A friend of mine, who shall remain nameless unless e chooses to identify emself, posted recently about spending money on food and then throwing it away. My friend said that wasting money, but saving calories/fat, was still a waste.

I have a very different approach. I have been dieting, in various forms, for a few years; this approach is something I came up with very early on. For me, money is no object if it keeps me eating well. This probably also stems from my dozen-plus years as a vegetarian; it is often more expensive to live as a vegetarian than to eat meat. So maintaining my chosen dietary lifestyle has been expensive for a long time. As a dieter trying to lose weight, though, I am spending even more money, and I am okay with that.

Currently, I spend about $450/month on food. This is because I am on Diet to Go, which provides all of my food for me. It’s a good plan, and it’s successful: I have lost almost 30 pounds since January. Because it is successful, I don’t mind paying for it, even though it is about $150 more per month than fending for myself. Money is much easier to come by than weight loss, and if something costs money but allows me to lose weight, then I prefer to take the easier, more expensive route rather than struggling to lose weight - and being unhappy as a result - just to save some money.

I feel the same way about going to a restaurant. I am paying to be satisfied. If I don’t eat everything on my plate and I don’t want to bring the leftovers home, then I don’t. I paid for the meal, not the food - if I have enjoyed the meal, then I have gotten my money’s worth. Sometimes I will bring leftovers home, but only if I’m really going to eat them. Alternatively, I will deliberately only eat half and then have the rest at a later time, thereby getting two meals for the price of one.

If you are poor, or you otherwise need to watch every penny, then my approach is not for you. I’m not saying my feelings about food and money work for everyone, but they work for me, and I am happy this way. I manage both food and money in a way that I am satisfied with. It’s
become a way of life for me.