The perils of after dinner clean-up duty.

aneedell
aneedell Posts: 46 Member
in Motivation and Support
MFP tracking has clearly indicated what the biggest source of excess calories has been for me for years. My wife and I have had (until now) an equitable and peaceful division of chores. She loves to cook, I am a stickler for things being put away. She cooks dinner, we eat and I have clean up duty, collecting dishes (including the serving dishes with leftovers to cover and put away), dish washing, counter cleaning, take out trash, etc.

In hindsight now I can see I habitually would at least double the evening meal calorie count, eating leftovers before getting them to the refrigerator or into the garbage disposal. Who can resist that extra sausage or ravioli, etc.

Sometimes it helps to have others handle the leftovers. But otherwise it takes willpower to eat at the table and not in the kitchen. Maybe its time to negotiate a new division of labor. Advice?

Replies

  • 13suzie
    13suzie Posts: 349 Member
    You are so right! Only from logging on MFP did I realize that I too could easily double my count by rescuing leftovers from going into the disposal. I became a human garbage can rescuing last fries, spoonfuls of mac and cheese, and other plate loners. Now I have to be really mindful of delivering leftovers to either the fridge or garbage---not mouth :)
  • aneedell
    aneedell Posts: 46 Member
    You are so right! Only from logging on MFP did I realize that I too could easily double my count by rescuing leftovers from going into the disposal. I became a human garbage can rescuing last fries, spoonfuls of mac and cheese, and other plate loners. Now I have to be really mindful of delivering leftovers to either the fridge or garbage---not mouth :)

    Its been a month, with discipline, but I feel myself slipping. How do you translate "really mindful" into "really honest"?
  • blg5
    blg5 Posts: 89 Member
    When your wife has finished cooking fill your plates then put leftovers up before sitting down to eat.
  • 12774
    12774 Posts: 1,416 Member
    Hi aneedell , that was also my problem .I have recently started to measure out my meals at the kitchen counter and place the remainder in the refrig right away . By the time that I am finished eating there is no urge to clean up or look for seconds. Wifey can also help you do this and it cuts down on your share of the work too.
  • CharRicho
    CharRicho Posts: 389 Member
    Put the leftovers into tupperware and put them in the fridge, BEFORE you sit down to eat your dinner. Then you can finish doing the rest of the cleaning up after you eat.
  • 13suzie
    13suzie Posts: 349 Member
    You are so right! Only from logging on MFP did I realize that I too could easily double my count by rescuing leftovers from going into the disposal. I became a human garbage can rescuing last fries, spoonfuls of mac and cheese, and other plate loners. Now I have to be really mindful of delivering leftovers to either the fridge or garbage---not mouth :)

    Its been a month, with discipline, but I feel myself slipping. How do you translate "really mindful" into "really honest"?

    Okay--one of my MFP friends offered a great quote - the body keeps perfect track of everything we put in it - there's no cheating the body - log it or don't log it - the body keeps PERFECT track!

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