Purge Soft Drinks & Naughty Foods

culo97

I started MyFitnessPal food logging in December 2013. Unfortunately that means I have food and drinks hanging around I no longer want to eat or drink. It's the type of stuff not usually donated to a food drive because of the packing or lack of helpful nutrition. Things like soda, ice tea and chips. I don't have anyone to pass it off to and I can't leave the stuff in the break room at work. Even after I hold some back for "just in case", there's still a lot left over. :blushing:

What would you do in this situation? Bite the bullet and throw everything away? Donate it? Where?

Thanks for suggestions.

TavistockToad

Eat it. In moderation.

HealthyishWithMaggieG

Do you use your local Facebook garage sale/swap groups? If so, post on there that you're cleaning out your pantry and have food/drinks that you're giving away. Might work. I see moms frequently giving away formula that their babies can't use anymore. I know it's not the same thing, but kinda similar.

nobel99

At my work, people eat everything and anything! I work nights so we all get weird cravings and I always bring in all my leftover Hallowe'en candy and bags of chips etc. I wouldn't donate junk food to a food bank either so I guess if nobody at your work will eat your munchies, I guess the garbage is it's destiny!

Velum_cado

I guess you'll just have to have a party so it all gets eaten!

Chezzie84

Just because you have decided to lose weight, does not mean you can't still enjoy "naughty" foods. Everything in moderation is the key.
I still eat crisps, chocolate, pizza etc and I am losing weight.

If you cut all so called bad foods from your diet you will get bored and depressed. Trust me I have been there loads of times.

fificrazy

There's this pregnant woman who comes into my work quite frequently with little ziploc baggies of candy and stuff she'd buy on an impulse pregnancy craving, then become nauseated by it. She's a frequent customer, but we never actually talk or whatever haha so it's pretty random. Guess that's her solution!

Could just put it in a bag and give it directly to a homeless person... My family will do that before heading home after a vacation for the meat and cheese and such that we didn't end up eating. Drive by a soup kitchen? Even if they don't accept it directly, there will probably be someone in need of it there.

Personally, I am living proof of the fact that a calorie is a calorie. If you don't trust yourself to eat a reasonable portion, put them in pre-portioned baggies/tupperware, grab *one*, and leave the pantry before digging in.

culo97

Do you use your local Facebook garage sale/swap groups? If so, post on there that you're cleaning out your pantry and have food/drinks that you're giving away. Might work. I see moms frequently giving away formula that their babies can't use anymore. I know it's not the same thing, but kinda similar.

Interesting suggestion. I'll look into it. I have other non-food stuff I've been collecting over time. A great chance to get rid of stuff.

culo97

Just because you have decided to lose weight, does not mean you can't still enjoy "naughty" foods. Everything in moderation is the key.
I still eat crisps, chocolate, pizza etc and I am losing weight..

Me too. I'll still continue to eat a variety of foods as long as it fits within my calories & carbs limits. I just have too much. I'd rather have the space over having tons of junk food on hand.

Thanks

HealthyishWithMaggieG

Do you use your local Facebook garage sale/swap groups? If so, post on there that you're cleaning out your pantry and have food/drinks that you're giving away. Might work. I see moms frequently giving away formula that their babies can't use anymore. I know it's not the same thing, but kinda similar.

Interesting suggestion. I'll look into it. I have other non-food stuff I've been collecting over time. A great chance to get rid of stuff.

I buy and sell stuff in these groups, pretty regularly. And, I like it better than Craigslist. With FB, you can at least connect with a profile, to some degree. With Craigslist, you never know who's gonna show up to meet you. Oh, and definitely meet at a neutral location... not your house or theirs. You might be able to sell it, but if you really just want it gone, I'd probably offer it up for free.

culo97

Could just put it in a bag and give it directly to a homeless person... My family will do that before heading home after a vacation for the meat and cheese and such that we didn't end up eating. Drive by a soup kitchen? Even if they don't accept it directly, there will probably be someone in need of it there.

Personally, I am living proof of the fact that a calorie is a calorie. If you don't trust yourself to eat a reasonable portion, put them in pre-portioned baggies/tupperware, grab *one*, and leave the pantry before digging in.

I live in a suburb residential area. So of bviously homeless people are pretty scarce.

Your suggestion gave me an idea. Sometimes I volunteer at a food bank. I think some of the snacks for the volunteers are donated. They could definitely use some chips and sodas after all that sorting and lifting.

I can definitely pre-proportion the chips I do keep. Having snacks ready to go is a good thing.

Thanks

liftingandlipstick

I have a very similar kitchen situation. I'm going on two weeks on MFP, and there just isn't much room in my kitchen for the good stuff because of the junk! I'm cleaning it out today, will donate what I can, and then create a space in my pantry (which doesn't normally store food) for "emergency" or "junk" foods- foods that I won't say I "can't" eat, but that I'm trying not to eat on a regular basis. Like mac n cheese, stuffing mix, baked beans, etc.

culo97

I have a very similar kitchen situation. I'm going on two weeks on MFP, and there just isn't much room in my kitchen for the good stuff because of the junk! I'm cleaning it out today, will donate what I can, and then create a space in my pantry (which doesn't normally store food) for "emergency" or "junk" foods- foods that I won't say I "can't" eat, but that I'm trying not to eat on a regular basis. Like mac n cheese, stuffing mix, baked beans, etc.

We can clean up our food places together, edlefevre. Just picture me in California when you're doing the deed. :drinker:

Sunbrooke

At my work, people eat everything and anything! I work nights so we all get weird cravings and I always bring in all my leftover Hallowe'en candy and bags of chips etc. I wouldn't donate junk food to a food bank either so I guess if nobody at your work will eat your munchies, I guess the garbage is it's destiny!

This is a great idea. I worked somewhere where people brought in leftover cookies and bags of chips, and left them in the break room. Everything always got eaten.

laurie04427

I'd call up the local food pantry anyhow. They might not be that picky. Everyone likes snacks.

fallingtrees

There must be some teenagers around somewhere who would make short work of any snacks purge.

LosingItForGood13

Donate to a foodshelter they always need additional food for the less fortunate

culo97

I have an update if anyone is curious how things ended. I donated 3 full shopping bags of chips, sodas and other stuff to the volunteer break room of the local food bank. The volunteer coordinators said they were happy to have a break from the usual snacks.

Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions.