Foodie Tuesday: Barriers to Getting Rid of the Bad Stuff in Your Kitchen
Oct 31, 2011
As fans of the show will know, the X-Weighted experts advise getting unhealthy foods out of our homes in order to avoid the temptation of eating them.
Although the idea of just throwing everything unhealthy into a garbage bag might sound pretty easy to some people, there are many reasons why it is a daunting task for others.
Most of us were brought up not to waste food, so there is a deep seated conflict that comes to the surface when we think about throwing large quantities of food away.
There is also the question of money. Food is expensive, especially treats and packaged foods. The idea of throwing away $100 worth of groceries is scary.
Another factor that stops us from being able to just get rid of the bad stuff is the emotional attachment that we have to it. When food is your comfort, the thing that never lets you down and makes you instantly feel better, it is hard to just dispose of it.
Because of all these reasons, it is difficult to do the big purge. But, you really do have to do it.
Realize that the good health you are working towards has more value than could ever be put in a dollar amount, and in the grand scheme of things that $100 worth of groceries is not worth worrying about.
Believe in yourself - you will have the strength to get through without the safety net of always having those foods nearby. Over the course of your journey, you will develop coping strategies that do not involve eating.
When you do purge your home, consider donating that food to the local food bank or homeless shelter. By doing that, you aren't just throwing away the food - you're making a difference and helping people as you help yourself.
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Healthy treats for kids
To the one with kids that didn't want to give up the treats... I found with kids it's not what they get for treats but how you present them. My kids favorite snacks were always finger foods or when I made creative happy faces or shapes out of their food. We always had one night a week where we would have finger food night while watch TV. It was usually tacos to build themselves (carrots, cukes, lettuce, grated cheese & whatever heathly veggies I could find) I would take the 25% less salt package and only use a 1/3 with the meat - they only needed enough for taste. For night time snacks fruit trays were always the biggest hits - even over the chips.
For quick on the go snacks - I make my own granola bars - Rice Krispies recipe - cut back on the butter and add an extra cup of cereal - but instead of Rice Krispies I use Raisan Bran or Strawberry Special K or whatever healthy cereal you prefer - the kid like these better than store bought granola bars. Not sure how heathly they are but at least I know what's going into them.
I haven't done my purge yet - with food allergies I stay away from most of the bad stuff anyway (other than Chocolate - got rid of the last of that tonight :)
gone are the holiday chocolates!
My staff are appreciative of my "contribution"...we had so many chocolates remaining from the holidays that I decided to treat my coworkers. Honestly, I'm a sucker for tiny-wrapped treats, so they had to go before I gain any more holiday weight!
On another note, does anyone else find it difficult to purge the cupboards when your spouse is a snacking king? My husband has the good fortune to be able to eat whatever he wants without gaining a pound. Consequently, he loves having chips and cookies on hand. This, however, makes it difficult to purge these items...
I'm gearing up for a pantry
I'm gearing up for a pantry purge tomorrow.
I don't see us throwing away a lot of food, most of what we eat is fresh of made from scratch. We don't keep junk food in the house.
I'm definitely going to take before and after photos of the cupboards as a reminder not to buy bad food in the future.
I thought this would be a
I thought this would be a difficult task to complete, and it certainly wasn't easy to get rid of food that I had purchased. However, as I am moving along with the challenge, I am finding it easier to get used to having different items in my fridge or in the pantry. My husband and I are reading labels when we shop, more than we ever did before. I am looking at new recipes with eager eyes, and there is a refreshed willingness to try a food that I might never have considered trying before. I am even finding recipes that use ingredients I never used to like...and I am enjoying them!
My New Eating Habits
My boyfriend and I went to get the food we would need for the week and it was harder then I thought it would be. I am no longer eating anything that is a processed food. When I say that I don't mean that I have given up granola bars or milk. I do, however, only get my granola bars from the all natural section of the store.
For breakfast I am eating a serving of fruit and 2 slices of multigrain toast (weight watchers bread).
Mid-morning is my yogurt.
Lunch is either a spinach salad with turkey or a wrap (multigrain of course) with chicken, spinach and mustard.
Mid afternoon I will have another serving of fruit or a granola bar.
Dinner changes every day, but I am always sure that 3 nights of the week is some form of fish and 2/3rds of my plate is veggies.
None of this would have been found in my fridge 3 weeks ago. I threw away all the things that tempt me and have asked my boyfriend to join me on the road to healthy eating!
Good luck to all!
Peanut butter
I eat very little peanut butter and the little bit was recommended by my nutritionist. It is natural peanut butter and is my protein for breakfast. This just shows that each person has to think though it.
Throwing away food
I may get skewered for this but... throwing away food is just wrong. No matter how bad it is for you. It just seems wrong (to me).
I totally agree. There are
I totally agree. There are too many people in this world who are hungry. That's the one thing I hate about the show. YES it is crappy food and it needs to go, but have one major junk food party and get rid of it, or distribute it out to friends who don't have issues with junk food. Or walk through the tough area of town and hand out a little treat to those who don't have the cash to buy them. And then don't let it back in the house!
Other peoples houses
My house is for the most part junk free. When I visit others and they have the no,no food I can't help myself. I tell myself this is the last time your gonna see thins kind of food and basically give myself the freedom to indulge. The problem is with so many holidays, friends and family, it ends up being all the time!
to purge or not to purge?
I do not have alot of temptations for me in the house any more, and seem to have the emotional eating almost under control. But I run a day home and condiments (read KETCHUP) and some "fast" snacks are almost a lifesaver on some days when running to the parks and doing school pick ups. Also, if I actually have it here I don't crave it (especially cookis and chocolate) so I keep Arrowroots and digestive biscuits and cheap chocolate around (I'm picky and only like the expensive stuff usually) This way if I think - oh I really want it - I can have one and then remember that I don't actually like it :-)
Just a suggestion
I believe people have to be careful of what they think is healthy or okay to snack on. I know this sounds bizarre but certain things have quite a bit of calories in them; however, the nutritional content of them makes up for what you need in a day and others may sound like a good idea but not only do they have alot of calories/fat/unatrual sugars/carbs and so on and so forth and have 'zero' nutritional content. My rules of thumb is: "If I can't read every single ingredients on the label and understand every single of them, I don't buy it and if there's a list of ingredients longer then my arm (figure of speach) then I also don't buy it or I don't buy it 95% of the ingredients are not all natural and don't give me any nutritional value. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a saint; however I have very little things that would be considered unhealthy in my pantry and fridge. Perhaps replace your digestive cookies and chocolate with one (only one/day) of those granola bars (and they're not that cheap). It's just a suggestion.
Here's an example:
Kashi's 'chewy dark chocolate' granola bars have 130 calories/bar; however, only 2 grams of all natural fat, 85 grams of potassium, 24 g of all natural carbs 4 grams of fibre, 8 g of all natural sugars, 5 g of protein 2% vitamin A, 2% calcium and 10% iron and I can read all of the ingredients as they are all natural.
Now these bars I eat 1 a day (usually in the morning) with 1/4 cup of non fat vanilla yogurt with all natural fruits in it and there's my breakfast. I get my calcium, my fruits, 7 whole grains and even a little bit of a sweet fix with the small dark chocolate chips on the granola bars and I'm good.
Hardest to give up
I found the hardest to let my self through away was my pop and coffee. Im a stay at home mom and thats what us girls did after they worked was go for coffee and catch up. So its really hard to go out and order a water. But its out of my house and i feel good about it, and i have yet to put my self in the resturant situation, but when im ready i will.
coffee
I will NOT give up coffee. I have already cut back from 2-3 cups a day to only 1 (recommended when taking Champix to quit smoking). Yes, I have cream & sugar - 1tsp of each in my morning coffee.
I have changed my routine, though. Instead of getting my coffee (triple triple, previously) and going outside for a smoke, I get up, make breakfast, sit with my son, make a coffee and go nowhere near outside. I either come on here, check my email, tidy up - it's my "me time" & helps me get going in the morning. I don't think one coffee a day can be all that bad. If I want a hot drink otherwise, I drink unsweetened herbal teas.
Coffee?
Why would you give up on your coffee? I love my hazelnut and butter pecan coffee too much. I don't drink pop so not having that really doesn't affect me but coffee?
The changes I am doing right now I hope are things that I plan to live with from now on. Coffee is okay, its even good for you.
I don't take sugar and I have reduced the cream to half the fat and use half as much as usual. I still enjoy the taste and I get my caffeine fix.
Don't give up what you enjoy just adapt it to where you find it exceptable for you.
I'm with you on the coffee
it's the only way some of us consume milk too... especially when it's frothy and light!
Cookies gone
We had bought cookies dough from a fund raiser at school. So the kids and I made all the cookies and sent them to school. Now there aare no more temptations in the house. Cookies where a bad one for me. It was grocery day so we where out of the unhealthy snacks so I lucked out not much to get rid of besides the mayo lol. When I did go grocery shopping I did what I read and shop the outside aisles I was quite shocked that I didn't need anything from the inside aisles.
Supper was a sucess with the kids.
Wisdom teeth
It's gonna be hard to purge right now with my wisdom teeth being removed next friday. I won't be throwing out the sugar-free jello until after that unfortunately!! But I'll just try not to eat it until needed for my recovery.
Also, I'll be making some low fat butternut squash soup!
Any other suggestions for liquified 'healthy' foods for recovery of wisdom teeth??
Get Wise in the next few weeks
I had two wisdom teeth pulled at the start of last summer - right at the peak of Strawberry season. You'll be amazed at how many little bits get into the holes. My suggestion... avoid anything with tiny seeds or stringy bits. Soup and smoothies are good but don't use a straw. Hopefully you won't have too much swelling and you'll be able to chew before too long. I wouldn't count on having salad for a few weeks. Alway best to have your handy-dandy syringe cleaner with you at all times.
Good luck
Mommapop
jello
what's wrong with sugar-free jello??
Purge complete! Good stuff now in the house!
There, finished the purge. Wasn't much to purge in the end. Most of the stuff I like is the healthy stuff anyway. Stocked up on good stuff though. Lots of salad ingredients, natural peanut butter, wild salmon, and lean meat. Here's hoping!! :)
Smart Advise - but Verrry Hard
I'm a big candy fan - I'll go out and buy $50 worth of candy and eat it when I wake up and go to sleep.
Are there any "candies" out there that are a bit healthier? I don't think I can just rule out my sours.... :S
Frustrated
I live with my parents and brother and his girlfriend. My parents buy their groceries and my brother is a chef (as in fattening french cooking - lots of butter lol). I do buy my own food but have very limited space (grocery bags on the floor or a grocery bag in the over-stuffed fridge). It's not my kitchen.
Their food choices are fattening and unhealthy and after a long day at work I tend to give in to what they had for supper or their offerings of fattening decadant sweets (Which I have asked over and over again not to offer me). I have a certain amout of will power but when tired or taken off guard, I sometimes give in.
Talking with them only gives me results for a week or so, then it's back to the old ways. They are not interested in giving up their big fried breakfasts or pizzas (almost everynight is pizza with a left over slice waiting). Really I need to move out but cannot afford it right now at all.
I think if they gave me a shelf in the fridge it would be helpful, I could divert my eyes and look only at my stuff but there is no room, and no co-operation.
I got the exercise part down, but if food is a big part of this challenge, I have a huge battle on my hands just to carve out a spot for my stuff.
Anyone else out there in a similar situation?
Food in the fridge
If you cannot afford to move out. Can you afford to buy yourself a little fridge. You can put it in your room.
Let me know what you think...
Continue to do the best you can. I, myself with my husband who likes a lot of sugary things like sugar pie, raisins pie, chocolate cookies, etc... it is hard for me to look over and not eat. But I have my shelf in the fridge and he has his..
bye for now
Good Idea!
I like the thoughts of that, it would be like living in dorm all over again :) I`ll shop around. Thanks for the idea adnd supportive comments
Sounds like you are between a rock and a Hard place:
Have you asked them to support you in your attempt to get healthy. After all its not just a weight loss thing its a health issue for most.
Maybe you could work out a plan for nights when you make your own meals, or try making your meals ahead of time when the kitchens not in use.
As for your brother the chef, give him a challenge to come up with healthy alternative for you. May he can help instead of hindering.
Purging and donating.
My mom is always after me saying, just don't buy it.
I say, but I like it. Simple isn't it. Not really. I did the purge, donated the packaged stuff and didn't re buy.
Now I buy only fresh and I make it from scratch.
I haven't actually read ALL
I haven't actually read ALL of the comments so if I am repeating something here I apologize...
People, this is not just about FAT.
What about just not allowing junky foods in your house? Just because the members of your family are "not fat" does not mean they are healthy. It's not just about what you see on the outside (fat) - it's also what's going on in the inside. Packaged/convenience foods are not good for ANYONE. Why not teach your family and especially your kids how to eat right and to take the time to invest in preparing healthy foods so they don't end up unhealthy and potentially fat and trying to battle weight loss? Take a stand!!!
On that note, I do feel for those of you who have less than supportive family members. I am extremely lucky that I live on my own and that I love to cook delicious healthy food. I'm very lucky to not have to have temptation in my home, and if it's there, it's ME doing it to myself.
Agree!
I don't get the rationale of kids needing "treats" for not being able to get rid of things either. I have two young kids and they would eat a homemade cookie over a store bought one any day of the week. It's not about never having any treats, it's about eating REAL food.
We are raising a generation of kids that will have a life expectancy LOWER than ours due in large part to growing up eating garbage, processed convenience foods.
It's not just about weight, its about health!!!
Purging junk
I haven't purged my cupboards as there really is not much to purge. I generally don't buy cookies or crackers. If they are not good for me, they are not good for other family members. I need to restock my brown rice though which is good. This is a lifestyle change for me.
Not all the Bad Stuff Needs to be Purged
I pulled everything out in my cupboards. I marked down with big black marker the sugar and carb values. When I put the items back on the shelves I put them in by catagory.
Its a 3 shelf cupboard. All the okay items are on the first row and handy to get at. The second shelf is for the once and a while things and that shelf is a harder one for me to reach.
The third shelf I need a step ladder. This shelf is one that anything on it must be evaluated and used sparingly.
There are no cookies there but the items there are high in fat, sugar and carbs. Its a way to reorganize and revamp my new style of eating.
My husband...
There was a food drive over Christmas and my husband donated all my healthy food and kept all the junk he likes - it makes me crazy! Here's a suggestion for those who live with people who love junk food: buy them stuff you don't like. They won't complain, and you won't be tempted.
I totally agree...
My hubby being a skinny one-thirthy-odd pounds at 5'8, I cannot enforce all my nutritionnal needs on him, so I bought him strawberry-flavoured marshmallows for home, which I dislike profoundly. Also, instead of throwing away all his other bad stuff, I put it in a bag he brought to work. That way I am not binging on his chocolate-covered almonds ;)
good hint
My boyfriend loves eating chips after dinner while watching TV. It used to bug me all the time because I was so tempted and felt like it wasn't fair. But now I buy the chip flavours for him that I don't like- ketchup and salt and vinegar etc. And if I want a munchie snack, I just go for air popped popcorn with salt pepper and chilie powder
Pantry purge
I think it is a great idea to off load the junk on college and university students. Most can't afford alot of treats, but look forward to having a little snack durnig late night study times.
i don't agree
but then we are just promoting them to be unhealthy. university students should be healthy too :)
I wish...
... that someone would come clean out my cupboards. Not that there is anything really bad there... but maybe I am missing something.
Purging just seems so
Purging just seems so absolute. Plus, when I don't have any junk in the house, I still manage to make things to binge when I feel in the mood to eat.
It's All Good
I am happy to say that I had very little to purge. I am left with 1 bag of fudgeos and a box of corn pops both of which are used for snacks in moderation. maybe 'm wrong but i think if i can teach my kids to snack in moderation and not as a reward or for broken hearts then they won't have food issues.
Pantry unpurged
The parts of our pantry that are the problem are the kiddie snack foods. Although my almost-5-yo is getting regular info about the need to eat well and what eating well is, neither she nor my 2-yo would handle no more treats ever very well.
I need to go back to viewing their snacks as untouchable, and it starts for me with having healthy food prepared that's just as easy to grab and eat.
Purge at the Store
After purging my fridge and cabinets I have to remember not to buy the same items at the grocery store. It takes me hours at the store to get groceries. I look at each item and all the ingredents. Sugars, fat, calories and salt. It is hard to get food that fit in a good range for all of those items.
Shopping
Hold in there!! The shopping thing does get easier...gradually you will just know from experience what is good and what isn't and then your shopping time will be cut down a lot. It seems hard at the beginning because you want to compare everything and make sure that you're making the right choices, but once you know that those right choices are you simply get that one and ignore the rest. I went thru this in September. It is better this way, because then you learn how to make the right choices.
My Heart Loving Cupboard
We purged here about a week ago. I love going to the cupboard and choosing anything I want from it. The refridgerator is the same and wow it looks so beautiful with tubs of yogurt and fresh fruits and vegetables briming the shelves. I hardly miss the shriveled apple and sprouting potatoes that hit the garbage last week. Thanks xweighted for reminding me to clean the fridge!
hard to believe......wow
I can't belive that there is so many people out there that don't seem very interested in supporting their loved ones on such a life changing journey. Do people not realize that they may be able to eat all this stuff and remain thin but what is happening to the inside portion of the body is what concerns me!
Trust me, i am no fine example of healthy eating or i wouldn't be doing this, i wish everyone had the support system i have so it would be alot easier to deal with. This is not that easy, but so necessary for optimal health.
Keep in mind there is alot of us out there and will support in any way we can.
Keep up the great work everyone and stay positive!! :)
my pantry purge is only in my
my pantry purge is only in my head, i have children and a boyfriend who have very high metabolisim and can eat all the things i cant and enjoy it. i fill he kitchen with healthy foods and cook only healthy meals for everyone but they bring home the chips and candys to snack on so i just mentaly dont pay any attention to it being there and only choose to eat healthy
I agree with you
I don't think it is reasonable or fair to dictate what other members of my family eat, although I do agree with choosing healthy food for your children. My husband doesn't need to lose weight but is very supportive of me in my weight loss journey. I started my weight loss journey 3 1/2 yrs ago at 311 pounds and I'm now 208 pounds. My pantry has been purged a long time ago, except for the food my husband eats. I just stay away from it. Although for the first 6 months, I wouldn't bring ice cream into the house. I've gotten over that though. I consistently have to make 2 different meals for each one of us everyday but that's OK with me because I'm the one that got me to this weight and it is my responsibility to get the weight off. I've joined this website help me complete my weight loss journey and lose another 58 pounds. I can use all the encouragement I can get.
WOW good job!
Thats amazing that you've lost so much already, you're inspiring. Keep it up! I had 2 children and gained over 50 pounds in the last 4-5 years, my goal weight loss on this site is to lose 24, but i want to keep going after that because I think my ideal weight is still below that. With a skinny husband and two skinny little girls who inherited his thin gene its gonna be hard for me to not eat what they eat, but limited their sugary fatty foods to way less then usual will be better for all of us. We're pretty healthy already and we do love fruits and veggies so it won't be so hard to let go of all the cookies, ice cream, chips, pop and juice, as long as we have something else thats yummy to eat!
pantry purge
My husband is tall and not over weight and eats alot of junk food and eats late at night. Lots of pizza chips & pop. When I go grocery shopping I buy healthy food and when he goes he buys the junk. Even though I ask him not to buy this junk he still does it, so....any suggestions.
I am in the same boat as you
I am in the same boat as you - after a good work out I come home and he has bought junk food as an award, we have many fights about this...right now i can't have junk food in my house...i have no will power...
don't let the husband shop?
don't let the husband shop? Or just talk to him more about how important its is for your health that you not eat those things, and maybe he can buy them to eat at work, and keep them in the car. Just as long as he doesn't eat them in front of you and keep them in the house, until you learn to crave healthy things and you get the will power to resist the urge. We have to remember that there will be temptations later on and we can't go the rest of our lives never seeing cookies again. So if he can give you sometime without it in the house to build a foundation, then you guys can discuss him bringing that stuff back in the house again in a couple of weeks or months (whatever you need). Who knows maybe he'll decide he likes the new lifestyle and not even want them back.
Xmas goodies gone
We were very lucky my husbands birthday was on the 9th and I threw a poker party for him and his friends and I got rid of all the junk food and xmas baking that night. No more temptations are in the house. My daughter who is 4 is having a very hard time with this. I fine it quite surprising considering I didn't think that we ate that bad.