This is a common problem. For some reason, when food is a gift, it is terribly hard to just toss it in the trash. It feels unkind and ungrateful. I mean, someone worked hard making all these cookies. Someone put a lot of time into baking this cake.
I know they did. It is very loving of them. But hear me. It does not mean you have to eat it. Here are the three things I want you to always remember about leftovers and gifts of food:
1. It is the thought that counts. It is absolutely possible to be grateful for the gift while dumping it into the trash. There is no food police that makes sure all the gifted food gets eaten, and you aren't being secretly videotaped. You had a taste, it was delicious, thank you very much and down the disposal it goes. No one will ever know.
2. You can't help starving children around the world by eating baked goods loaded with sugar, and you aren't ignoring their plight by throwing it away. These things are unrelated. If you want to pour your efforts into helping poverty-stricken children, I am all for it. But you don't do it by eating all the Girl Scout cookies you ordered, or making sure every piece of cake left over gets eaten.
3. I hate to break it to you, but whether you put it in your mouth and it goes through your pipes or not, it all ends up the same place. I had a therapist that used to say, "Guilt is for the courtrooms." Leave it out of your kitchen. That way, you are empowered to choose what's best for you. Remember, you aren't doing anything wrong, cruel, ungrateful or immoral.
"The truth is that you either throw the food out or you throw it in, but either way it turns to waste. World hunger will not be solved by finishing the garlic mashed potatoes on your plate." - Geneen Roth
You are empowered to choose in every moment. Become present, connect to your highest self, and disconnect from guilt. It doesn't serve you. Ditch the leftovers and get back to choosing from a place of worth and love. Guilt is not a good choice-maker. Guilt on a sugar binge is even worse. Choose from the deep well of self-worth and empowerment that is within you. Nurture, connect and root into worthiness...where leftovers hold no power at all.