A Bite-Size Read for Your Health and Waistline
So, who else has a hard time throwing away food? Show of hands! This is a little confronting for a lot of us. It reminds me of what so many of us were told by our parents growing up: finish all the food on your plate. “There are children starving somewhere, finish your food,” or “you can’t leave the table until you’ve had everything.” It’s funny to me now, when I really think about it, eating the food on my plate has nothing to do with what is not on another person’s plate across town, across the country, or across the world. I get what they were saying to us, but the snowball effect is that many of us now eat beyond the point of feeling satisfied, eat when we’re not hungry, and struggle with leaving food on our plates or even throwing out what’s unfinished. My clients often ask me, “What do we do now?”
What we can do is remind ourselves that the food on our plates has served its purpose and is no longer needed. Food is here to satisfy our own needs, and we don’t need to, and can’t, satisfy someone else’s needs by eating more. When you’re done eating, look at the food leftover on the plate as having done its job, and know it’s okay to toss it if it’s not being saved for another meal. This mindset is especially helpful as we head into BBQ season and larger gatherings. You can use leftover food for meal prep or put it in the fridge if it’s something you would normally eat, but if it’s not typically part of your meals, it’s okay to toss it or give it away to someone else, like an organization that accepts homemade food, or share it at the office. Remember that discarding food that no longer serves you does not make you a bad person, whether it’s on your plate, leftovers, or something lingering in the pantry.
While you’re at it, take a moment to open the fridge and toss anything past its expiration date, condiments you don’t remember buying, and anything in the freezer with freezer burn. All those items that have been forgotten are just clutter and contribute to food waste.
Back to dinner parties and BBQs, if you’re in someone else’s home and they insist on giving you food to take with you, accept it with kindness and gratitude. But if it’s not something you would normally eat this week, you have my permission to toss it or give it away. Keeping leftovers that don’t support your health will not magically turn them into nutritious fuel, and if you know you’ll beat yourself up after eating it, that’s even more reason to let it go. This approach is easier and healthier in the long run, both physically and mentally. Moving away from guilt allows you to enjoy what you choose at the event and keep moving forward.
I think about one client who moved into a new apartment with his wife, and everyone kept sending them cookies. Each gift was thoughtful, but they didn’t need so many cookies in their home. They held a little ceremony. They each had one cookie of each kind, then thanked the givers, felt welcome in their new home, and dropped the rest in the trash. I loved it. This is a great example of recognizing that if food creates stress, unwanted temptation, or anything other than making life easier, you have permission to toss it.
I believe a true sign of our health is recognizing the difference between what serves us and what does not. You don’t need to keep anything in your home that does not support your habits or wellbeing. You have permission to toss it out. Practicing mindful eating and being intentional about portions helps prevent food waste and encourages healthier eating habits. Meal prep and planning can make these choices easier while reinforcing the habit of listening to your body.