Do you hide food?

[Anonymous]

I do this with peanut M&Ms. Occasionally I buy a family size bag that will last me weeks (I have a handful every couple days) but if my DH finds it he'll eat the entire bag in one sitting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't understand people who binge like this. And I particularly don't understand how they do it with no thought to anyone else in their household who might like some of whatever it is that they just polished off. No snark, is this mental illness?

It might be. My husband and I grew up in large poorer families. You had to scarf anything that was good or a treat down right away, otherwise you didn't get to have any. These habits are hard to shake. I can self regulate just fine if I know no one else can eat it, so I hide things I want to eat slowly (sweets or nuts usually).

Thank you for this. My father squirreled away nuts and candy, and things we didn’t have any interest in. He grew up poor and under great stress/neglect. This helped provide context.

I don’t think this is always why people hide things, but it was helpful to read. We tuck more appealing treats behind healthier options so kids don’t plow through them. Especially during lunchbox packing season.

[Anonymous]

This is insane, quite literally. If I had a kid or husband that was binging on chocolate milk, candies, cookies, etc. I wouldn’t buy it, period. If they are binging on cheese and eating entire packages of whole wheat crackers- then there is a mental illness at play going on that needs to be addressed. Even so, I’d buy one package and be done for the week. If they eat it all and don’t have any snack food the rest of the week- oh well. Guess you eat an apple instead or no snacks at all. I’m an adult and I can live without snacks. Maybe I’d be irritated the cheese and crackers or pretzels were all eaten the day I came back from the store, but not so irritated I’d lock them up. It is just pretzels (or ice cream or whatever). This is bananas. Maybe everyone should just buy bananas instead. If your family it addicted to junk food, instead of locking it up, stop buying! You are perpetuating the thought that you “need” it . You don’t. No one does

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is insane, quite literally. If I had a kid or husband that was binging on chocolate milk, candies, cookies, etc. I wouldn’t buy it, period. If they are binging on cheese and eating entire packages of whole wheat crackers- then there is a mental illness at play going on that needs to be addressed. Even so, I’d buy one package and be done for the week. If they eat it all and don’t have any snack food the rest of the week- oh well. Guess you eat an apple instead or no snacks at all. I’m an adult and I can live without snacks. Maybe I’d be irritated the cheese and crackers or pretzels were all eaten the day I came back from the store, but not so irritated I’d lock them up. It is just pretzels (or ice cream or whatever). This is bananas. Maybe everyone should just buy bananas instead. If your family it addicted to junk food, instead of locking it up, stop buying! You are perpetuating the thought that you “need” it . You don’t. No one does

Well I think you’re insane so I guess we are even!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I hide food from the kids. Asking them does not work. It just leads to long, angry talks. What actually works best I have found is not eating the item in question myself. I just told DDs that the end of summer means no more ice cream or cookies or candy in the house. I will not buy it for them or myself, there will be no need for the discussions or rationing. They are unhappy but we are all healthier.

Yikes. That's pretty harsh. Ice cream, cookies and candy are not inherently bad. Unfortunately I think your approach means you are raising kids with disordered thinking about food.

It is very harsh. My kids inherited the binge gene from me. I am 5'6 and have remained 115-125 lbs most of my life, but will demolish any bag of quinoa chips or can of Pringles within reach. My kids cannot eat a few cookies or pieces of candy. I have tried moderation throughout the year but teen DD devours everything like another PP's son does. As a result, during the school year I do not buy juice, soda, pastries, donuts, candy, cookies, potato chips, pudding or ice cream -- anything with processed sugar other than yogurt or jam -- for our family. During four weeks in summer (including family trip), everyone can have sweets, as on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthdays.

[Anonymous]

Some of you are not parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is insane, quite literally. If I had a kid or husband that was binging on chocolate milk, candies, cookies, etc. I wouldn’t buy it, period. If they are binging on cheese and eating entire packages of whole wheat crackers- then there is a mental illness at play going on that needs to be addressed. Even so, I’d buy one package and be done for the week. If they eat it all and don’t have any snack food the rest of the week- oh well. Guess you eat an apple instead or no snacks at all. I’m an adult and I can live without snacks. Maybe I’d be irritated the cheese and crackers or pretzels were all eaten the day I came back from the store, but not so irritated I’d lock them up. It is just pretzels (or ice cream or whatever). This is bananas. Maybe everyone should just buy bananas instead. If your family it addicted to junk food, instead of locking it up, stop buying! You are perpetuating the thought that you “need” it . You don’t. No one does

Perhaps a lovely piece of fruit from the well-stocked fruit bowl. Eaten outside, naturally.

[Anonymous]

I love this thread, but some of people's behavior horrifies me. I don't hide food. I do bring some items up to my office so I don't have to keep going to the kitchen for snacks - I guess that makes the items unavailable to others? Is that hiding? Just buy enough or if it's a special treat everyone gets a share and that's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I hide food from the kids. Asking them does not work. It just leads to long, angry talks. What actually works best I have found is not eating the item in question myself. I just told DDs that the end of summer means no more ice cream or cookies or candy in the house. I will not buy it for them or myself, there will be no need for the discussions or rationing. They are unhappy but we are all healthier.

Yikes. That's pretty harsh. Ice cream, cookies and candy are not inherently bad. Unfortunately I think your approach means you are raising kids with disordered thinking about food.

It is very harsh. My kids inherited the binge gene from me. I am 5'6 and have remained 115-125 lbs most of my life, but will demolish any bag of quinoa chips or can of Pringles within reach. My kids cannot eat a few cookies or pieces of candy. I have tried moderation throughout the year but teen DD devours everything like another PP's son does. As a result, during the school year I do not buy juice, soda, pastries, donuts, candy, cookies, potato chips, pudding or ice cream -- anything with processed sugar other than yogurt or jam -- for our family. During four weeks in summer (including family trip), everyone can have sweets, as on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthdays.

I understand this and can sympathize. What do you think will happen when they go to college and can buy whatever they please to eat? How did you handle it at that age?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is insane, quite literally. If I had a kid or husband that was binging on chocolate milk, candies, cookies, etc. I wouldn’t buy it, period. If they are binging on cheese and eating entire packages of whole wheat crackers- then there is a mental illness at play going on that needs to be addressed. Even so, I’d buy one package and be done for the week. If they eat it all and don’t have any snack food the rest of the week- oh well. Guess you eat an apple instead or no snacks at all. I’m an adult and I can live without snacks. Maybe I’d be irritated the cheese and crackers or pretzels were all eaten the day I came back from the store, but not so irritated I’d lock them up. It is just pretzels (or ice cream or whatever). This is bananas. Maybe everyone should just buy bananas instead. If your family it addicted to junk food, instead of locking it up, stop buying! You are perpetuating the thought that you “need” it . You don’t. No one does

Perhaps a lovely piece of fruit from the well-stocked fruit bowl. Eaten outside, naturally.

THAT WAS THE BEST THREAD EVER

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love this thread, but some of people's behavior horrifies me. I don't hide food. I do bring some items up to my office so I don't have to keep going to the kitchen for snacks - I guess that makes the items unavailable to others? Is that hiding? Just buy enough or if it's a special treat everyone gets a share and that's it.

It’s hiding. Minus the food locker that’s prob what most of us do.

[Anonymous]

I iron my jeans too!!!