Buying cookies and cakes and then giving them all away

Rosie_McA
Rosie_McA Posts: 256 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have to admit to occasionally doing just that.
I will do my healthy shop in Sainsburys and then buy a bag of fresh cookies or doughnuts on my way to the checkout.
I then take this bag of calories into work and hand them out. More frequently than not I won't eat a single one.
Should I fee ashamed and is there some sort of schadenfreude going on here?
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Replies

  • professormudd1
    professormudd1 Posts: 59
    Nah... Unless you are honestly just trying to make other people fat, there is nothing wrong with hooking your office mates up with goodies. Consider it eating vicariously through them.
  • lilbearzmom
    lilbearzmom Posts: 600 Member
    I think I know where all of the people who start the "sabotage" threads work....you...you..sabotager!

    I think you subconsciously or unsubconsciously want to be the skinniest person in your office.

    :devil:
  • twixlepennie
    twixlepennie Posts: 1,074 Member
    :huh:
  • dsearle1
    dsearle1 Posts: 8
    The fact that you are actively trying to lose weight makes this a great idea, it reminds me of when I quit smoking, but I'd still go out and get cigarettes for my co-workers. It was a test of my will, and I won. You are also winning.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    I have to admit to occasionally doing just that.
    I will do my healthy shop in Sainsburys and then buy a bag of fresh cookies or doughnuts on my way to the checkout.
    I then take this bag of calories into work and hand them out. More frequently than not I won't eat a single one.
    Should I fee ashamed and is there some sort of schadenfreude going on here?
    I think it's sweet (pun intended :bigsmile:) you do that. My friend at work bakes all these wonderful treats, brings them to work, and doesn't eat a single one. I hear she also does not eat out of the bowl.

    Our office was re-carpeted after Christmas. When I came back from break expecting to have to put my own office back together, but found my boxes with things neatly stacked by my desk and my computer all set up and ready to go. I didn't know who did this so I made some lemon poppyseed cake to share with everyone. This is the first time that I did not have any prior to taking it to work (I had a taste of the dough, though, instead of eating spoonfuls), but I did have one small piece at work because (1) I wanted it and (2) it fit just fine into my calories for day. This is so new for me.

    Just keep sharing your food, but don't be afraid to have one if you want it and it fits into your calories. :smile:
  • LeahFerri
    LeahFerri Posts: 186 Member
    I would try to avoid it on a regular basis because it seems a waste of money...

    I would understand it better if you had one or two yourself and gave the rest away, although then I'd probably suggest buying in smaller quantities. Like last night I made dinner and a dozen cookies. I could have portioned the cookies out over a few days for myself, but instead I had three and gave the other nine to people with whom I was on call.

    The only thing that I can guess is that you like buying them but then don't want to eat them. I've run into this before--I like the idea of a food but not the food itself, or I can't make it fit my calories. Usually when that happens, the product languishes in a cabinet/the back of the refrigerator somewhere until it gets too old to eat. (My dad would roll his eyes at me for wasting food, but I can/should eat only so much at a time!)
  • Phaedra2014
    Phaedra2014 Posts: 1,254 Member
    I have to admit to occasionally doing just that.
    I will do my healthy shop in Sainsburys and then buy a bag of fresh cookies or doughnuts on my way to the checkout.
    I then take this bag of calories into work and hand them out. More frequently than not I won't eat a single one.
    Should I fee ashamed and is there some sort of schadenfreude going on here?

    Put that money you would spend on cakes and cookies in a jar. At the end of the month buy yourself a non-food treat. takes care of you and helps others take better care of themselves.
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    You should donate them to me...
  • Rosie_McA
    Rosie_McA Posts: 256 Member
    I think I know where all of the people who start the "sabotage" threads work....you...you..sabotager!

    I think you subconsciously or unsubconsciously want to be the skinniest person in your office.

    :devil:

    That's not going to happen. There's one girl in my office who is always trying to gain weight and is way thinner than me. We are good friends and she always gets offered the first cookie. Also, there's no-one in my workplace who is obviously overweight so I don't feel that guilty. I believe I'm buying these things with the intent of at least having one later in the day, but it just doesn't work out that way. I'm not buying them all the time and like a lot of these treats they are cheap compared to fruit and veg.
    It may be that I'm evil, but hey at least I'm honest.
  • jennyxoheff
    jennyxoheff Posts: 25 Member
    I recently got into a bit of an argument at work with someone who was doing what you are doing. I don't fall victim to treats and goodies, but I saw my colleagues spending much of their workdays full of regret and self loathing for making too many trips to the staff kitchen to indulge. I had to deal with the "ughhhhhs" and "GOD WHY Do I eat that crap!? Next time Im saying NO!"

    If you are, in some way, trying to sabotage others efforts, I would kindly leave the cookies in the store :) If you even remotely SUSPECT that you could be doing that....just stop.

    That being said, there is always something sweet and "motherly" about the lady who brings the goodies to work. I don't think you're a bad person :) Probably the complete opposite.
  • Lrdoflamancha
    Lrdoflamancha Posts: 1,280 Member
    I do this all the time with Girl Scout cookies. I give the girls $20 and tell them to give boxes of cookies to anyone that looks like they need some. I have also given the Girl Scouts money and have them bulk ship the cookies to our troops overseas.
  • marise29
    marise29 Posts: 32
    Hahahaha, I love this! Now I know why people bring doughnuts to work! :laugh: evil evil... :drinker:
  • marise29
    marise29 Posts: 32
    :huh: hang on.... that means they're trying to sabotage me.... :embarassed: :grumble:
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,222 Member
    I have to admit to occasionally doing just that.
    I will do my healthy shop in Sainsburys and then buy a bag of fresh cookies or doughnuts on my way to the checkout.
    I then take this bag of calories into work and hand them out. More frequently than not I won't eat a single one.
    Should I fee ashamed and is there some sort of schadenfreude going on here?
    Rosie I just want to thank you for introducing me to a new word schadenfreude and said it an appropriate format, thank you. :flowerforyou:
  • tabbyxxcat
    tabbyxxcat Posts: 102 Member
    That being said, there is always something sweet and "motherly" about the lady who brings the goodies to work. I don't think you're a bad person :) Probably the complete opposite.

    I like that ^

    You're also testing your willpower, too. So it's a win-win for the people being loved on and for you practicing self control :)
  • toddis
    toddis Posts: 941 Member
    I usually buy them because I want one and I give the rest away.

    I can't same I'm innocent of a bit of schadenfreude though.
  • HRLaurie614
    HRLaurie614 Posts: 260 Member
    I think it speaks more to your relationship with food. Why do you need to buy it and give it away? Not buying it serves the same purpose.

    I bake a lot. I keep a small amount at home and bring the rest in to work or give to friends.

    Buying it and not eating it or tying to show others your will power will only last so long. I'm not saying this to be harsh. I can almost relate to the desire to do it. But, it doesn't sound like its a healthy way to approach achieving good health or good eating habits.
  • Rosie_McA
    Rosie_McA Posts: 256 Member
    Apart from my friend who is trying to gain weight I don't go round offering my cookies and doughnuts. The bag stays on my desk and I just look at it from time to time thinking "I'll have one of those with a coffee later". Trouble is later never comes.

    Actually, the more I think about it I would say there are others in my office already doing this to me. There are a least three girls who graze on biscuits all day and are always offering them to me. Worst is Pizza-Thursdays when they all come back at lunchtime with more than they can eat! You know how it plays out: "go on, just one piece, I can't possibly eat all of it".
  • ponycyndi
    ponycyndi Posts: 858 Member
    I do the same thing, except the recipients are my family-usually my own kids. I limit it to once per week when I'm at the store.
  • HRLaurie614
    HRLaurie614 Posts: 260 Member
    I think it speaks more to your relationship with food. Why do you need to buy it and give it away? Not buying it serves the same purpose.

    I bake a lot. I keep a small amount at home and bring the rest in to work or give to friends.

    Buying it and not eating it or tying to show others your will power will only last so long. I'm not saying this to be harsh. I can almost relate to the desire to do it. But, it doesn't sound like its a healthy way to approach achieving good health or good eating habits.
  • Rosie_McA
    Rosie_McA Posts: 256 Member
    Rosie I just want to thank you for introducing me to a new word schadenfreude and said it an appropriate format, thank you. :flowerforyou:
    It's been a while since I've been able to sneak schadenfreude into a sentence but it felt correct in this instance.
    I used to live in Zürich and have always had a soft spot for the German language. Got to love those long compound words.

    Böse, böse Rosie.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I'm not sure I understand. Are these impulse buys that you intend to eat, then once you're home decide against it and want them out of the house? Or are you buying with the original intent of not eating them?
  • Rosie_McA
    Rosie_McA Posts: 256 Member
    I'm not sure I understand. Are these impulse buys that you intend to eat, then once you're home decide against it and want them out of the house? Or are you buying with the original intent of not eating them?
    Definitely impulse buys that I intend to eat (or certainly share). These are usually fresh-baked cookies with only 5 or 6 in a bag. My not eating them is not a problem as there many people coming in and out of my office who will just grab one.
    I only take these biscuits into work and by having a lot of colleagues around means it's not just the same people that I'm "feeding up". I'm not saying that it's a case of schadenfreude, but I always like to analyse and be honest about my actions.
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    I'm not sure I understand. Are these impulse buys that you intend to eat, then once you're home decide against it and want them out of the house? Or are you buying with the original intent of not eating them?
    Definitely impulse buys that I intend to eat (or certainly share). These are usually fresh-baked cookies with only 5 or 6 in a bag. My not eating them is not a problem as there many people coming in and out of my office who will just grab one.
    I only take these biscuits into work and by having a lot of colleagues around means it's not just the same people that I'm "feeding up". I'm not saying that it's a case of schadenfreude, but I always like to analyse and be honest about my actions.

    Schadenfreude is deriving pleasure from hearing about the misfortunes of others. Do you consider eating cookies to be detrimental to the other people in your office? Because the other thing about schadenfreude is that the person experiencing it usually isn't the one causing the misfortune. If you are purposefully bringing in cookies so you can watch others eat them and congratulate yourself on avoiding them, then you are basically using your coworkers to boost your own ego or self-esteem. And frankly, it kind of makes me question whether or not you have a healthy relationship with food.
  • Supertact
    Supertact Posts: 466 Member
    buy non perishable food and give it to a food bank or shelter if youre feeling that generous
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,962 Member
    I wish people would stop at my workplace. Last Friday was extreme. Within 10m of my desk there was chocolate mini cupcakes, lemon and raspberry mini cupcakes, brownies, Bakewell tarts, lemon drizzle cake, caramel shortcake squares, rocky road squares, crispy creme doughnuts and halawi dates. After lunch several big bags of crisps and dorritos appeared along with a can of Pringles.
  • Rosie_McA
    Rosie_McA Posts: 256 Member
    Schadenfreude is deriving pleasure from hearing about the misfortunes of others. Do you consider eating cookies to be detrimental to the other people in your office? Because the other thing about schadenfreude is that the person experiencing it usually isn't the one causing the misfortune. If you are purposefully bringing in cookies so you can watch others eat them and congratulate yourself on avoiding them, then you are basically using your coworkers to boost your own ego or self-esteem. And frankly, it kind of makes me question whether or not you have a healthy relationship with food.
    I'm fully aware of what the term means.
    If you read my previous comments you'll see that my first intention in buying the cookies is to eat them and not to demonstrate to myself how "clever" I am in being able to resist them. I can accept that maybe I have an issue with my relationship with food, but "frankly" I don't accept that my actions are designed to boost my ego or self-esteem.
  • Rosie_McA
    Rosie_McA Posts: 256 Member
    buy non perishable food and give it to a food bank or shelter if youre feeling that generous
    Occasionally buying a £1 bag of cookies = "feeling that generous"?
    I suspect people throw away much more than that on a daily basis from leftovers alone.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I'm not sure I understand. Are these impulse buys that you intend to eat, then once you're home decide against it and want them out of the house? Or are you buying with the original intent of not eating them?
    Definitely impulse buys that I intend to eat (or certainly share). These are usually fresh-baked cookies with only 5 or 6 in a bag. My not eating them is not a problem as there many people coming in and out of my office who will just grab one.
    I only take these biscuits into work and by having a lot of colleagues around means it's not just the same people that I'm "feeding up". I'm not saying that it's a case of schadenfreude, but I always like to analyse and be honest about my actions.

    Your intentions do not sound bad, at least not consciously.
  • GBrady43068
    GBrady43068 Posts: 1,256 Member
    I do this all the time with Girl Scout cookies. I give the girls $20 and tell them to give boxes of cookies to anyone that looks like they need some. I have also given the Girl Scouts money and have them bulk ship the cookies to our troops overseas.
    This is a truly wonderful idea. Especially like shipping some to the troops.

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