I have never liked leftovers. It has to be something really, really, really good for me to want to eat it the next day. In any event, fried foods are not even a consideration for me. I don’t care for them to begin with but I especially hate leftover catfish, chicken or porkchops. He will eat leftovers for two or three days. Also, he will grab food from last week’s dinners and eat that. I am very particular about eating food that’s sat too long because I am afraid of getting food poisoning.
He, other the other hand, will leave mayonnaise, ranch dressing, tartar sauce, etc. in his lunchbox over night (sometimes over the weekend) and will turn right around and eat it. I try to cook just enough for the two of us because we have a history of wasting food (since I don’t eat leftovers), but when I do that he complains because he wants to have some left for lunch the next day. I don’t see why it’s such a big deal to him.
Update:I love fried catfish, but I am not too fond of pork chops.
Answers & Comments
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yes and no. your fondness for leftovers, or lack there of, is an opinion based on your tastes. i to am much like you, in the fact that i don't care for left overs at all, unless it's certain food, like pizza. however, the food poisoning is a bit of paranoia. it's good to have a concern, but it can be crazy to over do it. you said your husband does it all the times, and yet he is fine and dandy. i would certainly stress the importance of milk based products being put away in a timely mannar. a lot of emphasis you see out there is mostly for food industry who will suffer the price of a lawsuit if they're food makes someone sick. sick being a key word. you are not likely to pass on to the next world because some food sat out to long.
and honestly, he doesn't see why it's a big deal to leave things out since he does it all the time and is otherwise healthy. my solution, cook for two, but just eat your portion and leave his for the next day. and besides, i'm sure you married for love, not functionality.
If he eats leftover then there is nothing wrong with making enough for leftovers for his lunches. What, he's supposed to go out and buy his lunches? At the very least $5-7 a pop? Talk about not making the funds stretch, buying lunch is a very costly expenditure. And make him beans and cornbread he can munch on that all week.
I used to make a big pot of chili for my X. I don't like chili, but he'd eat that and I wouldn't have to cook...I could just nibble on whatever I liked, fresh fruits and vegetables...easy peasy for me. And it shut the bastard up, the only thing that would since he bitched every time I didn't feel like cooking after putting in a 10-12 hour day at work.
Well if you are not feeding any kids you don't really need to worry about the vegetables. Make what he likes for him, and make what you like for you. Just remind him how you are going to out live him since he will probably die from clogged arteries. I don't see any harm in making enough food for three people, that way he can have it for leftovers the next day in his lunch... Just keep a better eye on what is still there beyond two days and throw it out before he gets food poisoning. My first husband got food poisoning from a restaurant we ate at and he had to go to the hospital because the pain was so bad...He was sick for about two weeks and lost about 30 LBS. Very Dangerous.
Ok... SAME as me! LOL All I do is make little meals, or just enough of the things I KNOW I wont eat the next day... As for the things that are even better the next day, I'll make enough to have for lunch the next day. As far as leaving stuff out, I refuse to eat it, but if your husband wants to, then buy him smaller sizes to put in his lunch box or whatever and ask him to leave the larger ones in the refrigerator. Open the lines of communication. You may be able to even point out that if he likes things like beans and such, that you don't, he is more than welcome to make it, but be aware that you wont eat it since you don't like it. That way if it doesn't get eaten and it is wasted, he can't blame you. As far as leaving him some left overs, why not... Get the divided food containers and fill it up when you serve dinner... That way it is put away and not left out all evening. You both win, and just in case he doesn't take it, you could have it since you know it was put away right as you were serving dinner.... This also helps with over eating too... Since it isn't out to go back for seconds, etc...
He is trying to be frugal and save money by stretching meals and eating leftovers. If he wishes to continue with that it should be ok with you, now here's the hard part...he has to accept that you do not enjoy this type of eating. Listen up, it is not about who is right and who is wrong, it is about freedom of choice. If you try to argue with him that he is not eating healthy you are asking for an argument. Just explain that you want mutual respect for each others taste in food. He has eatne this way his whole life, you are not going to change him now. Maybe after he has a heart attack he will want to change, in the mean time let each other be.
Perhaps if you cooked less food there would be less left overs and you could save a little.
Yoda out
I have this same problem. VERY SIMPLE solution. Actually take the next 3-4 weeks and MEASURE the amount of food you cook and then write down how much you need to make 3 servings worth. You each get to eat, and then he has something for lunch the next day. Guess what, you might actually use the math that you complained about having to learn in grade school. If you can't eyeball it, then invest in a scale. Done!
Food is costly. But I'm with you on leftover Fried foods. Kinda nasty!! I will eat leftovers, and usually cook enough so that I can pack my husband some lunch for the next day. But didn't your Husband realize you didn't like leftovers before you got married? Maybe he's just stressing a bit because the price of Everything is constantly going up.
First of all, OMG pigs are not from the rodent family. I am almost laughing to hard to concentrate.
It sounds to me like you have two issues going here. One is your aversion to leftovers and two is his desire to save money. So what is the harm in making some extra food so he can have it for lunch the next day? It doesn't sound like he is asking you to eat the leftovers, just to make some for him. I bring my lunch to work and I would much prefer to have a home cooked meal, even left over, then a sandwich or something else.
He is thrifty...doesn't want to waste any food.
Probably brought up that way. See what his Mom does.
So let him eat all of the leftovers.
If the leftovers are more than he will eat. Freeze some.
Food will usually be for up to 4 or 5 days
When in doubt, throw it out...
Keep mayonnaise refrigerated, it could make you sick
Many foods have preservatives added
Joy to you!
well, just because you don't like leftovers shouldn't mean that you deprive him of leftovers. You'd probably save money if he didn't have to eat out at lunch. Can't you make just enough for the 2 of you and 1 lunch for him?
sounds like a compromise is in order here