Why is it SO HARD not to eat kids' leftovers?

CattOfTheGarage

I know all the helpful thoughts - especially "it's still wasted if you eat it, only now you need to burn it off as well" - but I still feel this powerful urge, like it really bugs me to see the wasted food and I feel like it won't be so bad if I eat it. I don't even want it! And it's only half an omelette, it's not like it's going to break the bank (though how me eating it would somehow balance the books is a puzzle anyway).

Anyone got any insight into this? I feel if I could understand this, I'd be on my way to understanding other situations where I eat without actually wanting to.

BlueSkyShoal

I think it's natural, especially when you're the one purchasing the food and you're like "Nooo, those ingredients cost money, whyyy?"

Could you refrigerate it and eat the stuff later? I mean, we save leftovers from restaurants, why should homemade meals be any different?

Ready2Rock206

You're not a trash can. You don't need to eat garbage. Throw that stuff away. Think of yourself as something to be treated well - not as a human garbage disposal.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Can you start them with smaller servings? If they don't eat an entire omelette make them split it?

The one that helps me the most is "I am not a garbage disposal".

leanjogreen18

I ate my granddaughters leftover mini blueberry pancakes this morning:).

AEC50

This is what got me in trouble! As soon as my kids put their plates in the sink I turn it on so I can't eat all the cheesy, carb-y goodness they left behind.

newheavensearth

What helped me most was imagining my kids' drool and dirty fingers in the food. One's an adult now, the other's a preteen, love them to death, and I still won't eat their leftovers.

CattOfTheGarage

I could have made it smaller but her appetite is totally unpredictable and she often eats adult portions, especially omelettes. She had eaten all round the edges rather than a neat half, so I didn't fancy keeping it for tomorrow!

I successfully threw it away. I'm just trying to get a better handle on the urge.

KelGen02

wrap it up and put it away for tomorrows left overs. We instinctively feel the need to not waste but as many have said, we are not garbage disposals. I meal prep so I prep food for the weekdays and it sits in the fridge until I eat it, there is no harm in doing the same with the kids left overs. Also, if they are not finishing their meals then make smaller portions for them. You are in control of what you eat, don't justify eating the left overs just for the sake of not wasting money, it's simply an excuse we tell ourselves to justify our actions.

kshama2001

Sure, I hate to waste food. I got lots of messages about the evils of wasting food when I was a kid - "Clean Plate Club", "starving children in Africa", etc.

My mother composted, and I do too when my living situation permits. His Nibs doesn't want me to compost here and it bothers me to throw perfectly good garbage (actual unedible scraps) down the disposal and tea bags in the trash.

One of my requirements for our next place is much more room to garden plus a space for a composter. Many municipalities sell some sort of composter for a discount. My last town subsidized this one. Garbage In, Compost Out.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/The-Earth-Machine-80-gal-Composter-NPL-300/202837860?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|google|&mid=shWrnX7Ao|dc_mtid_8903jx325196_pcrid_107016512728_pkw__pmt__product_202837860_slid_&gclid=CP2BrNeU2dICFVYHhgodvFgDiQ

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CattOfTheGarage

KelGen02 wrote: »

it's simply an excuse we tell ourselves to justify our actions.

I'd go with this explanation if I actually wanted it. But in this case (and others) I really didn't. I had my own omelette and I'm full after it - eating anything else is not that attractive (except maybe a small chocolate). It would have left me uncomfortable and sad.

I just felt somehow like I should eat it. Like it would make things right somehow.

It's weird.

snickerscharlie

Ready2Rock206 wrote: »

You're not a trash can. You don't need to eat garbage. Throw that stuff away. Think of yourself as something to be treated well - not as a human garbage disposal.

That would only be true if she was feeding her kids garbage.

An omelette hardly qualifies.

I was raised in a clean-your-plate generational mentality, because food wasn't something we had an excess of back then. It did take me a while to break that mentality when I became a mom.

We have green bin recycling here - food scraps go into the bin and are collected once a week and composted by the town. Every spring residents can pick up free compost. Works for me, and I no longer feel guilty about not eating leftovers.

cross2bear

Its a hard habit to break if you have a history of food insecurity. But like someone else mentioned, their germy little fingers have been on it, their snotty little noses have probably dripped on it and that makes it just so unappealing that I couldnt eat it without gagging (this may not be true of your Precious, but its good imaging!)

CattOfTheGarage

Yes, we have food recycling too, and it definitely helps - and yet here I am!

size102b

I had counselling once for weight and they told me not leaving any food or eating kids left overs usually stems from Childhood mums telling us to eat everything as we've not much money or you won't get anything else
Squirt washing up liquid on it as soon as they finish eating

McShorty7

Kids are gross and full of germs. There is no way that I am eating my kids leftovers. LOL

snickerscharlie

cross2bear wrote: »

Its a hard habit to break if you have a history of food insecurity. But like someone else mentioned, their germy little fingers have been on it, their snotty little noses have probably dripped on it and that makes it just so unappealing that I couldnt eat it without gagging (this may not be true of your Precious, but its good imaging!)

I don't get the whole snotty little grubby dirty kid thing. Do people not get their kids to wash up before eating any more? Do kids have permanent sinus issues these days? LOL.

sbrandt37

I look at it this way: If I eat it, it's gone and I gain calories. If I toss it, it's just gone. So the only question is, do I want the calories? Plus, given how often my kids bring home colds from school, I tend to think of anything that touches their plate or their mouths as tainted. Consequently, I NEVER eat their leftovers.

itsfuntobedevilinabluedress

You know, it's fine to give her a kid's portion all the time and fill in with cheese, fruits, veggies if she wants more. Until she is capable of saying "I am very hungry make me extra" don't default to adult portions.

zdyb23456

I serve my kids small portions and if they don't finish I wrap it up for later. I hate wasting food.

RunWinterGarden

I can't imagine wanting to eat my kid's leftovers. I don't get the urge to do so and I have no idea why anyone would want to.

kgeyser

I will serve portion sizes I know they will eat and wrap up leftovers. It also helps to operate under the belief that your children are probably carrying some form of childhood plague at any given moment.

wellthenwhat

I serve very small portions, and save any leftovers for his next snack or meal

bpotts44

We feed all our kitchen scraps to chickens. That way nothing goes to waste.

RaeBeeBaby

I struggled with that when my kids were growing up. Often I'd put it in the fridge and hope they'd eat it later (which they rarely did). I thought I had left those days behind until I babysat the grandkids last weekend. I found myself cleaning up after the 3 year old just like the old days! Arrrgh! So, no good advice here just empathy.

I have an obsessive need to NOT waste food (as I posted on another thread today). I do compost, but you can't really compost meat scraps. Luckily, I have two dogs who eat very well as they get healthy leftovers mixed in with their kibble. (And before the PETA police come after me, it's all good stuff like chicken, rice and veggies).

Fuzzipeg

We are hard wired from childhood, well I was, not to waste food. it did not matter that I carried it about with me because it contributed to thyroid malfunction, I've always been heavier than my sister. Now we cook what we need. Catering for the grandchildren does throw their portion size into the mix. happy giggles.

cwolfman13

I give my kids servings that I know they are likely to eat given experience.

If they have leftovers, I'm not particularly tempted...they somehow manage to "slime" all over their food...and they always have their hands down their pants scratching their butts and whatnot despite constant nagging from mom and dad. Their remaining chicken nugget isn't particularly tempting when you've seen them touching their food with their dirty *kitten* hands...

RaeBeeBaby

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I give my kids servings that I know they are likely to eat given experience.

If they have leftovers, I'm not particularly tempted...they somehow manage to "slime" all over their food...and they always have their hands down their pants scratching their butts and whatnot despite constant nagging from mom and dad. Their remaining chicken nugget isn't particularly tempting when you've seen them touching their food with their dirty *kitten* hands...

OMG! Can't stop laughing. OK, that's the inspiration I needed to never eat the grandkid's leftovers EVER again.

Fuzzipeg

My kids had belts on their trousers! but that was thennnnnnnnnnn.

staceyw37

i just tell myself it's contaminated. ick