How do you make peace with throwing food away?
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I have not done this since I started with MFP.
Before I started here, I would eat all the food. I would make an amount at random, and if it happened to be too much, I'd eat it anyway.
But since I started here, I've weighed and measured everything so that I make and eat precisely what I plan to make and eat. There are no leftovers, but neither do I go over my calorie goal.
This is exactly what I do too. I weigh all my food, it fits into my calories/macros for the day - there is no waste. If I make chicken, I make enough to last for 3 or 4 days, and eat it for several meals - if I have a certain amount left and it is "too much" for my calories, I eat less of something else. If I am going to a restaurant, I plan ahead, check the online menu if possible, choose my item, then estimate what I think the calories will be, and plan my menu around it, again eating less the rest of the day so I don't go over. If I can't plan it, then I choose something that I believe will fit into my calories, eat it and, if I go over that day, I accept it and start again the next day.
The only times I waste food nowadays is when I'm just not in the mood to eat something, fresh vegetables mostly, and it goes bad before I get around to eating it. That always makes me feel bad.0 -
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I don't throw away food. I made peace with "planned-over" meals.0
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LaceyBirds wrote: »
The only times I waste food nowadays is when I'm just not in the mood to eat something, fresh vegetables mostly, and it goes bad before I get around to eating it. That always makes me feel bad.
Try blanching veg, portioning and freezing before it goes off. I often buy veg that has been reduced down or on special offer and do this, so handy, already prepped, doesn't take as long to cook, already portioned for me and it usually cost me less.
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MarcyKirkton wrote: »I'm too cheap to toss food, so I store in containers in fridge snd toss a week later.
^^ My wife, exactly.
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I just don't do it. I put it in a container and keep it for when I'm going to eat it again. I typically freeze it right away to stop bacteria growth. If it's too small for a full portion next time? I'm sure I have something that I can eat with it. Like another container of saved stuff or rice or veggies or something. Or mix beans into it.0
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MarcyKirkton wrote: »I'm too cheap to toss food, so I store in containers in fridge snd toss a week later.
That is *precisely* what happened to me when I tried to be really "good" about this. Wasted water as well, washing those mini storage containers that get lost between and behind things.
There's no point in storing 10-20 grams of chicken thigh imo. A couple of baby potatoes, yes those would find a home in an omelette later.
Those 10-20 grams of chicken thigh can go in the omelette as well
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MarcyKirkton wrote: »I'm too cheap to toss food, so I store in containers in fridge snd toss a week later.
My mom taught me this trick too
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Another vote for chickens. Food in the back of the pantry that is well past its use by date, mushy grapes, going-off milk, bread crusts, banana peels...
They turn it all into lovely compost for the garden.0 -
The only guilt I feel throwing food away is the thought of those going hungry at night and the waste in money it costs me. Other than that, eat it or throw it away... when it is gone it is gone. Food is biodegradable it will eventually become food again in the great circle of life 0
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Have you people seen the price of groceries lately? Are you seriously throwing away food?
We throw out something small maybe once or twice a month at most, and it's usually because it was accidentally pushed to the back of the fridge - like half of a chicken breast or a partial cucumber, and I feel awful every time simply because I know just how much we have to nickel and dime our grocery budget.
I don't get it because if you're weighing and logging, then your portions should be appropriate. Little bits leftover can equal breakfast or a light lunch. I've had weird stuff like leftover beans and avocado for breakfast before.0 -
kshama2001 wrote: »MarcyKirkton wrote: »I'm too cheap to toss food, so I store in containers in fridge snd toss a week later.
That is *precisely* what happened to me when I tried to be really "good" about this. Wasted water as well, washing those mini storage containers that get lost between and behind things.
There's no point in storing 10-20 grams of chicken thigh imo. A couple of baby potatoes, yes those would find a home in an omelette later.
Those 10-20 grams of chicken thigh can go in the omelette as well
I would never eat that in a million years, though
Sometimes you just write it off (or I do). Not everyone can be an amazing superhero menu planning machine, know what I mean? Sometimes you just don't want that little bit, and it won't fit with the food that you do want. 0 -
UltimateRBF wrote: »UltimateRBF wrote: »tincanonastring wrote: »I don't like throwing food away. I think it's wasteful and, given the massive environmental impact of food production, I generally try to avoid it all costs.
Our family pre-plans our weekly menu with an eye towards eliminating waste; dishes later in the week tend to incorporate ingredients from earlier meals. We often have meals entirely comprised of leftovers. We do a big shopping trip on weekends and then buy meat and produce fresh on the day we're eating it to avoid spoilage.
At a restaurant, my wife and I will split an entree since we're virtually guaranteed a serving size big enough for two people ('Murica). If not, we'll take leftovers home and turn it into a lunch.
At home, I weigh the food going on my plate and eat all of it. It's pre-logged, so I know the whole plate fits my calorie goal and I know I have to eat it all to reach my macros/micros.
I've found that preparation is key. A good meal plan, efficient shopping, and pre-logging have really helped us cut down on the wasted food.
Other than the fact I don't have a spouse or kids, I do all these things.
I hate waste and I have a very tight budget. What I spend on food has to be done wisely. It's ridiculous to throw out food for the sake of it, might as well stand over the garbage can and toss money into it.
I think OP is talking about like 2-3 bites or something, not half a ham.
*shrug* OP hasn't clarified from what I can tell, so who knows what she actually meant.
She said it wasn't enough for leftovers0 -
So I don't usually have leftovers from myself but used to have a HUGE problem with cleaning my kids plates for them...those couple of bites of mac and cheese or whatever really added up
but now I am at peace with dumping their half eaten food in the trash. 0 -
The thread actually reminded / inspired me to:
Throw out some celery. I didn't even know celery could have leaves. The bunch I bought from Walmart was dirty and had all the leaves. The ones I normally get from kroger have the leaves picked off and are washed and ready to eat. This was grossing me out, so out it went
Throw some old ground beef and turkey into the slow cooker, along with some carrots, mixed veg and BBQ sauce. No idea if it'll be any good, but that should be at least a couple good meals
To the person asking if we've looked at the price of food recently - that's an interesting question, but to address wasting $$, I'd probably want to take a look at habits like buying breakfast, lunch, and coffee, then maybe I'll start worrying about food I'm done eating0 -
MarcyKirkton wrote: »I'm too cheap to toss food, so I store in containers in fridge snd toss a week later.
That is *precisely* what happened to me when I tried to be really "good" about this. Wasted water as well, washing those mini storage containers that get lost between and behind things.
There's no point in storing 10-20 grams of chicken thigh imo. A couple of baby potatoes, yes those would find a home in an omelette later.
I'd just like to know what it's like to be that full. Anything that small (as described by the OP) is instantly getting gobbled up
I have a diet plan I could share with you for the low, low price of $9.99 a month
(Just kidding, no one flag me please)
(But it involves lots of steaks )
<---- has been known to eat a 20oz steak, then lick the juice off the plate
I don't have leftovers. But I do stay full 24+ hours after a meal like that. And it means I almost never throw out food. Once in awhile I'll buy some veggies that never make it to my plate, though. Expensive, too. I do hate that.0 -
Seriously - you threw out a vegetable because it had earth on it, from where it had been growing?!!! What would you do with potatoes?! They come with dirt attached, if you're not paying for the privilege of your supermarket washing them in heavily chlorinated water! Wash all of your veggies in fresh water, and they are PERFECTLY OK to eat! And yes, celery grows with leaves - which are edible, and could have been used to add lots of flavour in that stew you just made!The thread actually reminded / inspired me to:
Throw out some celery. I didn't even know celery could have leaves. The bunch I bought from Walmart was dirty and had all the leaves. The ones I normally get from kroger have the leaves picked off and are washed and ready to eat. This was grossing me out, so out it went
Throw some old ground beef and turkey into the slow cooker, along with some carrots, mixed veg and BBQ sauce. No idea if it'll be any good, but that should be at least a couple good meals
To the person asking if we've looked at the price of food recently - that's an interesting question, but to address wasting $$, I'd probably want to take a look at habits like buying breakfast, lunch, and coffee, then maybe I'll start worrying about food I'm done eating
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dizzieblondeuk wrote: »The thread actually reminded / inspired me to:
Throw out some celery. I didn't even know celery could have leaves. The bunch I bought from Walmart was dirty and had all the leaves. The ones I normally get from kroger have the leaves picked off and are washed and ready to eat. This was grossing me out, so out it went
Throw some old ground beef and turkey into the slow cooker, along with some carrots, mixed veg and BBQ sauce. No idea if it'll be any good, but that should be at least a couple good meals
To the person asking if we've looked at the price of food recently - that's an interesting question, but to address wasting $$, I'd probably want to take a look at habits like buying breakfast, lunch, and coffee, then maybe I'll start worrying about food I'm done eating
Seriously - you threw out a vegetable because it had earth on it, from where it had been growing?!!! What would you do with potatoes?! They come with dirt attached, if you're not paying for the privilege of your supermarket washing them in heavily chlorinated water! Wash all of your veggies in fresh water, and they are PERFECTLY OK to eat! And yes, celery grows with leaves - which are edible, and could have been used to add lots of flavour in that stew you just made!
I'd washed and eaten one stick with a previous meal. That was enough. The bunch I buy from kroger later today will be great. My potatoes don't have dirt on them either - just had one with dinner last night. Needless to say, planting my own food is nowhere in my near future....
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turquoisefish wrote: »I often eat more food than I want or need in a sitting. I will be noticeably full and satisfied, but there's still some food left and I always feel so guilty throwing food away, so I'll eat just that little bit more, but then end up very uncomfortable (and eating unnecessary calories). What I have left and end up eating isn't enough to make a portion to eat another time, if it were, fine, I have no problems with leftovers. How can I learn to be at peace with throwing food away. I'm the anti hoarder and love to throw pretty much everything else away with no problem. How can I overcome this issue? Anyone deal with this?
Save it anyway. Incorporate it in another dish or have a bunch of small portions of things together.
Take smaller portions to begin with. Use a smaller plate. Weigh/measure your portion out. Don't put food that doesn't fit your calorie goal on your plate and you won't have an issue if you eat all of it.
Cook or buy less food... just cook what fits your calorie goal.
Ask if someone else would like to have it. Feed it to an animal (check to see if it is safe for them to eat first).
Think that your health is more important than cleaning your plate. Want to lose weight more than you want to keep eating.
Start a compost bin. whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Easywormbin.htm
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