Is shopping in bulk ok for a dieter?

I shop for a family of 8. Shopping in bulk is a must for us. I just started here, but have been planning my meals in advance to the point of measuring out chips or snacks.

I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old eating machine, I buy a lot of things in bulk. I measure and log everything that I eat, so it's never been a problem for me. I agree that it's learning self control.

beating a dead horse here...self control self control self control. if you dont have it you will gain weight wether you buy in bulk or not

Self control is generally a prob so the only things that should be bought in bulk are dry goods (toilet paper, paper towels, etc.). Also, most items being bought in bulk aren't fresh. It is really household specific. With 2 people working and kids having school plus activities, one does not want to run out of food mid-week. Eek!

With a family of seven, stockpiling and buying bulk is the only way to go. Make sure those things you have in bulk are not total junk, and there's no problem.

I actually just got back from Sam's club, and I got lots of stuff: strawberries, romaine, sweet cherries, pineapples, and broccoli, raw almonds, dry roasted peanuts (for making peanut butter and for eating), Clif bars for kids, etc. All bulk. Bulk can be fine. If it's not oreos, chips ahoy, ice cream, etc.

I BUY in bulk, but don't EAT in bulk. I have 1 child that has learned self control through educating on portions, nutrition facts, etc and he has thinned right out (more than me... high metabolism youngens, lol) and he is now 18 and thankful for me teaching him. I have a 13 yr old who is going to have a battle, but is gaining the education now that she will need to keep it in check. However, being the only income for a family of 5, sometimes those bulk deals are the only way we can afford certain items and know they will get us through. It does take learning... honestly I think it's the lack of education on nutrition that got me here... I can't speak for everyone though - we all have different reasons for getting where we did. Just my 2 cents

I shop in bulk all the time! Matter of fact I did this morning!

50# chicken breasts cut into tender-style pieces (broken down to bags of 6 portions each)
All of my dried spices are in restaurant sized containers (I make alot of spice rubs and compound butters)
Butter (SOOOO much cheaper in bulk) 10-1# blocks
15# Boneless pork loin (I cut it into a roast, thick chops and then tips)
80/20-Ground Beef 10#, (broken down into premade burgers, 1lb bags and meatballs)
15-18lb Pork Ribs - cryovac pkg of three, each has been season rubbed and wrapped individually for the freezer

Garlic - 3lb bag
White Onion, 10#
Red Field-grown bell peppers, 10#

With the onions and peppers, Ill prep half of it and freeze as mixed veggie bags for future meals
The garlic, Ill roast half of the bag so I can use in making compound butters, dressings, and even to pop a couple as a snack where its like CANDY!

Zucchini - 10lbs, half is already prepped. 2.5lbs into faux-pasta noodles and stored in a water-filled tight container, the other 2.5 has been chunked and frozen for future soups/sides
Summer Squash - same as the zukes...

Carrots - 10lbs - same as the squashes
Roma Tomatoes: 25# case - I make bulk homemade marinara, salsa, pico de gallo, roasted wedges and of course for salads...

restaurant sized red-wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, balsamic vinegar (gallon jug each), I make my own reductions, dressings, pickling liquids, for incorporating in my homemade BBQ sauces.

Napa - the largest I can find, half for making homemade kimchi, the other half for vietnamese-style salads
Iceberg, Romaine and Bibb for making a nice salad mix base.

This is just a small list...

It's fine, you just control what the child is eating. My kids do not have free reign on my cupboards. If they want something they ask for it! simple x

Buying in bulk and eating in bulk are two different things entirely.

With a family of seven, stockpiling and buying bulk is the only way to go. Make sure those things you have in bulk are not total junk, and there's no problem.

I actually just got back from Sam's club, and I got lots of stuff: strawberries, romaine, sweet cherries, pineapples, and broccoli, raw almonds, dry roasted peanuts (for making peanut butter and for eating), Clif bars for kids, etc. All bulk. Bulk can be fine. If it's not oreos, chips ahoy, ice cream, etc.

I've been buying healthy foods in bulk at Costco forever, thinking I was doing a great thing by controlling my environment. Which I was. But I read a book recently (The Automatic Diet) which challenged it. I think I DO overeat healthy foods because I don't want to waste them. Even though it's grapes and almonds and eggs and frozen chicken breasts and protein powder, they expire. So somewhere in my mental math of 'what should I eat today', I was taking that into account and eating more than I should and slowly gaining weight. So I try to really not keep the house so stocked with perishables. It's good that I manipulate myself into eating healthy by taking advantage of my hatred of wasting food, but I need to be careful, too. And I practice throwing food out and giving it to the dogs regularly, too.