Dieting and the dreaded leftovers!

Jennifer - posted on 01/08/2011 ( 9 moms have responded )

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I am proud to say that right now, I am about 35lbs lighter than I was this time last year! Most of it was due to the fact that I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and was forced to eat much healthier meals. Before the holidays, I was a little lighter, but due to some extra cookie trays finding their way through my front door, I put on a couple pounds. ;) Well, now I am complete motivated to start the weight loss again (I still have a ways to go to get where I want to be). I know how to do it, and I know how much more energy I have being lighter. But, my arch nemesis is the dreaded leftovers! I know what I need to eat to lose weight the healthy way, and I want to do it, but when I look in my fridge and see so many things going to waste, I can't help but think I need to eat them. As with most stay at home moms, my food budgest is very limited, and though most meals are for the most part healthy, there are those occasional not so good nights. I don't ever completely deny myself of the "good" foods, but I do try to really limit the amount I eat. When I was pregnant, it wasn't so hard to pass up the leftovers, because I wanted my baby to be healthy (and small. my 3rd child was 10lbs 3oz at birth), but now that I'm not pregnant, it is hard to see so many things go to waste. I can't really cut down on the amount I cook, because half the time my husband takes leftovers for lunch the next day in his bucket. The other half of the time though they sit there taunting me, reminding me that there is money that I spent sitting there getting ready to go to the garbage. I keep telling my self, that the money isn't just going to magically appear back in our checking account, because I ate it instead of it going into the trash, but that still doesn't help. Does anyone else have this problem? What do you do with your leftovers?

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9 Comments

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Deanna - posted on 01/10/2011

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I am the same way in the weight loss. (about 35 lbs lighter since last year) however, the leftovers I send with DH to work and feed to the kids for lunch everyday. If we have even more than that I go so far as to have it all again for dinner the next night. I just let everyone know that when leftovers are gone we can have something else. If there isn't enough for everyone I make it as a small "side" and make salads as the main course.

Kristen - posted on 01/10/2011

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Use some of the leftover to make new meals... example, too much ground beef left over from taco night? Use the left overs for shepherds pie or a meat sauce for pasta. I found this idea and others on this blog http://wp.me/pRa1N-aL. Good luck!

Jennifer - posted on 01/09/2011

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I love the freezing idea! I usually do freeze things like homemade soups, but I just never thought of freezing other things in lunch size portions for my husband to take to work, or my 2-year-old to eat. Thank you ladies! (p.s. I did actually manage to lose a pound this week despite the leftovers, so I know I'm getting back on track!)

Stifler's - posted on 01/09/2011

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if it's something that can be frozen we just freeze it in a chinese food container or tupperware for someone to eat on a night i don't feel like cooking anything. if it's salad i just eat it the next day for lunch.

Bethany - posted on 01/08/2011

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mate, it will go to "waste" whether you eat it or not. Your choice is to put it in the waste bin directly, or, filter it through your body and put it in the toilet waste.



Left-overs is a good sign that you're over catering, and to maybe look at ways to buy, prepare, and waste less. Christmas is notorious for that, so just purge your house of extras and start fresh, minding not to buy too much in future, and go local, seasonal and fresh when and if you can.



If it is waste, and caloric intake you're concerned about, I wouldn't be filtering it through my body to avoid waste as it will end up waste anyway, and you will have taken on extra calories for nothing. Eat what your body needs and the rest is history.



As for the financial cost, it's a 'sunk cost', that money is gone whether you eat it or dump it, so it is not a valid factor in your decision.

Rebecca - posted on 01/08/2011

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The freezer is your friend. Then eat when you are hungry, stop when you are full. Don't worry too much or get shameful about a pound or two...you'll get back into the swing.

Kelly - posted on 01/08/2011

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Jane's idea about freezing them is good.
Another option is to eat pack them into lunch sized portions and eat them for lunch. You need to eat lunch anyway, so why not use the left overs.

But if you really don't want to eat them, this is how I think about it.
The food is going to waste either way. If you don't eat it, it goes in the trash.
If you eat it, and you don't need the energy from it, it still goes to waste b/c you didn't use the energy. Plus, if you didn't use the energy, you now have to drag around an extra 2 pounds.
I usually just toss it because we usually have stuff I would rather eat.

Another way to think about it is "Is the enjoyment and energy I get from eating this food worth the amount of calories that come with it?"
Treat calories like money--you can eat whatever you want, you just can't spend more calories than you have (set a healthy number and stick to it, just like a budget)

Shauna - posted on 01/08/2011

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OH man, i have a huge issue with this! I usually eat the leftovers!!!! i feel bad tossing them, but guilty on over eating !

Jane - posted on 01/08/2011

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I make just enough or I freeze part of the meal.