Day 6: When in Doubt, Throw it Out

January 6th, 2008 · No Comments

October through February is one big binge-fest for me. It all starts with the Big E – New England’s version of a state fair. Maine baked potatoes, Rhode Island clam strips, Vermont apple pie with sharp cheddar cheese wedges, Connecticut’s pancakes with real maple syrup, New Hampshire flatbread and beer….. It’s just about the best food fest ever created by mankind.

Then comes my boyfriend’s birthday, my mother’s birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, my birthday, my sister’s birthday, my brother-in-law’s birthday, my boyfriend’s mother’s birthday, and finally, Valentine’s Day. In my family, food is life itself, and each occasion is thus marked by mountains of cakes, dinner’s out, family parties, candy, chocolate, and other deadly sins.

I could deal with it if each celebration was just a one-time binge event – but alas! no. There are always the menacing “leftovers”… Christmas is probably the worst for leftovers, considering just about everyone I know offers up tins of cookies, chocolates, fudge, candy canes, and other caloric nightmares as gifts.

So today, weeks after Christmas, I am still saddled with 6 boxes of chocolate-covered-wafers, two tins of chocolate fudge cookies, six gourmet chocolate bars, a one-pound Hershey’s chocolate kiss, a bucket of raspberry snap cookies, and an economy-sized box of chocolate covered cherries.

So far (since I started my diet that is), I’ve been exceptionally good about not dipping into the hoard. But today was a different story. After a 45 minute morning walk/jog on the treadmill, the box of fudge cookies beckoned me with its crazy Jedi mind tricks. I stuffed 12 cookies into my face before I even knew what I was doing. The total damage = over 800 calories.

I have since decided that each and every last box of chocolatey goodness must go. If I continue to keep them in the cabinet, this will only happen again, and again, and again…

Being a frugal New England Yankee, I hate wasting food. I hate wasting anything for that matter (I even wash off plastic bags and tinfoil and re-use it. Better for my wallet, better for the environment). Therefore, the idea of simply throwing away food to keep from eating it gives me a guilt complex. So, if you’re like me, here are a few ideas on how to clean the kitchen cabinets without guilt:

How to Clean the Kitchen Cabinets Without Guilt

1. Give it away. There has got to be at least one annoying co-worker in your office who won’t mind taking a few boxes of chocolate off your hands. Better yet, give it away to a soup kitchen or food bank.
2. If you live with others, as I do, getting rid of all the junk food in the house might earn you some grumbles from family members. Whatever. Gently remind them that this is for their health too – whether you’re overweight or not, eating mounds of sugary, trans-fatty candy isn’t good for anyone. If they still bitch and moan, let them pick out ONE box to keep for themselves in a secret hiding place.
3. If an emergency strikes and you’re seconds away from a binge and can’t make it to the soup kitchen in time, THROW IT OUT. Pour vinegar on it, sprinkle cayenne pepper over it, do whatever it takes. Sure, wasting food is a waste of money. But think about how much money you’re wasting on gym memberships, diet plans, diet books, etc. if you let a box of cookies get the best of you.

-b