"food" waste

 Today's torture to tickle my brain.

When is enough, enough. Or shall I say, least enough, or least, or I don't know the exact term and I sense that, as I struggle with these words, the noise from the TV that I hear is a megalomaniacal but evil genius breaking in to the football coverage to announce that he has seized control of the diamond mines in South Africa and you say, "Hey, that's super, but you cut in in the 4th quarter -- could you like, cut out for a few, just so that the game can end and then we'll pick this up, then? I have a lot riding on this, man, so I'd really like to watch the game" and then the game is back on.

But anyway, what I was trying to explain about what is my self-torture du jour (on a Sunday, no less) is my wondering how little (or much) has to be left before one can get rid of something one hates without any guilt regarding wasting food?

I bought some really nasty fake cheese pieces and I occasionally sprinkle the into meat food in the hopes that somehow, this would introduce some exotic flavor experience. So far, nothing. But each time, I look at what is left and I make a mental judgment whether I'm a horrible person if I throw out "this" amount of food product. It's a sinful waste of food and a sinful waste of money. But on the other hand, gross. Right?

I play this game when I cook: "How much can I add of this food I hate before it ruins my entire meal by presenting its actual taste to me"?

Shake some in, maybe some more. Is that too much? I don't know but let's hit that with some Mrs. Dash and sriracha and it'll be great. But how much is left? Is there enough to be of use next time? When will next time be? Can fake cheese go bad? Or worse? and then, always "Can't I just chuck it?" Cue the guilt. That battle in my head between "you hate it" and "children starving in _______". And I always lose.

For the wrong foods, the only acceptable amount considered "too little to save" is not to buy it at all.