Interesting Thought for the Day

emAZn

In the book about overeating and compulsive eating I'm reading it talks about people who eat past what they originally had planned because they feel bad throwing the food away.

I'm not sure if this happens to anyone but I usually make a dinner of some meat, veggies, and a side for my boyfriend. This side is usually cheesy rice, mac n' cheese, corn bread, or mashed potatoes. I usally eat the meat, veggies, and maybe a little serving of the side and he'll eat his dinner as he pleases. Since he doesn't really eat left overs (I know he's crazy) there is usually a good sized serving of the side left over after dinner and I hate throwing it away! I feel the need to eat it A) because I like the food and I don't want to see it go to waste and I buy the food and hate seeing my money being thrown away.

Well the book talked about how the food is technically going to go to "waste" whether you eat it or not because if you throw it away it's in the trash and if you consume the food it will end up in the toilet. Moral of the story is to not treat your body like you treat your trash can. Take it or leave it but it stood out to me.

jchadden42

Grandmom said, "Jennie, it's just as wasteful to eat what your body does not need as it is to throw it away."

I have never felt guilty about throwing food away because eating beyond what my body requires is the same thing.

JenAndSome

I'm not a big fan of left overs either. If I don't think my kids will eat it and can't think of a way to re-purpose the food I have resigned myself to throw it away. It's really hard for me sometimes, though.

emAZn

Grandmom said, "Jennie, it's just as wasteful to eat what your body does not need as it is to throw it away."

I have never felt guilty about throwing food away because eating beyond what my body requires is the same thing.

Ha your Grandmom was smarter than mine! Mine said "You better eat those butter laden mashed potaoes and that second helping while you're at it, because there are starving kids in Guatemala who would love to eat your plate."

hipsdontlie1

This is so friggin true! Great way of looking at it

SpecialKitty7

i won't touch leftovers either. if i err and make too much, well, that's what dogs are for.

cubsgirlinny

makes sense

Pelly57

Grandmom said, "Jennie, it's just as wasteful to eat what your body does not need as it is to throw it away."

I have never felt guilty about throwing food away because eating beyond what my body requires is the same thing.

Ha your Grandmom was smarter than mine! Mine said "You better eat those butter laden mashed potaoes and that second helping while you're at it, because there are starving kids in Guatemala who would love to eat your plate."

The kids were starving in China when I grew up.

apollard727

If I have left overs i tend to save them until the next day for dinner (depending on what it is i cook). That is if my boyfriend doesnt get to the left overs first and eat it all before i can pack it away.

I put what i want to eat on my plate and this usually satisfies me, but my boyfriend hates throwing food away (or keeping it for the next day) even if hes full he will go and help himself to another serving!

evanblove

I am also a "finisher." Thanks for the new perspective.

happysherri

I don't do this with most food. However when we order PIZZA and I have my 2 slices. And then not everyone eats what I thought they would and I'm the only one left in the house for a couple of days, Uhm ya. I hate seeing that pizza sitting in the fridge and not in my mouth!

Well said!

emAZn

Ha your Grandmom was smarter than mine! Mine said "You better eat those butter laden mashed potaoes and that second helping while you're at it, because there are starving kids in Guatemala who would love to eat your plate."

The kids were starving in China when I grew up.

ha ha maybe because I live in the southwest

BeccaBollons

Grandmom said, "Jennie, it's just as wasteful to eat what your body does not need as it is to throw it away."

I have never felt guilty about throwing food away because eating beyond what my body requires is the same thing.

Ha your Grandmom was smarter than mine! Mine said "You better eat those butter laden mashed potaoes and that second helping while you're at it, because there are starving kids in Guatemala who would love to eat your plate."

The kids were starving in China when I grew up.

Africa for me

Lonestar5775

Grandmom said, "Jennie, it's just as wasteful to eat what your body does not need as it is to throw it away."

I have never felt guilty about throwing food away because eating beyond what my body requires is the same thing.

Ha your Grandmom was smarter than mine! Mine said "You better eat those butter laden mashed potaoes and that second helping while you're at it, because there are starving kids in Guatemala who would love to eat your plate."

The kids were starving in China when I grew up.

Africa for me

I tell my kids Detroit!

Kimdbro

Grandmom said, "Jennie, it's just as wasteful to eat what your body does not need as it is to throw it away."

I have never felt guilty about throwing food away because eating beyond what my body requires is the same thing.

Ha your Grandmom was smarter than mine! Mine said "You better eat those butter laden mashed potaoes and that second helping while you're at it, because there are starving kids in Guatemala who would love to eat your plate."

The kids were starving in China when I grew up.

It was the Ethiopians when I was a kid.

CountryGirl8542

Thank you for sharing this. I am the same way... don't want to waste food because it tastes good and it costs money.... My mind set is officially changed.

JADEPH0EN1X

I used to eat the leftovers especially the carbs ! Since being on mfp I haven't but have a 4 legged friend for that but there is only so much she can eat !!

AmyP619

I'm the same way. It's extremely difficult to cook for 2 people because everything has like a minimum of 4 servings to it! I hate throwing away food. I've never thought about it this way, though, so I love this post! Most of our dinners are like this too....meat, veggie, and rice or sweet potatoes. I usually eat half of a serving of whatever starch I make, especially if I need to finish up my calories for the day, so we end up throwing our sides away (including leftover veggies). I've gotten better about only cooking enough meat for the 2 of us (we eat a ton of chicken and buy it in bulk!). Sometimes I try to save the veggies to add them to salads for lunch, but 95% of the time we just throw away the leftovers.

tjthegreatone

I love eating leftovers. Problem is I often don't have enough self-control to stop eating if the food tastes good. Solution - I only plate out what I'm going to eat (or slightly less) and immediately transfer everything else into tupperware containers. If want seconds I take more. Of course this works because I don't have kids/ an SO so I don't have to eat off anyone else's plate (which I don't like doing anyway).

Guinivere

I only eat small portions but if I am in the leftovers zone I keep them til tomorrow. I never throw food away. Those sides can all be microwaved or baked back to life the following day.

If it happens a lot make less sides or no sides? Then there's no waste!

WeepingAngel81

I will think about this the next time, but I know this is a tough thought to change.

emAZn

I make the sides for my boyfriend. He doesn't eat vegetables, only meat, rice, and potatoes, and beer... And skinny as a rail... d@mn him

junejadesky

Love it!!

sunnyside1213

Google cooking for two. Lots of resources out there. I know it can be a challenge. I cook for one.

clarkeje1

I have trouble with this also, but I have gotten used to eating more leftovers. I just space it out over several days so that I don't go over my calories but I also don't have to throw it away. I also need to work on cooking smaller portions because it's just me and my bf also so there usually is a lot of food leftover.

smithed812

Always good to get a new perspective, thanks!

Dunkirk

Surplus food in my house isn't regarded as left overs, but pre-prepared meals. I dish the food neatly into plastic containers while serving the meal.

lucystacy71

Such an interesting perspective.

I was always raised to 'clean my plate' and to not waste food. When I started making changes, one of the first things I had to do was to change these views.

katorihanzo

I definitely don't agree with this. Many of you have pointed out the "starving kids in Africa/Ethiopia/Guatemala" thing (it was China for me) and yes, this is a cliche. But that doesn't make it untrue. And honestly, these people aren't in some far-away country, they're in your own backyard. Food disparity is a very, very real thing. There are actually people in your very town or city who haven't had a bite to eat today because they've had to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their children or paying the rent. As an increasingly poor student, I'm not that far from this.

I don't want to sound heavy, I'm not usually one to lecture. But losing weight doesn't have to mean literally dumping food in the garbage because you don't want it in your belly. Get over it and eat leftovers - it's the same damn food you ate last night. Make smaller portions - isn't that the real way to lose weight anyway? Eating smaller portions? Turn it into a new meal. Give it away.

Seriously, the LEAST you can do to help others who can't afford food is to take the small amount of time it takes to figure out how much food you'll actually eat, make only that much, and donate any other food or money you would spend on that food to someone who needs it. Isn't that an insanely better idea than throwing it in the trash and convincing yourself not to feel bad about it because now it's easier to meet your calorie goal?

Crazyness.


ETA: You all should send me your addresses, I'll get in touch with the homeless shelters in your town and let them know to line up at your door at supper time; the eatin'll be good tonight.

dakotababy

You can either "waste" food or "waist" food. The choice is all yours!

emAZn

I definitely don't agree with this. Many of you have pointed out the "starving kids in Africa/Ethiopia/Guatemala" thing (it was China for me) and yes, this is a cliche. But that doesn't make it untrue. And honestly, these people aren't in some far-away country, they're in your own backyard. Food disparity is a very, very real thing. There are actually people in your very town or city who haven't had a bite to eat today because they've had to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their children or paying the rent. As an increasingly poor student, I'm not that far from this.

I don't want to sound heavy, I'm not usually one to lecture. But losing weight doesn't have to mean literally dumping food in the garbage because you don't want it in your belly. Get over it and eat leftovers - it's the same damn food you ate last night. Make smaller portions - isn't that the real way to lose weight anyway? Eating smaller portions? Turn it into a new meal. Give it away.

Seriously, the LEAST you can do to help others who can't afford food is to take the small amount of time it takes to figure out how much food you'll actually eat, make only that much, and donate any other food or money you would spend on that food to someone who needs it. Isn't that an insanely better idea than throwing it in the trash and convincing yourself not to feel bad about it because now it's easier to meet your calorie goal?

Crazyness.


ETA: You all should send me your addresses, I'll get in touch with the homeless shelters in your town and let them know to line up at your door at supper time; the eatin'll be good tonight.

No offense to your post, I understand where you are coming from, but there is no way I'm going to encourage any person to come to my house to eat my 2 cups of left over mashed potatoes (est 520 calories).

Plus this post was supposed to help people who eat things they didn't intend to eat because of a compulsive need. Suggesting they eat their left overs to not be wasteful is not helpful to them or to world hunger. Suggesting they throw away unwanted/unable to be repurposed food and make a donation to end hunger is helpful.