One of the subterfuges that is no doubt well known to children of the Great Depression as well as their children is the "Waste not, want not" subterfuge. It's a worthy sentiment at times and places where hunger is a constant presence, but in typical American households where people are packing on the pounds, it's not something to worry about. Clearly not much food is in danger of being wasted there.
But it makes a great excuse for not throwing away the last third of a bag of stale, tasteless nacho chips, despite the fact that they're being ingested only a half-hour after a full dinner. Or for eating the last piece of cheap, store brand cherry pie that tastes more like corn starch than fruit.
Or how about those times when there's a little bit of food left over, but you're too stuffed to eat another bite? Do you throw that little bit away? No, you finish it, saying, "It's not enough to put away and I don't want to waste it." It's not wasted then. No, it's filling up rows and rows of empty new fat cells!
And perhaps the most popular Frugal Subterfuge is "But I got it on sale!" It's funny how only the high calorie treats are a great bargain. We'll snap up those two-for-one M&Ms at Walmart, but when celery is two-for-one, are we interested? Nah! "What would I do with all that celery?" we ask, never wondering where six pounds of chocolate covered peanut candy is going to go.
Yes, I'm afraid I too am guilty of trotting out the tried-and-true Frugality Subterfuge, but it's just another excuse for eating, after all, and one that needs to be seen for what it is! Would you agree?
But it makes a great excuse for not throwing away the last third of a bag of stale, tasteless nacho chips, despite the fact that they're being ingested only a half-hour after a full dinner. Or for eating the last piece of cheap, store brand cherry pie that tastes more like corn starch than fruit.
Or how about those times when there's a little bit of food left over, but you're too stuffed to eat another bite? Do you throw that little bit away? No, you finish it, saying, "It's not enough to put away and I don't want to waste it." It's not wasted then. No, it's filling up rows and rows of empty new fat cells!
And perhaps the most popular Frugal Subterfuge is "But I got it on sale!" It's funny how only the high calorie treats are a great bargain. We'll snap up those two-for-one M&Ms at Walmart, but when celery is two-for-one, are we interested? Nah! "What would I do with all that celery?" we ask, never wondering where six pounds of chocolate covered peanut candy is going to go.
Yes, I'm afraid I too am guilty of trotting out the tried-and-true Frugality Subterfuge, but it's just another excuse for eating, after all, and one that needs to be seen for what it is! Would you agree?
Yes, I would.
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