I blame my mother

I know your likely reading this mom, so please try not to freak out too much.

But I blame my mother for what happened at dinner tonight.  I went out tonight to hang out with my "in-laws" and we ended up at an italian restaurant for dinner.  Thankfully this italian restaurant knows about gluten, so I am always able to eat there.  However, this is the first real restaurant I went to post surgery.  Technically it was time for me to eat my afternoon snack, not dinner.  But you got to improvise ya know?

Well I ordered a salad with parma ham and gorgonzola cheese.  I actually ordered the 1/2 portion.  Which is still quite sizable.  I spent about 40 mins picking away at this thing.  Why did I keep going for so long?  Because my mother drilled it into me I had to clear my plate!!  Yup! I'm sure most of you got the same deal from your parents.  "Can't leave the table till you clear that plate....including those peas!"

So I sat there nibbling away little by little.  I didn't quite eat the whole thing.  I'm sorry, but I failed your lesson, mom.  I gave it a valiant effort though.  Here's the thing though, I was about 1/2-3/4 the way done and could tell I was full.  But I figured give it time, let the little pouch empty out and then finish.  Yup, I know stupid.  But I must clear the plate!

I don't even think this is a conscious thing.  I think it just happens.  It's quite frustrating.  More so when the food tastes delicious (as this one did).  Almost seems like a waste to let such tasty (and expensive) food go to waste.

I'm wondering, as I go through life, how am I going to break myself of this?  I can't always clear the plate.  Especially when dining out.  I can't tell them to fix me a plate of food that is 1dl meat, 1 dl carbs, 1/2 dl veg, and 1/2 dl sauce or extras.  That's just not going to fly.  Lately what I've been doing is putting my food on the small plates we have that are meant for like tea and cookies.  And using the small bowls for snacks instead of dinner bowls.  It makes it a bit easier.  I get the sense of cleaning off my plate as well as eating a full meal, rather then nibbling on tiny portions.

Just not sure what to do about dining out.  I can't stand throwing away perfectly good food.  There are kids starving in Africa ya know!  (I know you heard that one growing up too!)