself to feel just a little bit smug. Or, fit his snack into your eating routine by planning for it. After all, any food is healthy in moderation.

Regardless of the tactic you take, keep focused on your waistline: Indulging in chips can't compete with how good your skinny jeans feel.