As of last week I made a commitment to eat better and buy better foods. It was spontaneous: one of those moments when you're looking in the mirror and it just hit you that you need to do something before your weight gets out of control, so I still have some "bad" foods laying around my kitchen. Last time I went to the store I got loads of veggies and whole grains and so on, but now I'm faced with the dilemma of what to do with the old, sugary/fatty/yummy things. I haven't touched them, but I can't deny they're tempting!
How have you guys dealt with this problem? Did you throw it all away (like I know I probably should) or did you somehow incorporate them into diet in moderation? I'm a poor college student so it seems like such a waste to throw all that food away.
Some things I could incorporate into healthier meals, but some things I just tossed. It did feel like a waste in a lot of ways, but honestly I had to get things out of the house at first or I knew I'd eat them and I just couldn't.
I threw it all away. I hate to waste money too - give it away if it makes you feel better. I don't handle moderation of sugary/carby/packaged things - AT ALL. Some people do, YMMV.
I'd say, if it's the kind of food that will be singing a tempting song to you all the time, just toss it and be done with it for now. I suppose you could also give the foods away to other students--depending on how "bad" they really are--but don't pass on foods that are bad for everyone... For example, no one needs pork rinds! (I'm not saying you have these, it's just an example.)
Obviously, throw out anything already opened.
Keeping food around so as not to "waste" it is sometimes an excuse and sometimes it leads to trouble...
I started my diet as a new years resolution. My Son's Birthday is Jan.4th. We had a big party for him, and I served all the junk at the party. Anything left got sent home with kids in goodie bags or trashed. Now, I'm not saying we don't occasionally purchase treats. We are human, and have lots of kids in and out of the house, but we no longer "stock up" on junk food.
I live everyday with bad food in my house. Unfortunately, throwing that stuff out would of cause my husband & 3 yr old to revolt against me :-) So I keep them hidden. I cleaned out a cuppord that is "theirs". I don't go in it! I found that just not seeing that stuff out on my shelf really helped. Often I forgot about it was even in the house. If you don't have other people that will eat it though, your best to throw it away. it's kind of inviting you to cheat on your healthy life style. When I want to eat those things, I think to myself, do I want this brownie or do I want to wear a size 8? Size 8 wins everytime!
I take all the stuff to my daughter's school and leave it in the teacher's lounge. They will eat anything.
Get rid of it fast. As you lose weight you will be inspired to resist it and it will get easier.
We gradually weened ourselves off it, threw some away, and gave some away. We hate to throw things away too. But, I figure, when it comes to health, no amount of wasted money is worth it. My health is too important.
I never throw it away...I don't believe in just wasting it. I always send leftover holiday candy, etc. with my husband to work, and he puts it in his candy dish on his desk. All of the men that he works with go into his office all day long, and it's gone in no time.
Some things like leftovers from holiday dinners, cake from birthday parties, etc. I send home with guests.
If there are foods that are not actual JUNK (chips, cookies) but more like "not so great" foods...like Hamburger Helper, Chef Boyardee, etc. you could send unopened packages to your local food banks, missions, soup kitchens, etc.