Guilt about wasting food when eating out?
GuyAwks
Posts: 2
Hi all. I started counting calories about a week ago and it's been great so far. I've found there's a surprising variety of food to choose from because, as others have said, I can technically eat anything if the portion is small enough.
However this requires me to sometimes not eat about half of the portion I receive when eating out. Calorie-wise this has allowed me to easily to achieve my calorie deficit but I've felt ridiculously guilty throwing away half a (non-greasy) souvlaki or leaving half of my noodles uneaten at a restaurant. It's not necessarily logical (I can't give them to starving children) but it's been ingrained in me since childhood "waste-not-want-not".
Does anyone else leave meals unfinished when eating out? If so do you feel any guilt about it? Or if a portion is too big should I just not get it (sadly this limits my outside-food choices substantially)? Cheers.
However this requires me to sometimes not eat about half of the portion I receive when eating out. Calorie-wise this has allowed me to easily to achieve my calorie deficit but I've felt ridiculously guilty throwing away half a (non-greasy) souvlaki or leaving half of my noodles uneaten at a restaurant. It's not necessarily logical (I can't give them to starving children) but it's been ingrained in me since childhood "waste-not-want-not".
Does anyone else leave meals unfinished when eating out? If so do you feel any guilt about it? Or if a portion is too big should I just not get it (sadly this limits my outside-food choices substantially)? Cheers.
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Replies
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If I can't finish what I ordered, then I always pack it to go and eat it later.0
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To-go box?0
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If I can't finish what I ordered, then I always pack it to go and eat it later.
This! I was also brought up to not waste food, and hell I can't afford to watch food I've paid for get thrown away either so if I were to eat out, I would either finish it, log honestly and do some more exercise / move onto the next day, or I would totally bring leftovers home for the following day!
It makes me cringe when I see other people throw food away as well! I have a whole freezer full of leftovers :laugh:0 -
I can relate to this in a different way. We don't eat out much because we have small children, but I (and many, many mums) have a similar experience with throwing away the kids' leftovers - so much food, barely touched! And what makes it worse is that you have usually prepared it as well. The waste!
I never touch children's leftovers anymore, but my husband will often serve himself a smaller portion for dinner assuming that he is going to get children's leftovers!
The dog is also super well-fed!0 -
I never feel guilty about thrown away food. Better it be in the trash, than on my butt!0
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Thanks for all the responses! I don't know why it didn't occur to me to simply have the leftovers for dinner or lunch the next day, I suppose I'm just used to thinking of leftovers as snacks in between meals rather than meals themselves- another thought pattern towards food I'll have to change as part of this journey.
If I'm out with friends for a busy day or it's a hectic lunch break during college classes taking home leftovers might be tricky but I'll try and do so whenever it's possible.0 -
Thanks for all the responses! I don't know why it didn't occur to me to simply have the leftovers for dinner or lunch the next day, I suppose I'm just used to thinking of leftovers as snacks in between meals rather than meals themselves- another thought pattern towards food I'll have to change as part of this journey.
If I'm out with friends for a busy day or it's a hectic lunch break during college classes taking home leftovers might be tricky but I'll try and do so whenever it's possible.
there you go left overs are great you buy one meal and get 2-4 meals out of it! Not sure how you feel about this but you could always bring a little lunch box and pop the left overs in there with a freezer pack.0 -
Ask the server to bring you a to-go box when he brings the food. Split the dish and put half away before even starting to eat. Two meals for the price of one!0
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I often give my leftovers in a to go box to a homeless person. I set aside the "leftovers" before I start eating my portion. There are so many homeless in Los Angeles where I live that I almost always pass one on my way home, and they always seem happy to get it. Good Karma!0
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I often give my leftovers in a to go box to a homeless person. I set aside the "leftovers" before I start eating my portion. There are so many homeless in Los Angeles where I live that I almost always pass one on my way home, and they always seem happy to get it. Good Karma!
I do this too. I also bring hostess gifts of chocolates and cookies to the homeless guy at the tube station. I am probably responsible for a lot of bad teeth.0 -
Ask the server to bring you a to-go box when he brings the food. Split the dish and put half away before even starting to eat. Two meals for the price of one!
I do this regularly. It also helps me to not overeat. Out of sight out of mind, you know. If it's not practical for you to take a to go box, ask for a half-serving. I generally ask for half at the cafeteria when the dish includes rice or noodles. Else, I overindulge.0 -
I often give my leftovers in a to go box to a homeless person. I set aside the "leftovers" before I start eating my portion. There are so many homeless in Los Angeles where I live that I almost always pass one on my way home, and they always seem happy to get it. Good Karma!
I do this too. I also bring hostess gifts of chocolates and cookies to the homeless guy at the tube station. I am probably responsible for a lot of bad teeth.
Great idea both of you. And I'm sure that the bad teeth are not just because of the goodies.0 -
I live around montreal and there are quite a few homeless people around. If I eat out in town and I don't eat it all I take the rest to them. Really makes their day0
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I think giving it to homeless people is a great idea. Unfortunately, (or fortunately?) there aren't a whole lot of them where I live. Nor do I eat out - ever. But it's something I will keep in mind!0
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I don't have any guilt about throwing away food. It's not like food is scarce where I live. My eating a calorie overage in order to not "waste" food doesn't help anyone else who doesn't have enough to eat. I think it's absurd to have guilt about food at all. It's food. :yawn:0
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Ask the server to bring you a to-go box when he brings the food. Split the dish and put half away before even starting to eat. Two meals for the price of one!
Re-read this quote 20 times then do it! This is a major help in calorie counting. I do it ALL the time. Also I read somewhere it's cruel but true I think Jillian Michaels said it: throwing away some of your supper when needed won't help a starving child why eat it and get fatter for no reason.0 -
I don't eat out, ever...
ever..
what a shame,
I guess I am missing out.0 -
Also taking home small things like even a few extra noodles can easily be thrown in the microwave with say done turkey or a can of tuna and a whole other meal can be made with even a tiny portion. If I pay for it I'm probably gonna be taking it home and using it later somehow.0
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If you're in North America: ask for a to go box. If you're not North American and that's done in your country, do it. If it's not, bring your own to go box.0
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Thanks for all the responses! I don't know why it didn't occur to me to simply have the leftovers for dinner or lunch the next day, I suppose I'm just used to thinking of leftovers as snacks in between meals rather than meals themselves- another thought pattern towards food I'll have to change as part of this journey.
If I'm out with friends for a busy day or it's a hectic lunch break during college classes taking home leftovers might be tricky but I'll try and do so whenever it's possible.0 -
I always slurp up every last bit.0
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I either:
Split an appetizer and entree with my dh or others with me or
Order 2 appetizers such as soup and hearty salad or
Take the rest home with me.0 -
If I can't finish what I ordered, then I always pack it to go and eat it later.
This.
Also, on the times I have had to throw food out rather than eat it, I realized this: I could feel guilty for throwing it out, or I could feel guilty for eating it. At least if I threw it out, it was contributing to my weight loss effort.0 -
weight watchers tips: share with a friend, ask for a take out container when ordering and put half of it away right when it arrives, order from the kids/seniors/lunch menu, order an appetizer instead, order sides like salad or soup. If you have opportunity to check out the menu/nutrional info on line before you go, you can choose ahead and plan the rest of your day accordingly....
and no, I dont' feel guilty if I can't finish0
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