Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Being a man of a certain age, most people seem to run out of gift ideas for me. At Christmas I therefore seem to end up with a whole lot of food and drink crap as gifts. My dilemma is simply this...should I bin them all, or should I re-gift them. I feel bad re-gifting as it really will all be bad for whoever the recipients are (and most people I would consider giving them to will likely have already had too much sugar over the holidays anyway...or has similar gift residue to be "finished up"). But I also have a real hang-up about waste...so I have a massive head block to throw it away. I'm also slightly afraid that the longer I procrastinate about the decision, the more likely I am to do neither - and eat/drink some of it myself.

Ideas and advice please?

flag	asked Dec 28 2011 at 10:12 Gary 2,585●2●12

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make a list of everyone who gave you these gifts and next year send them all a holiday note requesting they donate to a charity on your behalf in lieu of gifts. – sage_ Dec 28 2011 at 16:20

Eric · Answer 1 · 2011-12-28 10:25:15Z UTC

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If it is actual food give it away. A food bank or shelter will use it.

answered Dec 28 2011 at 10:25

Eric
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Never thought about this, perfect source for unwanted food/drink gifts. Do food banks take alcohol? – Bristlebeard Dec 28 2011 at 13:38

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Absolutely, there's tons of poor folks out there. Alcohol you can re-gift, or if you're feeling generous, you'll make a bum feel very very happy. At least for a short while. – raydawg Dec 28 2011 at 15:07

Alcohol makes a very very appreciated white elephant gift. – Senneth Dec 28 2011 at 17:18

food banks will take alcohol but they won't hand it out again. Go volunteers!!! – The Loon Dec 28 2011 at 18:05

issakova · Answer 2 · 2011-12-28 11:00:54Z UTC

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I agree with Eric, give it to a food bank or shelter. Food is food, even if it's not optimal nutrition, some people don't have much to eat anyway, I hate the idea of throwing out food.

answered Dec 28 2011 at 11:00

issakova
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graciel · Answer 3 · 2011-12-28 11:38:12Z UTC

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Any baked goods can be reduced to crumb sizes for birds. Breads, cookies, things like that. You still get to enjoy the gift by feeding birds with it, even if you aren't using it quite the way the gift giver thought you would.

answered Dec 28 2011 at 11:38

graciel
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It's terrible for the birds too! – Nance Dec 28 2011 at 16:06

Nance · Answer 4 · 2011-12-28 16:10:43Z UTC

I was given a plate of home-made baked goods so I faced your dilemma. I almost threw them away but they were not just packaged junk so I re-gifted them to busy people with no time to bake. They were delighted to get them and I have no more right to judge their desire for those treats than they have to judge my usual avoidance of them.

Anyhow, a week later I sat eating 90% chocolate and pork rinds and wondering if I should've tasted them. Since they would've made me sick (wheat) I'm glad I got rid of them right away!

bittykitty · Answer 5 · 2011-12-28 10:35:42Z UTC

Had the same thing happen(girlfriend's mother sent a basket of crackers,cheese,wine,chocolate).We re-distributed them among friends who didn't know each other(Oh hi!I brought a little something over for you!).No waste,and most people enjoy that kind of thing,no matter how much of it they still have around.

Dave S. · Answer 6 · 2011-12-28 13:44:25Z UTC

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I can always put stuff out in the pantry at work. It usually gone in about 15 minutes.

answered Dec 28 2011 at 13:44

Dave S.
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i work in a place like that. the words kitchen and free usually results in a stampede – sage_ Dec 28 2011 at 16:15

Missi · Answer 7 · 2011-12-28 14:52:35Z UTC

I agree with give it away, food bank, bring it to the office etc. But to anybody that thinks they might unwantingly give in to temptation of these foods being in your house before being able to give it away (like previous sugar/carb addicts), hurry up and just throw it out now, deep into the bottom of the garbage bag! So not worth it.

The Loon · Answer 8 · 2011-12-28 18:06:49Z UTC

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I take everything to the local senior center because I haven't seen them waste anything yet.

answered Dec 28 2011 at 18:06

The Loon
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Mallory · Answer 9 · 2011-12-28 16:32:50Z UTC

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i brought it all to work lol. my alreadyobeseoffice enjoys it. if they cared about real health i wouldnt, but they dont at all so ....

answered Dec 28 2011 at 16:32

Mallory
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	I did the same thing. They will eat ANYTHING at the office. However one item I did question bringing it -it appeared to be a chocolate loaf, but after reading the ingredients I am not sure it was actually food. I am not sure it would even decompose if left outside.... – Senneth Dec 28 2011 at 17:20
	This comment is really uncomfortable to read. Not everyone has your support system, knowledge, background or income. People get fat for all kinds of reasons. Not all of them have to do with poor character. For my part, I worked full time as a family caregiver through grad school with untreated endocrine and autoimmune issues, and I gained a lot of weight. Any crap I ate at that time reflected my exhaustion and not my respect for my body. I got medical care, I got respite care, I got healthier. Please be kind and patient with people. You don't know their big picture or progress on their path. – syrahna Dec 29 2011 at 5:52

Sarah · Answer 10 · 2011-12-28 11:30:47Z UTC

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If people are unhealthy to begin with they will find their sugar whether you provide it or not. I would say regift it until you start feeling like eating it...then toss it! Or give it to someone on the street.

answered Dec 28 2011 at 11:30

Sarah
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Frugal Jen · Answer 11 · 2011-12-28 13:56:21Z UTC

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Ditto the food banks. In addition, homeless shelters or churches might--and I stress might--be able to take food items that aren't professionally packaged.

answered Dec 28 2011 at 13:56

Frugal Jen
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Dorado Galore · Answer 12 · 2011-12-28 17:52:05Z UTC

I brought two sugar-free pies to my Xmas dinner, as per advance instructions about who would bring what items, and there turned out to be way too much food so I left the dinner with the two pies untouched, still in the box. I don't eat pies or desserts per se. I hate to throw them away and so they sit in my fridge. I am thinking of gathering up a bunch of paper plates and plastic forks from my cupboard, and going in search of homeless persons and surprising them with an entire pie.

In the bin or give them away?

12 Answers