Wasting Food?

I wasn't sure where to put this, but I figured younger calorie counters like me would probably deal with this issue more often.

What do you do when someone gives you food that you just don't want to eat for health reasons?  For example: Today my Dad called telling me he was going to drop me off some lunch and I asked him to pick me up a turkey flatbread from subway.  Instead, he handed me a fillet-o-fish and medium fry from McDonalds.  Now, I don't mind the 380 calorie fish sandwich because at least it has a bit of protein and what not; but I don't want to waste 380 calories on the medium fry.  My issue is I really don't want to just waste food and throw it out; I always feel guilty whenever I don't finish my plate or eat all my food.  Does anyone else have this issue?

I don't have experience with this but I would say if you don't want to eat it, don't eat it. Better in the trash than in your body.

 

Edit - I would also make sure to make it clear to your dad or whomever else that you do not want them to get you unhealthy foods.

Nah, you're not alone. I've often felt guilty declining foods at peoples' houses when I flat out did not like the food item, and when I was struggling to finish everything placed on my plate.

I agree with armandounc though. Better to respect yourself and your own wishes and not eat it, and then go get what you want to eat. At best, you could try to find someone who does want it... but that's obviously not the easiest thing to do, depending on the situation.

Even typing that, I feel caught between saying "throw it out!" and "don't toss it!". If anything, don't force yourself. Definitely like armandounc's idea of trying to prevent the same sort of thing happening by letting others know that you don't appreciate receiving food you don't like... Really, thinking of it that way, aren't they the ones indirectly wasting it? (Trying to justify to myself, haha!) But seriously, if you think about it - they force you into an awkward position by giving you something you don't want. In that case, what happens to the *thing* (food in this case) that you didn't want or ask for is not your responsibility.

I know what you mean!!! When i dont want to eat something i ask a friend if they want it, and if no one wants it maybe you can take the fried edged off or something, and think at least it wasnt a complete waste. I cant stand when people randomly just throw food away. My friend gets food from our cafeteria, looks at it, then throws it in the trash can. I get so sad because somebody else couldve gotten it. But maybe im just too soft hearted

I will bet large sums of money that a hungry teenage boy at your school could have replaced that garbage can xP if there's none available then there's nothing wrong with chucking it- you're totally admirable for feeling bad about food wastage (wish I was as conscientious :/) but you didn't ask for the food, you in fact asked for something totally different- notcha fault :) x

If you don't want to throw them out, give it away to someone who does....

I absolutely can't stand wasting food either, and I'm constantly wasting my time trying to make sure all the food in my house gets used within its sell by date. But thinking about it, compared to the amount of food that gets wasted in the world, and the amount of food produced, throwing away one packet of fries won't make any significant negative difference to the world. And Mcdonalds fries barely pass as food anyway... Just a load of grease and starch. Potatoes and oil are cheap and sustainable, there are tons of potatoes in the world. There'll always be waste, but at least it's decomposing into soil somewhere and not going into your body. :)