Licking the "Licking Your Plate Clean" Thing

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

I was raised in a family that demanded clean plates. Leaving food was not only wasteful, it was a major insult to my mother, the cook. With the help of the band I have been working toward this place for nearly 2 years now. I'm pretty sure, I'm now "there." I feel no responsibility toward that damned plate of food at all. Just like my phone that does not have a constitutional right to be answered, my food does not have a right to be eaten. While I try to make the best use of leftovers possible, what I can't reuse can rot as far as I'm concerned. When I get the "full" feeling in my tummy, I push the plate aside, happy and pleased with myself. YIPPEE for me!!

If any of my banded friends still struggle with the clean plate issue, just keep listening to your band. You will eventually get to the place where your head is satisfied with the message your stomach sends you.

[jomarie88]

Congrats, Judy! Yeah, it's not easy to say no to food being left on the plate, but having the band sure helps.

[sassy46545]

My multi-generational home was the same way, not only was I insulting the cook (my mom) but also my grandmother who taught my mom to cook! Additionally.. as she aged and couldn't finish her own meal, she became famous for adding bits of food from her plate to that of whomever was sitting next to her.

I miss her anyway..and she would be proud that I'm regaining my health. (although she'd still make me her bread custard and say..."surely you can have a little bit!??")

I hear ya Judy,

Tracy

[PhotoNut]

If any of my banded friends still struggle with the clean plate issue, just keep listening to your band. You will eventually get to the place where your head is satisfied with the message your stomach sends you.
What?! You've overcome the plate licking?? Well darn, Judy. I guess this means the next time you're here I'll actually have to wash the dishes. :wink2:


(I'm so proud of you!! Thank you for being back with us again. You really do bring sunshine with you! *big hugs*)

[MarkB]

If any of my banded friends still struggle with the clean plate issue, just keep listening to your band. You will eventually get to the place where your head is satisfied with the message your stomach sends you.

Judy I truly hope and pray that I can get to that point. I too struggle with this and so far the only thing I can do is not fill my plate as much. Although when I am out to eat I constantly find that I have to have the waitress bring me a container to put at least 1/2 the food in to take home. Especially when I eat Chinese. It seems like the Chinese restaurants feed you so much that I end up having at least two meals off of one serving and many times 3 meals.

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

What?! You've overcome the plate licking?? Well darn, Judy. I guess this means the next time you're here I'll actually have to wash the dishes. :wink2:

**giggling** ,,, unless you want me to teach my skill to Max & Mose ,,,

As for the sunshine thing ,,, I'm only trying to let my light shine like I see you doing !!! Thanks for the inspiration.

[Jachut]

I too manage this by not serving up so much in the first place, and thankfully other people who serve up for me (mum and mum-in-law) either put it on the table for us to help ourselves or serve me nice small portions these days.

Eating out, I dont have an issue with this, I'm SO careful to eat very slowly and take care in public, that I never ever ever entertain the idea of eating more than about half a cup total anyway. I totally expect to just nibble my meal and that's it - it costs me the same whatever. Whereas throwing out food I've shopped for and cooked hurts a lot more!

I would never just put down a cookie half way through though!

[~Shelly~]

I feel no responsibility toward that damned plate of food at all... my food does not have a right to be eaten... what I can't reuse can rot as far as I'm concerned.

Goodness this helps! Thank you for posting this. Your words make so much sense!

Last night when I was eating, it was so good (turkey meatloaf and green beans) I was full after 8 bites, but oh my goodness I wanted to eat it all SO bad! I ate 3 m ore bites, got pressure in my chest and ended up pushing it away. BUT then as I was clearing the dishes, I picked my dam fork up and ate the rest. I felt horrible after both physically and emotionally.

I can't wait to get there! Most of the time I can listen and be happy - but sometimes, sometimes it's SO hard!

[christie]

That's good news, because honestly, not only do I have the clean plate obsession, I have the don't throw food away problem as well. My mom is the worst. She will serve stuff that is just plain questionable and ALWAYS makes too much food! I am looking forward to breaking some of those habits. I have gotten better with getting ridof questionable uneaten food from the fridge....I'm so afraid to give my daughter stomach upset. So now, anything with an expiration date is gone, gone GONE!

[kristina]

i always put it in the fridge and tell myself i will eat it later. i almost ALWAYS end up tossing it out. and thats okay with me cause its gross by then! LOL!

[dolchanmom]

So I know I need to change my ways when it comes to this but Im also concered about my kids. How do we keep our kids from becoming over weight?
My 7 year old daughter is very thin. Some times I worry that she just says she is full because she would rather have something else. I want her to have good nutrition and sometimes I tell her she needs to have a couple more bites. Im never sure exactly how to deal with this. I prey that neither one of my kids ever have to deal with the weight problems that I have. My husband is not over weight so I hope they are more like him. Any hints on this?
Brandy

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

Brandy:

There are so many variables in play when it comes to making that decision, and I don't claim to present them all. First, I firmly believe that so many children today become overweight because of inactivity -- that and the unhealthy, processed fast foods they tend to eat. So, I would suggest encouraging your children to get lots of exercise, giving them healthy food choices, and then not banning them from the not so healthy food choices, but establishing some flexible limits. Teach them everything you can about making healthy choices, and allow them some reasonable choices. You know about the lure of things that are prohibited. And never, never make any unhealthy food a reward. You don't want them thinking that sweet gooey stuff is a prize to be yearned for. As far as letting them down from the table when they say they are full ,,, it might be best to let them set their own limits with a warning that if they get hungry later, they will need to eat what's left on the plate first before grazing for something "better."

Hopefully, you will get other helpful suggestions as well.

[dolchanmom]

Thanks that does make me feel better because I pretty much do all of that for my kids. The one bad thing is my daughter does like McDonalds as a reward. My husband and I have tried to explain that its one of those sometimes foods.
I just worry because I do lay some blame on my parents for my weight. I hope my daughter does not ever have to do that. Im sure she will just find something else to blame me for.
Brandy

[Jachut]

I always save food and then toss it from the fridge too.

When you see it sad and wilted in the fridge, it reminds you that you are not a rubbish bin. Food shoved into your body that you dont need is just as wasted as if you trashed it in the first place.

i tend to need the refridgerator step in the middle though. its the same as letting food go cold on your plate. I tell myself I can finish it in ten minutes if I still want it - I never do.

[MoOrLess]

I was told that I was a horribly picky eater when I was little...as an adult I've just been a grazer and eaten small amounts - which has served me well with my band. I laugh at myself now and how little I can eat from a meal 'out' and often throw the rest in a to-go container and put it in the fridge - and yep it ends up in the garbage the next day - especially if it is a salad item.

[christie]

Oooh, I am not a RUBBISH bin! I am NOT a rubbish bin! I AM NOT A RUBBISH BIN!!!!

[itsfinallytimeforme]

we never had enough to eat as kids, so we licked the plate cus dang we were hungry!!!!
I still lick my plate clean but hey I eat off of doll dishes, snd danit its less than what we can eat!!!

Kidding, i throw alot of food away, and it took a while to allow this, when i go out i ask wait staff to not bring toast, or hashbrowns just eggs, or dont bring the carbs and please bring extra sauce for lube, and still cant finish it and i dont bring it home either less hubby wants it or kids want it.

I raised three beautiful girls, and didnt want them to have the issues with food as i did, so i had all kinds of foods around. Fruits vegtables, crackers, chips cheese, sweets and i left it to them to eat it. Meal time was real healthy and snacks were snacks and i didnt deny them and i didnt replennish, what was there was there for the week and when it was done it was gone. So they learned to police themselfs, we played hard remained active and never ever did i say to them ohhh your gonna be fat.

My girls have beautiful bodies, and are strong and they eat huge because they exercise like deamons!!!!

The key is to live, using moderation in all things, at least for normal people. For me its half a cup three times a day because i let my body go to a place that there was no return. Deprivation for me was why i binged, hid my food. cus i didnt know when i could eat again. So be gentle with ur babies and just live

[martha]

What a great topic!!! :thumb:

My parents were the "finish your dinner police"! I spent many a night sitting at the table by myself because I wouldn't finish my dinner. It's been one of the hardest things for me to overcome. When I eat, no matter where I am or what it is I think I need to finish all of it which now that I'm banded has lead to many PB's. I do think it's also because I want to eat it all! I almost feel jipped if I don't! I need to work on training myself to think otherwise.

[mindwing]

I've thought a lot about this problem for when I get banded. I keep looking for appropriate dishes and bowls.

This week I talked about it to my sister. She does beautiful glasswork, and she is going to make me a small bow, flat enough to stand in as a plate. It will hold one cuo and look full. I'm not sure of the design, ladybug, dragonfly? With baby silverware it should help me manage my portions at home.

Mindwing