Leftover unhealthy food

DebLaBounty wrote: »

If it's pizza and I'm sharing it with friends, I ask them to take the leftovers with them. I'm usually a frugal person and hate food waste, but here's how I think of it: If I bought a $14 pizza, that's about $1.75 per slice, assuming 8 slices per pizza. If I've eaten all I want, and there are two pieces left, I ask myself: Would I pay $3.50 to stay within my calories today? If I would, I throw both pieces away. Or I throw one piece away and save the other one for the next day, when I can plan to have it within that day's calorie budget. Just because I have it doesn't mean it needs to go in my mouth. I'm not a garbage disposal.

Yeah, this is a sensible way to think about it.

I had some tortilla chips left from a thing where I had people over. I didn't really want more of them, but them being there, leftover, was bothering me and my mind was doing the "must eat them" thing because tossing them feels wrong. Then it just hit me how crazy that was -- if I don't want to eat them, how is it better to eat them than throw them away? (I don't think anyone else wants my opened bag of chips).

Now if I actually wanted and would enjoy the pizza, that would be different -- 2 slices of pizza are not a bajillion calories and for me a quite satiating meal around the size of a normal meal. Plus, they can always be paired with low cal vegetables. But if you don't want them, don't eat them and stop telling yourself you can't just toss them.

choppie70 wrote: »

I always portion out leftovers before I put them in the fridge or freezer.

Yes, always do this, otherwise you'll end up with huge anonymous lumps of stuff that are still in there 18 months hence. Always portion, label and seal tightly.

ellejaymonae wrote: »

How do you deal with having something like leftover pizza? I had a huge box of margherita pizza leftover and of course I finished the last 2 slices today that ended up being a bajillion calories. For some reason I feel horrible for throwing away bad food, and if it's in the house I of course eat it! Any advice? Thanks in advance

If it's something I don't want to eat later plus I know I have no control, I throw it away. I am not a human trashcan. I am not responsible for eating everything in sight.

DebLaBounty wrote: »

If it's pizza and I'm sharing it with friends, I ask them to take the leftovers with them. I'm usually a frugal person and hate food waste, but here's how I think of it: If I bought a $14 pizza, that's about $1.75 per slice, assuming 8 slices per pizza. If I've eaten all I want, and there are two pieces left, I ask myself: Would I pay $3.50 to stay within my calories today? If I would, I throw both pieces away. Or I throw one piece away and save the other one for the next day, when I can plan to have it within that day's calorie budget. Just because I have it doesn't mean it needs to go in my mouth. I'm not a garbage disposal.

I love this! We are not GARBAGE DISPOSALS!!!

I freeze anything yummy leftover, but after a couple of weeks in the freezer- it ends up looking so bad that I eventually toss it!

Normally, I don't have to worry about it because my husband or son will come and "clear out" all the more calorie dense foods I normally want to eat, however.. when my husband isn't around, I usually just end up parceling it out and doing that whole "I can overcome this with willpower" thing. So for pizza: I eat the one slice I know I really want and then eat something most would consider better for you.. like fruit or a small salad. If I still really want more pizza, then I just eat it, count it and eat less later on in the day.. or I make that particular day my "heavy eating" day and make up for it somewhere else during the week.

litoria wrote: »

I give all my "leftover" food to my chickens, the worse it is, seems the more they like it. Let them turn junk food into nutritious eggs :-)

That's funny you mention chickens. I raise them as well as a few of my friends do. One in particular gives their chickens everything! I always just stick to veggies for them. I would think that meat is probably not good for them, buy hey, what do I know.

I know it's a cliche and sounds silly but I tell this to myself every time:
"better in the waste than on your waist".

gebeziseva wrote: »

I know it's a cliche and sounds silly but I tell this to myself every time:
"better in the waste than on your waist".

My cliche statement is "a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips"

And to OP - I guess I lucked out. Whenever I have trigger food in the house, I usually end up giving the leftovers to the dog so long as it's safe to do so. Otherwise, in the trash it goes if I don't feel like it's worth budgeting calories for the next day! Ive worked too hard to get where I am to let food control me. Don't feel obligated to eat something that you don't want to eat - good mental prep work for parties and get togethers when you have to say no to others instead of just yourself.

For pizza, we food saver each individual piece and freeze

Really wondering what kind of margherita pizza you're eating that is so calorific. If it's traditional, it's one of the most calorie friendly choices at an Italian restaurant.

In fact, I just ate at a new little wood fired Neapolitan place, my husband and I split a Caesar salad, and a margherita pizza with prosciutto and arugula added, and I had a glass of wine. I estimate about 1000 cals for that dinner. Lots of ways to cut it back, but in fact, I had cinnamon gelato too.

Divide it into meals and freeze, like a fast food version of meal prep.

CanesGalactica wrote: »

mrsnattybulking wrote: »

I paid $80.00 for my son's Pokemon birthday cake to a local baker... it was delicious and calorie dense af. There were 3 pieces left over, and then I ate them all. The end

This is probably the most honest and truest reflection of myself I have ever heard in relation to food. Bonus points for a Pokemon cake. Kinda want to see a picture of it now.

It probably looked better before it was eaten.