We’re reaching the home stretch of the holiday season and I don’t know about you, but I’m full. Not full of shopping (I finished that by my December 1st deadline) but full as in my poor stomach is taxed to the max.
And that’s not good (especially as I’m reducing).
Since most of my buddies are busy business guys and gals (and I haven’t gone home yet), my overeating is due to restaurant dinners. The portions are SO BIG (like the restaurants take my Mom’s force-feeding tactics to heart).
So what have I been doing?
Making tv dinners (remember those? Those hungry man dinners in the cute little containers with all the food divided up, just the way I like it… I do not like my food to touch). I then freeze them for those hectic January days.
That means some forward thinking. I tend to order food that freezes well (staying away from potatoes as they turn out like mushy starch balls). Rice and pasta dishes normally are a breeze.
I order the regular meal and then ask the waiter right away to split it into two, packing one half up (no temptation). If I’m lucky, they’ll put them in those plastic takeaway dishes that I can simply pop right in the freezer and then reuse.
This tactic also works if friends and family are cooking. When they try to force one more piece of cheesecake (which freezes like a dream and might even be nicer half frozen) on me, I say “No thanks, I’m stuffed”, smile and then add “but if there are any left overs…” Leaving that comment hanging. Often at the end of the night, I have a goodie bag to go.
Saves money, time and best of all my waistline.