My body is not a garbage disposal
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paperpudding wrote: »I don't agree with the last couple of posts.
If I order cake ( or a main meal) and it is more than I want, or I don't really like it, I don't feel obliged to finish it.
Or to take it home.
It is no more wasted by me leaving it than eating more than I want it to or taking it home if I dont want it.
Nor does it help anyone who doesn't have or can't afford food.
Far better to accept not eating everything in front of me if I don't want it and doing something actually useful for others - eg donating money to a charity feeding the homeless
Not wasting food might make me feel better but doesn't really benifit anyone.
I have to disagree with this at least to some degree.
In the USA, nearly 40% of all food is wasted. This is a travesty. It takes energy to grow and transport food. If it's meat, even more so. Many farming practices deplete soil health. Declining soil health means lower productivity in the future. All the transport uses fuel and energy. I think we all have a responsibility to each other and to the other animals that live on our planet to do whatever we can to use resources such as energy and water efficiently and without waste. On the other end of the system, adding to landfills is detrimental to the health of the inhabitants of Earth. At least there's some progress on this where some restaurants are able to have food waste composted. At least that helps mitigate the decline in soil health if the compost is put back into the growing cycle. It seems to me that when we waste resources, we do hurt ourselves and others. Maybe just a little each time, but it adds up. Not wasting food benefits EVERYONE.
Whether or not you waste food has nothing to do with a decision to donating money to non-profits and making sure food banks have food to help those who can't afford it.
This will be my last post on this topic because I fear it may turn into a political discussion, and I don't want to participate in that on this forum. Please be considerate when ordering so you don't have to make the choice of wasting such a valuable resource as food. That's where you can avoid the waste AND avoid feeling like you're a garbage disposal.
I can appreciate what you are saying. Restaurants in the US serve such huge portion sizes it is almost impossible for the average person to finish everything. Do we really need a huge plate of food?
My first awareness of this is when I went to Australia. The portion sizes were adequate. I was satisfied and not overstuffed and I was able to eat everything on my plate. In reverse my Australian friend came to the US and was shocked and awed at how much food she was served. She kept saying it's impossible for her to eat everything.
So maybe we can control the waste by controlling the amount of food served. IJS6 -
My grandparents were Great Depression survivors and fanatics about conserving food. So my parents were raised that way, and to a degree, so was I. On top of that, the military's "take what you want, but eat what you take" was hammered into me after I left home. Scrape viable food into the garbage in front of your drill sergeant and you were in for an uncomfortable conversation.
Now, I honestly think it is more dangerous as a society to eat food you don't need instead of throwing it out, given the fact that the US is over 70% overweight or obese. Every effort should be made to get the correct portions on your plate, but if you have too much, eating just to avoid waste is unhealthy. Throw it away and try harder to get the portion right next time.
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This has become one of my mantras. A little rule that keeps me from eating the leftover Chinese food in the fridge. It keeps me from eating every last french fry on the plate long after I'm full. It keeps me from eating crappy break room donuts just because they're there and they're free.
"My body is not a garbage disposal" has saved me from a lot of wasted calories that I used to consume just because something was sitting in front of me. I had to get comfortable with throwing away food. If I order dessert and it's just meh, I don't finish it. I don't bring it home. Because, duh, I'm not a garbage disposal. Somehow, it's helped me really identify what's "worth" eating and recognize when I'm actually full vs. just on auto pilot and shoveling food in.
Since I've started using this mantra, the amount of times I've looked at a plate of food and been like, "Ya know, I don't have to finish this." has been, honestly, eye opening.
What little "rules" and mantras have helped you in your journey?
This post has really opened my eyes and got me thinking. Thank you.2 -
Now, while I agree with OP's meaning of her statement. Dont eat it just because it's there, there is usually someone who will. I worked on the back of a restaurant several times over the years. People would be shocked how much goes to the hogs. I will take left overs to work or family. I have noticed putting a sticker that says free on something in the work fridges, it's gone within hours.6
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I come from a farm and we worked hard to not waste food. Then I married my husband and moved to Italy. His mother went through WW2 and didn't throw food out. Many times it was recycled into another dish. I've found that it takes planning not to waste food and I do my best to cook the right amount for 4 adults twice a day. When going to a restaurant my husband and I have it down to a science. We split meals and especially deserts. It's almost a game now to finish up satisfied with no leftovers.8
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My mantra has been: “food is fuel.” I keep reminding myself when I want to reach for a bag of chips which provide lousy fuel.
I like this OPs mantra for several reasons.
Most importantly, it helps reinforce a positive body image and sense of health. An amazing human body should not be used as a garbage disposal to eat something just because it is there.
Additionally, it helps with portion control and how much food to prepare or order. If you eat it, you’ll likely eat it again the next time it’s there. If you pass on it or throw it away you’re likely to think about volume next go around. A good way to help break the cycle.
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cwolfman13 wrote: »I don't have any mantras but I get mad at my husband when he says "You're wasting all that food"
"I tell him this why there is an obesity problem in the US we were raised to FINISH everything on our plates!!" Leave me alone. If I say I am full that means I am full it doesn't matter what's left on my plate.
As an aside, I don't think that's the reason for the obesity problem in the US.
It doesn't help
I grew up pretty poor, especially in my early youth when my dad was still in school during the day and working nights in a psyche hospital as a janitor. We cleaned our plates and did not have the financial luxury to just throw away food. I can remember Thursday evening dinners right before payday being a slice of toasted rye bread topped with sauerkraut...and to make it a little more palatable to my sister and I, my mom would put some ketchup on top.
I have always cleaned my plate and still do...so do my wife and kids. None of us are obese in the least. Our plates consist of what we will eat. Leftovers are eaten for lunches or other dinners and/or recycled into other dishes. I am fortunate to be financially well set, but I still don't waste and I teach my kids the same. Food is eaten, lights go off when nobody is in the room, t.v. is off if nobody is watching, etc.10 -
I don't think I have a mantra, but if I did, it would be something like: "Whether you eat the lettuce-wrapped burger or the one with the bun, and order a side salad or a side of fries, and drink water or a beer, in four-five hours you'll be brushing your teeth and going to bed, and not taste either anymore. But you'll sleep better knowing you made the smarter choice and didn't overload on nighttime carbs."
A bit too long-winded for a mantra! I need a copy editor.
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Bry_Fitness70 wrote: »Every effort should be made to get the correct portions on your plate, but if you have too much, eating just to avoid waste is unhealthy. Throw it away and try harder to get the portion right next time.
Exactly. Having leftovers means there's a planning issue further up the chain. Try to get it more accurate next time, and then there won't be an issue.
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paperpudding wrote: »I don't agree with the last couple of posts.
If I order cake ( or a main meal) and it is more than I want, or I don't really like it, I don't feel obliged to finish it.
Or to take it home.
It is no more wasted by me leaving it than eating more than I want it to or taking it home if I dont want it.
Nor does it help anyone who doesn't have or can't afford food.
Far better to accept not eating everything in front of me if I don't want it and doing something actually useful for others - eg donating money to a charity feeding the homeless
Not wasting food might make me feel better but doesn't really benifit anyone.
I have to disagree with this at least to some degree.
In the USA, nearly 40% of all food is wasted. This is a travesty. It takes energy to grow and transport food. If it's meat, even more so. Many farming practices deplete soil health. Declining soil health means lower productivity in the future. All the transport uses fuel and energy. I think we all have a responsibility to each other and to the other animals that live on our planet to do whatever we can to use resources such as energy and water efficiently and without waste. On the other end of the system, adding to landfills is detrimental to the health of the inhabitants of Earth. At least there's some progress on this where some restaurants are able to have food waste composted. At least that helps mitigate the decline in soil health if the compost is put back into the growing cycle. It seems to me that when we waste resources, we do hurt ourselves and others. Maybe just a little each time, but it adds up. Not wasting food benefits EVERYONE.
Whether or not you waste food has nothing to do with a decision to donating money to non-profits and making sure food banks have food to help those who can't afford it.
This will be my last post on this topic because I fear it may turn into a political discussion, and I don't want to participate in that on this forum. Please be considerate when ordering so you don't have to make the choice of wasting such a valuable resource as food. That's where you can avoid the waste AND avoid feeling like you're a garbage disposal.
I didn't say wasting food has anything to do with donating money to charities - I said instead of finishing everything on your plate in some misguided But children are starving in Africa! Thing - do something that actually benefits children in Africa ( or the equivalent) by donating to Save the children or a foodbank or something.
Make a planned decision to do domething that actually benefits them.
Eating or not eating leftovers doesn't benifit anyone.
And of course aim to not have leftovers. - but I can't always control how much a restaurant serves me or how filling it will be or whether I will like it
Some factors at home are unavoidable too.
Where I live all leftover food goes in green bin, not to land fill.
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To be clear I'm not advocating the idea that you must overeat just because the food is there. Clearly that's not appropriate or wise. And I'm also not talking about leaving scraps of food on the plate because you're full.
I get that sometimes servings are excessive but, my objection was to viewing that excess food as 'garbage'. To use the example that the leftovers in the fridge should be wasted and thrown out as 'garbage' when there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.
When eating out, order a 'half serve'. Even if they're going to charge you full price you're just gonna throw it out anyway so it's not different to you or share the meal with someone else. And if you're cooking then only buy/make a reasonable amount.
I'm also not much of an advocate of moralising food choices as 'good', 'bad', etc so the idea of labelling any particular food as 'garbage' or 'junk' doesn't sit right with me but that's just a personal thing.6 -
In response to all the food waste talk- I also have a personal issue with wasting food. Luckily my husband, friends and I have similar tastes and tend to share food, so we rarely order/cook more than we can eat. We also enjoy eating leftovers. I am the queen of cooking for a week, portioning it out and freezing it. When I'm craving the kind of sweets that require preparing or buying a large amount (rare) I will bring it to work to share.
OP- I love your mantra and am happy it's working for you. My personal mantra is, these habits are for life. I am not on a "diet," and I'm not restricting just so I can way overindulge at a later date. I've established habits that I intend to continue for as long as I live. That mindset has gotten me through scale fluctuations, special events, holidays, stressful situations and other things that would have derailed me a few years ago. Now that my habits are established, I don't have to worry about falling off the wagon. There is no more wagon.3 -
To be clear I'm not advocating the idea that you must overeat just because the food is there. Clearly that's not appropriate or wise. And I'm also not talking about leaving scraps of food on the plate because you're full.
I get that sometimes servings are excessive but, my objection was to viewing that excess food as 'garbage'. To use the example that the leftovers in the fridge should be wasted and thrown out as 'garbage' when there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.
When eating out, order a 'half serve'. Even if they're going to charge you full price you're just gonna throw it out anyway so it's not different to you or share the meal with someone else. And if you're cooking then only buy/make a reasonable amount.
I'm also not much of an advocate of moralising food choices as 'good', 'bad', etc so the idea of labelling any particular food as 'garbage' or 'junk' doesn't sit right with me but that's just a personal thing.
I just didn't think OP was saying certain types of food are "garbage." I thought she was making the point that eating food you don't actually want, especially food that's harder to fit in a day, just because you do have restaurant leftovers or because it's on your plate is treating your body as "where I put food that needs to be disposed of" (i.e., a garbage disposal). I didn't think it was coming from a place of moralizing about food.
Re food cooked at home, I think learning to portion things out better is a process and also that it's usually easier to keep and use the leftovers.6
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