How did you say goodbye to your "pantry"

[luvbug412]

While in the kitchen this morning making eggs I took an assessment of the stuff I have.

I'm at about the following:
20% - Phase I (we never keep fresh veggies around. We never ate enough of them to make it worth it. Freezer - alot of lean cuts of meat and fish/shrimp)

40% - Phase II (stuff that is off limits in phase 1 but is OK in limited quantity in phase II)
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/south-beach-diet-forums/2307-how-did-you-say-goodbye-your-pantry.html

Then - the bad stuff
The snack foods, the chocolate, the white flour, white sugar, chocolate chips (hey I bake for crying out loud). The bisquick, the freezer muffins (white bread), the "breaded stuff" that was breaded, baked then frozen. The cans with sugar added, the cans with HFCS, the pure sugar, white rice, you name it I got it my pantry and its bad for you.....

So I'm planning on dividing my kitchen. The phase 1 pile, the phase 2 pile (which will go behind locked doors for 14 days) and the garbage can. It seems a rather monumentous task. How (if) did anyone else tackle this?

I'm doing this because I know me. I know "out of sight out of mind" - its why I tossed a 4 yr old can of spam and something that was unidentified growing in the back of my fridge. If I remove temptation it will be better for me in the long run.

I'm just at a loss at were to start!

[makkat]

Sounds like you are on the right track!! Those are actually good ideas that I could use! You know, when you open the pantry to grab some green beans or nuts, there they are....the oreos, granola bars, cookies....YIKES!!! Hard to reach past that to get to what you need!

I have found for me that this is truly a mind game...your mind is telling you to eat bad, but you know you don't want to, you want to be healthy and thin. I imagine the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other arguing with me!! I run my own daycare, so I can't get RID of a lot of the bad, that's what being a kid is about!

So, you are off to a good start...good luck and keep your head in the game!!

[heatherann]

I am going to work on clearing some of that food out on the kids while we (DH & I) are on phase 1. What is left might wind up at the food pantry if it isn't prebaked and frozen. In today's economy I am sure you could find a needy family or one who has an overloaded mom and bring her a meal for a night. Why waste by throwing in the trash.

Heather

[small dog]

I so agree. We gave to the food pantry and to family members. Making a meal for a friend or neighbor is a wonderful idea. I love to bake...especially sinful muffins called "dirt bombs". They are a really special, planned treat. I save out one each for my husband and me and distribute the rest to the neighbors and son's family. That is why I have never completely changed my kitchen.

[hooper66]

Check for a local food bank in your area~
Donate all your 'Bad' Food.
It is needed~