I can’t physically eat leftovers

[IsItMeOrThemBeingKnobs]

I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I physically cannot force myself to eat leftovers.

I always have the best intentions of meal prepping/cooking more for lunches and then when it gets down to actually eating that stuff it turns my stomach. I end up having to give extra to DH.

Does anyone else get this or am I completely U and weird?!

Leftover-shunners, does it extend to eg a cake? You have to eat it all at once or bin it?

I can see why someone might not want to eat a lot of odds and ends randomly put together but not eating anything that hasn't been cooked right then must be incredibly limiting- how do you eat out or at someone else's house?

Oh give over, someone preferring not to eat leftovers has got zero to do with starvation round the world.

I do this. Not always fun but it saves me a lot of money over time.

Do you never prepare food in advance?

What was it like growing up - did your parents make a "thing" about having meals prepared so its given you a complex?

Op I am exactly the same!

Not so bad with eg. Some left over chicken to have in a sandwich but a frozen portion of Bolognese defrosting and then separating gives me the ick and I often end up throwing them away even if I have set out to eat it

I love leftovers. Sometimes I even make extra food specifically so the next day I can have the leftovers for lunch. Lasagne, curries, chilli, stew all taste better the next day.

I voted YABU, but only because you are clearly cooking too much for one meal. Try reducing the ingredients by half and cook it twice instead. That way, although you will probably use more energy doing it, at least you will eat the food.
Just out of curiosity, have you ever batch-cooked? ( I mean, in the sense that you cook up E.g. Shepherd’s pie filling and mashed potato, assemble into several Shepherd’s pies, and freeze, then cook from the freezer) or is it that reheating yesterday’s Shepherd’s pie from the fridge turns your stomach? If you’ve no problem with heating food from the freezer, it may help to find instructions on how long to heat self-cooked food and see if that gives you peace of mind….article here shows how to do it.

www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjO3dSxrpv4AhVLhFwKHcZGD0wQFnoECAUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wikihow.com%2FReheat-Frozen-or-Chilled-Food&usg=AOvVaw3REMM26G69dyq02CyM8-eB

Yes wierd. Not normal. I try to waste as little as possible. Almost nothing is thrown away. A bit of limp lettuce. I batch cook a lot. And when I cook anything, I cook extra so there is some left over for lunch the next day: spag Bol, curry, an extra chicken Kiev. Even if it's not quite a portion I still put it into a container and take it for my lunch the next day.
Food wastage is minimal in our house. With two hungry teen ds's almost nothing gets put in the bin.

I was like this until very recently, the sight and smell of the food made me feel sick, I started getting my oh to heat it up instead and forced myself to eat it, and I was very surprised that some of the dinners we're even nicer re-heated, we now have the extra portions when we are having a busy week.

totally agree, leftover chicken thighs are nasty

Pre-prepared? hehe, pre-pared even.

I love a leftover for lunch but my DF and DS are like you, so I don't think it's unusual. Can you eat them if they are turned into a completely different meal? I made stir fry using leftover beef from Sunday dinner for example.

Well according to this thread YOU started… your own “DH thinks I am wasteful” when it comes to milk! 😂

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/3462382-Do-you-have-milk-leftover-in-the-bowl

@LuckyAmy1986

I have this problem (plus a load of other food related issues) and have ASD. I also can't eat most cold foods, can't eat any food from the fridge if something strong smelling is stored in there at the same time and have to cover my hands (marigolds!) before touching anything from the fridge.
Weirdly, I'm fine with eating reheated food that hasn't been in the fridge.

Cold steamed leftover broccoli with a dash of ketchup

i would happily live off

This probably shouldn't be in AIBU. It should be in SN, the ASD section.

YABU to cook too much and then not eat it. Just cook smaller portions.
My DS says he won't eat 'freezer food' but I cook it and don't tell him and he doesn't even notice the difference.

Don't have leftovers then. Batch cook and divide the food BEFORE you eat. That way food is portioned in tubs for the freezer as it's original purpose. It isn't leftover.

I am the same depending on what it is. Anything that was "wet" for example anything that was in a sauce really makes me gip. Cold meat like chicken etc doesnt bother me.

In my head, it's like I can almost "feel" the fats and oils in the food congealing and that is why I have a psychological barrier to it.

Yes, since you ask, it is strange and wasteful.

@Antarcticant - I am with you on that... I thought I was the only one, but I literally cannot stand the taste of anything that has been in clingfilm - especially sandwiches!

Any reference to “normal”

aways makes me chuckle

I very much presume the op includes this as well in her aversion

I regularly make double so that we can have it the next or next night. So I made curry on Saturday with rice and tonight we are having the other half with chips and salad. It saves me time every few days.

I’m the same, turns my stomach. I can’t only eat freshly cooked food!