When did you clean out the kitchen, before or after...

[choconut68]

starting low carb.

Since we as a family decided to eat LC, I've not cleared the kitchen yet. I've not had a chance to get groceries for this week, so when anyone wonders into the kitchen all that's in the cabinets is pasta, rice and junk. Do you leave anything for "just in case" moments. Or would you just clean it all and look at an empty shelf?

[shortcut]

The wife gave most of the carby stuff to her sister just about the time I started this WOE. She sneaks in a few small items from time to time, but keeps them out of site most of the time.

[ChristineCQ]

My kitchen is full of non-LC food. It doesn't bother me. I make pasta for DH and DS as they desire. I have rice in there as well, plus DS likes an occasional snack of chips.

[micheleredit]

It took me a few years to really commit to low carb, but when I did I went into the kitchen and cleared out all the "junk" before I started.
I always think, do or do not there is no try -Yoda

[shellyshebby]

My kitchen has lots of carby stuff in it too. My dh and dd's still eat that way a good bit. I don't crave it like I used to anymore.
I did really want the baskin robbins red, white and blue ice cream that I kept seeing a commercial for all weekend though! But I didn't get it.

[clackley]

I have not cleared my kitchen because I have others living here that don't follow my woe. It does not bother me - I look upon those high carb items as 'non food'.

[scandalouslyglam]

I have high carb items as well...I just don't view them as an option for me.

[drjlocarb]

I have a carb shelf in one cabinet. There are rice and pasta mixes for others and they are in flavors I would never eat.

[Ocean]

I threw out the perishable stuff pretty quickly. It took me nearly a year to get rid of the high carb non-perishable stuff. It wasn't really because I ever thought I would eat it again. I kept it because I was always taught that you need to be prepared in case there is some sort of disaster and you can't get out of your home for a while. If I am stuck in my apartment for three weeks with no electricity, I wouldn't worry about carbs too much.

Then it started to get in my way because my pantry is pretty small so I moved the carby stuff to the bottom. It was still in my way, but I hate to waste food. When the post office had their big food drive last month I donated about 15 bags of high carb non-perishable foods to them.

I still kept some somewhat carby food such as soup for a disaster. (I know I am paranoid) I also have some healthier choice disaster foods such as canned meats and vegetables.

[Jennyl]

I haven't ever cleaned out the kitchen of high carb foods. I don't live alone, and other people want the rice and pasta and oatmeal and all the other things.

[~*Kimbers*~]

We have a blended kitchen of both carb and low carb food items.

[Janknitz]

I'm the only one in my family doing lc. My husband has a healthy, balanced carb woe, and my skinny kids live on pasta, cereal, chips, sweets.

I find that I don't crave these things as long as I eat enough protein and fat. So it's no big deal. Last night part of our 4th celebration involved a dessert potluck. I drank some ice coffee with HWC right before going and had not the slightest urge to sample anything. I was fine with a bottle of nice, cold water.

[~*Kimbers*~]

Originally Posted by Janknitz

I find that I don't crave these things as long as I eat enough protein and fat. So it's no big deal.

Same here.

[Auntie Em]

I have continued to give things away as I newly remove this or that from my food plan. It's lovely to have presents to give others.


I have found that my taste in indulgence-foods has changed many times.

I even gave away the baking pans, sifter, stand mixer, toaster, and sundry other kitchen tools, some of which were grand, vintage things. I've become quite fond of my iron skillets and crock pot.

[sistertzu]

I'm the sole low carber in my household so I've gotten used to things being around, I'm no longer tempted it doesn't bother me in the least. It was hard in the beginning though.

[choconut68]

I think I'll replace the pasta with some low carb alternatives. Brown rice instead of white. THe whole family is trying LC. So if that stuff is going to be hanging around, It might as well be a better alternative.

[FitMommyNow]

My kids and husband don't LC so most of the pantry is their stuff. However, I have cans of tuna in there for my "just in case" food.

[piratejenny]

I haven't cleared my kitchen b/c my son is vegetarian & eats pasta, pancakes, etc.
Having that stuff around doesn't bother me (just like my bacon & tuna don't bother him, haha).

But if I were in your situation, with the whole family on board, I think I might go ahead & clear it out. Donate it to a food pantry.
I give my "extras" to my neighbors, who have 5 kids (or I bring stuff over for potlucks).

While I too have a hard time throwing food away, I think in a true emergency having HIGH CARB food would be counterproductive as, calorie-for-calorie, it
would leave you hungrier and wanting to eat more often. High carb food also makes me sleepy...I want to be alert if I need to fight zombies!!!

[suzabelle]

I couldn't clear out the kitchen since my husband wasn't eating LC with me. The kitchen is full of starch and sugar! But it's also full of products that I need and eat and he doesn't. Interestingly enough, though...he's now at a point where he wants to take off some weight and he's doing so by eating "less" carbs. He typically doesn't want me to make him rice or potatoes, often bypasses the bread....and eats fewer sweets. But he is culturally averse to the concept of dieting or truly limiting in any way the types of things he eats. He is Cuban, and just arrived in the U.S. 2004. Food is not plentiful there. And there's not a lot of variety. He says "I spent almost 40 years of my life not getting to eat what I want...so I'm not going to limit myself now!" He has a point..... (he's also gained about 30 pounds since getting here!)

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by choconut68

starting low carb.
... Do you leave anything for "just in case" moments. Or would you just clean it all and look at an empty shelf?

Hi c-nut…
I cannot and have never cleaned out the kitchen. I live with a wonderful wife who doesn't eat low carb.

So we need 3 fridges, two freezers and an extra pantry cupboard.

[VooDooDoll]

I have not done this. Each of us eats a different menu. My son is also a vegetarian.

[piratejenny]

Originally Posted by suzabelle

He is Cuban, and just arrived in the U.S. 2004. Food is not plentiful there. And there's not a lot of variety. He says "I spent almost 40 years of my life not getting to eat what I want...so I'm not going to limit myself now!"

¡Pobrecito! ¡Ay, bendíto!
It's so nice that we have plenty of food here in the US...
...even when I'm annoyed at my weight, I know how lucky I am
to have more than enough food!!!

[Maryo]

I didn't face this because 80% of my family is NOT eating low carb. However, if everyone in the house was moving to a low carb diet, I would get rid of anything that wasn't part of the program - I'm sure I have neighbors and friends who would be happy to have all that junk. Then I'd get to the store quickly to buy the legal foods - having nothing in the house to eat will get old really fast. Most important, I would NOT have anything for "just in case" moments, because that's precisely what I'd be trying to avoid.

[kittycitygirl]

Only the 2 of us here. I'm LC. He is GF. Most of the non GF stuff is gone. Slowly given away or used when the kids came over. We do have some carby/gluten containing foods for DGS since he spends time with us often. It helps to have few items to run to when you get that carb craving.

[Charcutier]

I cleared out everything not on plan. All of it. I have no one else to cook for, so I had that luxury. So, pasta, flour, sugar, beans, rice, soups... anything more than 3 carbs per serving. Gone. Given to the local food bank or, if open, taken away by a non-LC friend - or trashed. My health is worth the cost.

[KDWJEH]

Our fridge and cabinets have several high carb items. I have just learned not to touch them. The farther into this WOE I get, the less cravings I have. Call me a glutton for punishment, but I sort of enjoy asserting my determination every time I open the cupboard.

[Furi]

I also live with non-low carbers, but after close to a year I've honestly stopped even wanting the food they keep around.

[zipp2play]

I also live in a house where I am the only LCer, so we have other carby stuff around always. I do try to eliminate most of the junk because honestly, thin or heavy, it is not necessary!

[choconut68]

I think the pasta will be given away, I don't need to sit till they are carried away by weevils. The beans can stay...moderation. The sugar (2 new bags) can be saved for jelly making, jelly that will be gifted later this fall....

So the plan is, not a total wipe out of kitchen, but clean it out. We have Raman noodles by the box loads...those can be sent out of house to nonLC friend.

I have sugary cocoa mixes, spice tea mixes... this things can be given away...I just don't need the temptation of these and a few other items. I tried to get DD to make a box of brownies and send the back home with her friend who spent the weekend with us. She wouldn't touch them.. lol.

I"m rambling.. but thinking... I have to get some things out...
The whole family, which are all overweight, is on board with this... I'll weed out slowly... and replace with good things...

Dreamfield pastas????? What or how good are they?

[lisaerinqt04]

It was kind of a process for me because when I started I was living with my ex who was thin as a rail and ate nothing but carby junk/fast food, etc. When that ended and I got a new place, I only brought in LC foods as a "new beginning" sort of and continued my weight loss from there. It may not happen over night as I wouldn't want to be "wasteful", I remember giving a lot of carby food that I had bought in the old apartment to various charities.