Extreme obesity and paper plates. Question for people in the USA
Replies
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Typically, I'd say that they're mainly just used for outdoor gatherings & picnics. Or indoors for a party with quick-cheap-takeouty-type things like pizza and wings.
Although lately, I'm finding that more and more people get various takeout or buy pre-prepared foods at the grocery on a daily basis... using paper plates for the things not already in eating containers would probably be somewhat more common versus using them for meals cooked at home.
Ive never come across that here either - do you mean you would get something like takeaway chinese or noodles and than plate them onto paper plates when you got home/after they were delivered?
in that scenario, I would plate them on to my regular washable plates - as has everyone else i have been in that scenario with (say, extended family or friends group all chip in for pizza)
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I hadn't thought about it, but I can certainly see the argument for disposable plates and utensils if you have mobility, stability, gripping strength, or other issues that make breakable dishes and loading and unloading a dishwasher (or washing by hand) problematic. I have some inexpensive plastic plates I bought for serving heavier or damp/greasy things like burgers at cookouts so I didn't have to worry about paper plates collapsing, but that would only help with the breakage issue.
I get the logic in not using breakable plates if you might drop and break them - but my solution in that situation ( and with young children) would be to use melamine plates.
although admittedly you still have to wash them after wards.2 -
paperpudding wrote: »Typically, I'd say that they're mainly just used for outdoor gatherings & picnics. Or indoors for a party with quick-cheap-takeouty-type things like pizza and wings.
Although lately, I'm finding that more and more people get various takeout or buy pre-prepared foods at the grocery on a daily basis... using paper plates for the things not already in eating containers would probably be somewhat more common versus using them for meals cooked at home.
Ive never come across that here either - do you mean you would get something like takeaway chinese or noodles and than plate them onto paper plates when you got home/after they were delivered?
in that scenario, I would plate them on to my regular washable plates - as has everyone else i have been in that scenario with (say, extended family or friends group all chip in for pizza)
A lot of grocery stores do things like precooked chicken or potatoes in plastic containers or bags. they're not for one meal for one person but an entire chicken or something similar. So they sometimes get plated onto paper plates when in a situation like being in a hotel or eating at a picnic table.0 -
wunderkindking wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Typically, I'd say that they're mainly just used for outdoor gatherings & picnics. Or indoors for a party with quick-cheap-takeouty-type things like pizza and wings.
Although lately, I'm finding that more and more people get various takeout or buy pre-prepared foods at the grocery on a daily basis... using paper plates for the things not already in eating containers would probably be somewhat more common versus using them for meals cooked at home.
Ive never come across that here either - do you mean you would get something like takeaway chinese or noodles and than plate them onto paper plates when you got home/after they were delivered?
in that scenario, I would plate them on to my regular washable plates - as has everyone else i have been in that scenario with (say, extended family or friends group all chip in for pizza)
A lot of grocery stores do things like precooked chicken or potatoes in plastic containers or bags. they're not for one meal for one person but an entire chicken or something similar. So they sometimes get plated onto paper plates when in a situation like being in a hotel or eating at a picnic table.
yes those are the sort of things i thought poster meant - a cooked chicken or a pizza or chinese and rice, to share.
in a picnic situation we might use paper plates to dish out such portions here too - but unlikely if eating them at home.
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paperpudding wrote: »Typically, I'd say that they're mainly just used for outdoor gatherings & picnics. Or indoors for a party with quick-cheap-takeouty-type things like pizza and wings.
Although lately, I'm finding that more and more people get various takeout or buy pre-prepared foods at the grocery on a daily basis... using paper plates for the things not already in eating containers would probably be somewhat more common versus using them for meals cooked at home.
Ive never come across that here either - do you mean you would get something like takeaway chinese or noodles and than plate them onto paper plates when you got home/after they were delivered?
in that scenario, I would plate them on to my regular washable plates - as has everyone else i have been in that scenarios with (say, extended family or friends group all chip in for pizza)
As an adult I dish up carryout onto regular china/pottery etc. dishes, but I remember in college when we ordered subs or pizza or Chinese delivery at the dorm, they always packed paper or (in those long ago days) Styrofoam disposable plates. It was a situation with one kitchen being shared by more than 50 people, so most of us tired pretty quickly of depending on it to prepare food or wash dishes, because you could never know how long you might have to wait for your turn.
The ice cream place that delivered hand-packed pints only included plastic spoons and napkins. They knew their college student audience well, as we each got our own pint and planned to eat it in one sitting.1 -
I’ve only bought paper plates when I was too depressed to keep my house clean and wash dishes regularly. I’m willing to bet a lot of obese people lack the energy to stand at a sink to wash up, or load and unload a dishwasher. Of course I associate paper plates with struggle so I might be biased.8
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People with chronic pain and limitations on their ability to stand for long periods tend to use disposable plates/flatware because that way they don't have to stand in the kitchen to wash them.3
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I guess I'm the odd one out. We use paper plates all the time unless it's a meal that is more "soupy". Personally, I despise paper plates but I'm outnumbered 3 to 1. We do, however, use real silverware.1
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paperpudding wrote: »Typically, I'd say that they're mainly just used for outdoor gatherings & picnics. Or indoors for a party with quick-cheap-takeouty-type things like pizza and wings.
Although lately, I'm finding that more and more people get various takeout or buy pre-prepared foods at the grocery on a daily basis... using paper plates for the things not already in eating containers would probably be somewhat more common versus using them for meals cooked at home.
Ive never come across that here either - do you mean you would get something like takeaway chinese or noodles and than plate them onto paper plates when you got home/after they were delivered?
in that scenario, I would plate them on to my regular washable plates - as has everyone else i have been in that scenario with (say, extended family or friends group all chip in for pizza)
Typically, I would say most people traditionally dish those onto real plates (excepting pizza fairly often as that is usually more of a party item for a larger number of people especially if a kid party or more of a super-lazy-drunken-day order for 1-2), but it seems that more and more people have gotten a bit lazier (for lack of being able to think of a better word at the moment) in recent days.. so I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't dished out on paper plates as often or more often now.
Several groups I'm part of use them fairly frequently to 'tailgate' after rides (outdoors). I usually keep some, along with plastic wine glasses (and, of course, a bottle opener and cap) in the car (along with 2 bikes). I normally have a folding knife and titanium spork with my gear. I've been meaning to add some cutlery for group use.0 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Typically, I'd say that they're mainly just used for outdoor gatherings & picnics. Or indoors for a party with quick-cheap-takeouty-type things like pizza and wings.
Although lately, I'm finding that more and more people get various takeout or buy pre-prepared foods at the grocery on a daily basis... using paper plates for the things not already in eating containers would probably be somewhat more common versus using them for meals cooked at home.
Ive never come across that here either - do you mean you would get something like takeaway chinese or noodles and than plate them onto paper plates when you got home/after they were delivered?
in that scenario, I would plate them on to my regular washable plates - as has everyone else i have been in that scenarios with (say, extended family or friends group all chip in for pizza)
As an adult I dish up carryout onto regular china/pottery etc. dishes, but I remember in college when we ordered subs or pizza or Chinese delivery at the dorm, they always packed paper or (in those long ago days) Styrofoam disposable plates. It was a situation with one kitchen being shared by more than 50 people, so most of us tired pretty quickly of depending on it to prepare food or wash dishes, because you could never know how long you might have to wait for your turn.
The ice cream place that delivered hand-packed pints only included plastic spoons and napkins. They knew their college student audience well, as we each got our own pint and planned to eat it in one sitting.
I remember those dorm kitchens. Dear God! I mostly did packet cooking in foil and ate from the foil. The state of the microwave was usually downright terrifying. Thankfully, Since most of the residents had been babied by their parents and didn't know how to use the oven, that was fairly clean and not, for instance, full of exploded eggs.1 -
I only use real crockery and cutlery (plastic washable if taking a packed lunch), including in the microwave and to dish out takeaway food. Often, I wash dishes after every meal.
Paper and disposable items for me would be exclusively for a picnic setting or something like a kid's birthday party. Otherwise I would personally find it wasteful, although I'm conscious that all that washing up also uses water and energy.4 -
Redordeadhead wrote: »I only use real crockery and cutlery (plastic washable if taking a packed lunch), including in the microwave and to dish out takeaway food. Often, I wash dishes after every meal.
Paper and disposable items for me would be exclusively for a picnic setting or something like a kid's birthday party. Otherwise I would personally find it wasteful, although I'm conscious that all that washing up also uses water and energy.
As someone who used to work in papermaking: nowhere near as much as paper production. Paper making is an exceptionally water intensive process. Even if you used a sink load of water for one plate, you're probably still not using as much water as was used in the production of a single paper plate.
On the subject of the actual topic. Reading the comments I cannot believe how many people use paper plates because they simply cannot be bothered to wash up. I mean it takes literally at most 10 seconds to wipe a plate down, and then another 10 seconds to dry it. If I needed a plate and I've run out, I will just clean one and use that. I got this habit from my parents who would do the same thing and they were both working (running their own business) and had 4 children, so the excuse of being busy by having children and working full time just doesn't fly with me.
We don't even have paper plates in our house. If we needed more plates for an event I'd ask people to bring some over with them (unless it was a really big event, then I probably would get some paper stuff in rather than asking lots of people to bring lots of plates, but at that point I might just considering hiring some actual plates, or a lots of small kids, although reusable plastic plates exist), because paper plates are just rubbish, I mean seriously, they're small and you can't put sauces on them well, and they're just unpleasant to eat off, and they bend if you do put a reasonable amount of food on them. And that's not even considering that fact that once you're done with them they literally ARE just rubbish because once they've been stained with food they can't be recycled, unless they have a plastic film on them (which is super hard to recycle anyway, so is probably not recycled even if you do put in the recycling bin) and then you'd have to wash them before putting them into the recycling anyway, and then what have you saved?
TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being would need to use paper plates in their own house.24 -
ExistingFish wrote: »I use paper plates every week.
I have a family of 5 - I work from home and my kids homeschool, so we are home all day. I think this is the difference. I don't see how families get by not using them, unless they wash dishes all the time.
We have service for 4 (8, 7 plates, one shattered) of actual dishes, and 2 sets of resuable plastic children's plates.
If we eat three meals, that is 15 plates each day. We wash dishes once a day. You do the math, it isn't enough.
Now, we don't use them every day, DH washes the plastic kids plates by hand from breakfast and use them for lunch and dinner. But sometimes we don't do dishes EVERY day, or we are in a hurry and the dishwasher is still running at dinner time, or we are just having sandwiches.
We plan to buy more plates eventually, I'd like to get a set that matches what we have. We DID buy additional silverware and haven't had to use plastic silverware since.
MIL uses plastic silverware, she can taste the metal (she isn't crazy, it's legit, most people just filter it out). I suggested some washable plasticware for her, but I don't think she got it.
i dont have 3 kids but have a teenage son with all the coordination of a drunk elephant. broken dishes are the norm around here.
dollar tree sells dishes.
you can bulk order on their website and ship to your home or to their store.
just an FYI. and kinder on the environment and landfills. he's been washing dishes since he was 5. we didnt even have a dishwasher until we moved here when he was 12? i think.8 -
Sorry was letting my privilege show there, obviously that final sentence should have read:Redordeadhead wrote: »I only use real crockery and cutlery (plastic washable if taking a packed lunch), including in the microwave and to dish out takeaway food. Often, I wash dishes after every meal.
Paper and disposable items for me would be exclusively for a picnic setting or something like a kid's birthday party. Otherwise I would personally find it wasteful, although I'm conscious that all that washing up also uses water and energy.
As someone who used to work in papermaking: nowhere near as much as paper production. Paper making is an exceptionally water intensive process. Even if you used a sink load of water for one plate, you're probably still not using as much water as was used in the production of a single paper plate.
On the subject of the actual topic. Reading the comments I cannot believe how many people use paper plates because they simply cannot be bothered to wash up. I mean it takes literally at most 10 seconds to wipe a plate down, and then another 10 seconds to dry it. If I needed a plate and I've run out, I will just clean one and use that. I got this habit from my parents who would do the same thing and they were both working (running their own business) and had 4 children, so the excuse of being busy by having children and working full time just doesn't fly with me.
We don't even have paper plates in our house. If we needed more plates for an event I'd ask people to bring some over with them (unless it was a really big event, then I probably would get some paper stuff in rather than asking lots of people to bring lots of plates, but at that point I might just considering hiring some actual plates, or a lots of small kids, although reusable plastic plates exist), because paper plates are just rubbish, I mean seriously, they're small and you can't put sauces on them well, and they're just unpleasant to eat off, and they bend if you do put a reasonable amount of food on them. And that's not even considering that fact that once you're done with them they literally ARE just rubbish because once they've been stained with food they can't be recycled, unless they have a plastic film on them (which is super hard to recycle anyway, so is probably not recycled even if you do put in the recycling bin) and then you'd have to wash them before putting them into the recycling anyway, and then what have you saved?
TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being would need to use paper plates in their own house.
"TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being capable of doing washing up would need to use paper plates in their own house."
It was too late to edit my previous post13 -
Redordeadhead wrote: »I only use real crockery and cutlery (plastic washable if taking a packed lunch), including in the microwave and to dish out takeaway food. Often, I wash dishes after every meal.
Paper and disposable items for me would be exclusively for a picnic setting or something like a kid's birthday party. Otherwise I would personally find it wasteful, although I'm conscious that all that washing up also uses water and energy.
Someone disagreed on when I personally use paper plates and my observation that washing uses water? Lol, ok.7 -
Redordeadhead wrote: »Redordeadhead wrote: »I only use real crockery and cutlery (plastic washable if taking a packed lunch), including in the microwave and to dish out takeaway food. Often, I wash dishes after every meal.
Paper and disposable items for me would be exclusively for a picnic setting or something like a kid's birthday party. Otherwise I would personally find it wasteful, although I'm conscious that all that washing up also uses water and energy.
Someone disagreed on when I personally use paper plates and my observation that washing uses water? Lol, ok.
dont feel bad. apparently my son is more graceful than i think he is and dollar tree doesnt sell dishes (where have i been buying them, then?) LOL
i learned a long time ago, some people are just ... disagreeable. dont sweat it
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I loathe paper plates. I feel like if I'm taking the time to make a meal at home, then the least that I can do is use a proper plate and cutlery. My husband on the other hand would use a paperplate for every meal if I let him. So, we compromise and I keep them in the house, but they are never, ever used for dinner, but they are there for him to use for snacks/lunch/breakfast/etc if he so chooses. The only time that I will use them personally is a picnic or similar.9
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lynn_glenmont wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Typically, I'd say that they're mainly just used for outdoor gatherings & picnics. Or indoors for a party with quick-cheap-takeouty-type things like pizza and wings.
Although lately, I'm finding that more and more people get various takeout or buy pre-prepared foods at the grocery on a daily basis... using paper plates for the things not already in eating containers would probably be somewhat more common versus using them for meals cooked at home.
Ive never come across that here either - do you mean you would get something like takeaway chinese or noodles and than plate them onto paper plates when you got home/after they were delivered?
in that scenario, I would plate them on to my regular washable plates - as has everyone else i have been in that scenarios with (say, extended family or friends group all chip in for pizza)
As an adult I dish up carryout onto regular china/pottery etc. dishes, but I remember in college when we ordered subs or pizza or Chinese delivery at the dorm, they always packed paper or (in those long ago days) Styrofoam disposable plates. It was a situation with one kitchen being shared by more than 50 people, so most of us tired pretty quickly of depending on it to prepare food or wash dishes, because you could never know how long you might have to wait for your turn.
The ice cream place that delivered hand-packed pints only included plastic spoons and napkins. They knew their college student audience well, as we each got our own pint and planned to eat it in one sitting.
I remember those dorm kitchens. Dear God! I mostly did packet cooking in foil and ate from the foil. The state of the microwave was usually downright terrifying. Thankfully, Since most of the residents had been babied by their parents and didn't know how to use the oven, that was fairly clean and not, for instance, full of exploded eggs.
Eating stuff from that built immunity .
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Redordeadhead wrote: »I only use real crockery and cutlery (plastic washable if taking a packed lunch), including in the microwave and to dish out takeaway food. Often, I wash dishes after every meal.
Paper and disposable items for me would be exclusively for a picnic setting or something like a kid's birthday party. Otherwise I would personally find it wasteful, although I'm conscious that all that washing up also uses water and energy.
As someone who used to work in papermaking: nowhere near as much as paper production. Paper making is an exceptionally water intensive process. Even if you used a sink load of water for one plate, you're probably still not using as much water as was used in the production of a single paper plate.
On the subject of the actual topic. Reading the comments I cannot believe how many people use paper plates because they simply cannot be bothered to wash up. I mean it takes literally at most 10 seconds to wipe a plate down, and then another 10 seconds to dry it. If I needed a plate and I've run out, I will just clean one and use that. I got this habit from my parents who would do the same thing and they were both working (running their own business) and had 4 children, so the excuse of being busy by having children and working full time just doesn't fly with me.
We don't even have paper plates in our house. If we needed more plates for an event I'd ask people to bring some over with them (unless it was a really big event, then I probably would get some paper stuff in rather than asking lots of people to bring lots of plates, but at that point I might just considering hiring some actual plates, or a lots of small kids, although reusable plastic plates exist), because paper plates are just rubbish, I mean seriously, they're small and you can't put sauces on them well, and they're just unpleasant to eat off, and they bend if you do put a reasonable amount of food on them. And that's not even considering that fact that once you're done with them they literally ARE just rubbish because once they've been stained with food they can't be recycled, unless they have a plastic film on them (which is super hard to recycle anyway, so is probably not recycled even if you do put in the recycling bin) and then you'd have to wash them before putting them into the recycling anyway, and then what have you saved?
TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being would need to use paper plates in their own house.
Built in portion control.5 -
Sorry was letting my privilege show there, obviously that final sentence should have read:Redordeadhead wrote: »I only use real crockery and cutlery (plastic washable if taking a packed lunch), including in the microwave and to dish out takeaway food. Often, I wash dishes after every meal.
Paper and disposable items for me would be exclusively for a picnic setting or something like a kid's birthday party. Otherwise I would personally find it wasteful, although I'm conscious that all that washing up also uses water and energy.
As someone who used to work in papermaking: nowhere near as much as paper production. Paper making is an exceptionally water intensive process. Even if you used a sink load of water for one plate, you're probably still not using as much water as was used in the production of a single paper plate.
On the subject of the actual topic. Reading the comments I cannot believe how many people use paper plates because they simply cannot be bothered to wash up. I mean it takes literally at most 10 seconds to wipe a plate down, and then another 10 seconds to dry it. If I needed a plate and I've run out, I will just clean one and use that. I got this habit from my parents who would do the same thing and they were both working (running their own business) and had 4 children, so the excuse of being busy by having children and working full time just doesn't fly with me.
We don't even have paper plates in our house. If we needed more plates for an event I'd ask people to bring some over with them (unless it was a really big event, then I probably would get some paper stuff in rather than asking lots of people to bring lots of plates, but at that point I might just considering hiring some actual plates, or a lots of small kids, although reusable plastic plates exist), because paper plates are just rubbish, I mean seriously, they're small and you can't put sauces on them well, and they're just unpleasant to eat off, and they bend if you do put a reasonable amount of food on them. And that's not even considering that fact that once you're done with them they literally ARE just rubbish because once they've been stained with food they can't be recycled, unless they have a plastic film on them (which is super hard to recycle anyway, so is probably not recycled even if you do put in the recycling bin) and then you'd have to wash them before putting them into the recycling anyway, and then what have you saved?
TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being would need to use paper plates in their own house.
"TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being capable of doing washing up would need to use paper plates in their own house."
It was too late to edit my previous post
It's still showing. ☺
Honestly, I can't see why people have such strong opinions on how other people choose to plate their foods..
I've also started getting Judging People at the Supermarket thread vibes.
Either you're physically capable of washing dishes or you're not. Either you want to take the time to wash dishes or you don't. If I brought prepared food home that was already packaged, it would never even occur to me to get out a nice, clean plate to put it on. I wouldn't even put it on a paper plate. Why dirty something you don't need to? I have no one I need to impress. And, no, I'm not saying any one who uses real dishes is trying to impress anyone.
Did you guys know that Chinese food containers are designed to be opened up so they can be used as plates? Information you never thought you'd need. One of the joys of the internet. ☺8 -
Well... I guess all depends on personal preferences. I never use paper plates at home. I like good beautiful plates and silverware. Makes me feel special when I eat from the collectable plate with the sign on it "The British Museum of History".💫💫💫6
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Sorry was letting my privilege show there, obviously that final sentence should have read:Redordeadhead wrote: »I only use real crockery and cutlery (plastic washable if taking a packed lunch), including in the microwave and to dish out takeaway food. Often, I wash dishes after every meal.
Paper and disposable items for me would be exclusively for a picnic setting or something like a kid's birthday party. Otherwise I would personally find it wasteful, although I'm conscious that all that washing up also uses water and energy.
As someone who used to work in papermaking: nowhere near as much as paper production. Paper making is an exceptionally water intensive process. Even if you used a sink load of water for one plate, you're probably still not using as much water as was used in the production of a single paper plate.
On the subject of the actual topic. Reading the comments I cannot believe how many people use paper plates because they simply cannot be bothered to wash up. I mean it takes literally at most 10 seconds to wipe a plate down, and then another 10 seconds to dry it. If I needed a plate and I've run out, I will just clean one and use that. I got this habit from my parents who would do the same thing and they were both working (running their own business) and had 4 children, so the excuse of being busy by having children and working full time just doesn't fly with me.
We don't even have paper plates in our house. If we needed more plates for an event I'd ask people to bring some over with them (unless it was a really big event, then I probably would get some paper stuff in rather than asking lots of people to bring lots of plates, but at that point I might just considering hiring some actual plates, or a lots of small kids, although reusable plastic plates exist), because paper plates are just rubbish, I mean seriously, they're small and you can't put sauces on them well, and they're just unpleasant to eat off, and they bend if you do put a reasonable amount of food on them. And that's not even considering that fact that once you're done with them they literally ARE just rubbish because once they've been stained with food they can't be recycled, unless they have a plastic film on them (which is super hard to recycle anyway, so is probably not recycled even if you do put in the recycling bin) and then you'd have to wash them before putting them into the recycling anyway, and then what have you saved?
TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being would need to use paper plates in their own house.
"TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being capable of doing washing up would need to use paper plates in their own house."
It was too late to edit my previous post
It's still showing. ☺
Honestly, I can't see why people have such strong opinions on how other people choose to plate their foods..
I've also started getting Judging People at the Supermarket thread vibes.
Either you're physically capable of washing dishes or you're not. Either you want to take the time to wash dishes or you don't. If I brought prepared food home that was already packaged, it would never even occur to me to get out a nice, clean plate to put it on. I wouldn't even put it on a paper plate. Why dirty something you don't need to? I have no one I need to impress. And, no, I'm not saying any one who uses real dishes is trying to impress anyone.
Did you guys know that Chinese food containers are designed to be opened up so they can be used as plates? Information you never thought you'd need. One of the joys of the internet. ☺
Well, people have strong opinions about environmental issues, which is how I see this.
If you chucked a bag of garbage out your car window, you might get some strong reactions, even if that's how you choose to dispose of your trash.
I don't have a zero carbon footprint, so I'm not trying to be "holier than thou"...but I think reducing waste by using reusable dishes and flatware is relatively easy to do for the able-bodied.27 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
Sorry was letting my privilege show there, obviously that final sentence should have read:Redordeadhead wrote: »I only use real crockery and cutlery (plastic washable if taking a packed lunch), including in the microwave and to dish out takeaway food. Often, I wash dishes after every meal.
Paper and disposable items for me would be exclusively for a picnic setting or something like a kid's birthday party. Otherwise I would personally find it wasteful, although I'm conscious that all that washing up also uses water and energy.
As someone who used to work in papermaking: nowhere near as much as paper production. Paper making is an exceptionally water intensive process. Even if you used a sink load of water for one plate, you're probably still not using as much water as was used in the production of a single paper plate.
On the subject of the actual topic. Reading the comments I cannot believe how many people use paper plates because they simply cannot be bothered to wash up. I mean it takes literally at most 10 seconds to wipe a plate down, and then another 10 seconds to dry it. If I needed a plate and I've run out, I will just clean one and use that. I got this habit from my parents who would do the same thing and they were both working (running their own business) and had 4 children, so the excuse of being busy by having children and working full time just doesn't fly with me.
We don't even have paper plates in our house. If we needed more plates for an event I'd ask people to bring some over with them (unless it was a really big event, then I probably would get some paper stuff in rather than asking lots of people to bring lots of plates, but at that point I might just considering hiring some actual plates, or a lots of small kids, although reusable plastic plates exist), because paper plates are just rubbish, I mean seriously, they're small and you can't put sauces on them well, and they're just unpleasant to eat off, and they bend if you do put a reasonable amount of food on them. And that's not even considering that fact that once you're done with them they literally ARE just rubbish because once they've been stained with food they can't be recycled, unless they have a plastic film on them (which is super hard to recycle anyway, so is probably not recycled even if you do put in the recycling bin) and then you'd have to wash them before putting them into the recycling anyway, and then what have you saved?
TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being would need to use paper plates in their own house.
"TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being capable of doing washing up would need to use paper plates in their own house."
It was too late to edit my previous post
It's still showing. ☺
Honestly, I can't see why people have such strong opinions on how other people choose to plate their foods..
I've also started getting Judging People at the Supermarket thread vibes.
Either you're physically capable of washing dishes or you're not. Either you want to take the time to wash dishes or you don't. If I brought prepared food home that was already packaged, it would never even occur to me to get out a nice, clean plate to put it on. I wouldn't even put it on a paper plate. Why dirty something you don't need to? I have no one I need to impress. And, no, I'm not saying any one who uses real dishes is trying to impress anyone.
Did you guys know that Chinese food containers are designed to be opened up so they can be used as plates? Information you never thought you'd need. One of the joys of the internet. ☺
Well, people have strong opinions about environmental issues, which is how I see this.
If you chucked a bag of garbage out your car window, you might get some strong reactions, even if that's how you choose to dispose of your trash.
I don't have a zero carbon footprint, so I'm not trying to be "holier than thou"...but I think reducing waste by using reusable dishes and flatware is relatively easy to do for the able-bodied.
What's getting me is this able bodied argument. Like people who are physically capable of doing something should be required to do it.
No. Just no.
And I do what little things I can to recycle and not waste food.3 -
Redordeadhead wrote: »I only use real crockery and cutlery (plastic washable if taking a packed lunch), including in the microwave and to dish out takeaway food. Often, I wash dishes after every meal.
Paper and disposable items for me would be exclusively for a picnic setting or something like a kid's birthday party. Otherwise I would personally find it wasteful, although I'm conscious that all that washing up also uses water and energy.
As someone who used to work in papermaking: nowhere near as much as paper production. Paper making is an exceptionally water intensive process. Even if you used a sink load of water for one plate, you're probably still not using as much water as was used in the production of a single paper plate.
On the subject of the actual topic. Reading the comments I cannot believe how many people use paper plates because they simply cannot be bothered to wash up. I mean it takes literally at most 10 seconds to wipe a plate down, and then another 10 seconds to dry it. If I needed a plate and I've run out, I will just clean one and use that. I got this habit from my parents who would do the same thing and they were both working (running their own business) and had 4 children, so the excuse of being busy by having children and working full time just doesn't fly with me.
We don't even have paper plates in our house. If we needed more plates for an event I'd ask people to bring some over with them (unless it was a really big event, then I probably would get some paper stuff in rather than asking lots of people to bring lots of plates, but at that point I might just considering hiring some actual plates, or a lots of small kids, although reusable plastic plates exist), because paper plates are just rubbish, I mean seriously, they're small and you can't put sauces on them well, and they're just unpleasant to eat off, and they bend if you do put a reasonable amount of food on them. And that's not even considering that fact that once you're done with them they literally ARE just rubbish because once they've been stained with food they can't be recycled, unless they have a plastic film on them (which is super hard to recycle anyway, so is probably not recycled even if you do put in the recycling bin) and then you'd have to wash them before putting them into the recycling anyway, and then what have you saved?
TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being [capable of doing washing up] would need to use paper plates in their own house.
I used to be further down the papermaking vertical but have toured plants decades ago - thanks for the reminder about how water-intensive papermaking is.
Before I lost my job due to Covid, I cooked dinner and my partner did the dishes. His excessive water use bothered me, but I appreciated the help so turned a blind eye. Now that I have more energy and free time, I do the dishes and he walks the cat. I join them when I'm done.3 -
My thought is that the paper plates are already made. I can't unmake them and put the trees and water and whatever else back into nature, so why not use what's already there? I didn't know though that you can't recycle things that touch food, which basically makes my recycling bin obsolete. And in the greater scheme of things, since pretty much all food comes in a plastic tray or a plastic bag anyway, what does a paper plate matter on top of that?4
-
Sorry was letting my privilege show there, obviously that final sentence should have read:Redordeadhead wrote: »I only use real crockery and cutlery (plastic washable if taking a packed lunch), including in the microwave and to dish out takeaway food. Often, I wash dishes after every meal.
Paper and disposable items for me would be exclusively for a picnic setting or something like a kid's birthday party. Otherwise I would personally find it wasteful, although I'm conscious that all that washing up also uses water and energy.
As someone who used to work in papermaking: nowhere near as much as paper production. Paper making is an exceptionally water intensive process. Even if you used a sink load of water for one plate, you're probably still not using as much water as was used in the production of a single paper plate.
On the subject of the actual topic. Reading the comments I cannot believe how many people use paper plates because they simply cannot be bothered to wash up. I mean it takes literally at most 10 seconds to wipe a plate down, and then another 10 seconds to dry it. If I needed a plate and I've run out, I will just clean one and use that. I got this habit from my parents who would do the same thing and they were both working (running their own business) and had 4 children, so the excuse of being busy by having children and working full time just doesn't fly with me.
We don't even have paper plates in our house. If we needed more plates for an event I'd ask people to bring some over with them (unless it was a really big event, then I probably would get some paper stuff in rather than asking lots of people to bring lots of plates, but at that point I might just considering hiring some actual plates, or a lots of small kids, although reusable plastic plates exist), because paper plates are just rubbish, I mean seriously, they're small and you can't put sauces on them well, and they're just unpleasant to eat off, and they bend if you do put a reasonable amount of food on them. And that's not even considering that fact that once you're done with them they literally ARE just rubbish because once they've been stained with food they can't be recycled, unless they have a plastic film on them (which is super hard to recycle anyway, so is probably not recycled even if you do put in the recycling bin) and then you'd have to wash them before putting them into the recycling anyway, and then what have you saved?
TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being would need to use paper plates in their own house.
"TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being capable of doing washing up would need to use paper plates in their own house."
It was too late to edit my previous post
It's still showing. ☺
Honestly, I can't see why people have such strong opinions on how other people choose to plate their foods..
I've also started getting Judging People at the Supermarket thread vibes.
Either you're physically capable of washing dishes or you're not. Either you want to take the time to wash dishes or you don't. If I brought prepared food home that was already packaged, it would never even occur to me to get out a nice, clean plate to put it on. I wouldn't even put it on a paper plate. Why dirty something you don't need to? I have no one I need to impress. And, no, I'm not saying any one who uses real dishes is trying to impress anyone.
Did you guys know that Chinese food containers are designed to be opened up so they can be used as plates? Information you never thought you'd need. One of the joys of the internet. ☺
No idea why you brought up "impress" then...
When we get subs, my partner uses the wrapping as a plate. I use a plate plate. If not for weighing, I'd use the wrapper as well. When we get pizza, I again use a plate plate - this time because I am also eating it with a big salad. He uses the pizza box. (He also has a salad, and uses a salad bowl for that. I like mine on the same plate.) It literally takes under a minute to wash, dry, and put away a plate.4 -
My thought is that the paper plates are already made. I can't unmake them and put the trees and water and whatever else back into nature, so why not use what's already there? I didn't know though that you can't recycle things that touch food, which basically makes my recycling bin obsolete. And in the greater scheme of things, since pretty much all food comes in a plastic tray or a plastic bag anyway, what does a paper plate matter on top of that?
But…if people used less, then they would make less, no?28 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
Sorry was letting my privilege show there, obviously that final sentence should have read:Redordeadhead wrote: »I only use real crockery and cutlery (plastic washable if taking a packed lunch), including in the microwave and to dish out takeaway food. Often, I wash dishes after every meal.
Paper and disposable items for me would be exclusively for a picnic setting or something like a kid's birthday party. Otherwise I would personally find it wasteful, although I'm conscious that all that washing up also uses water and energy.
As someone who used to work in papermaking: nowhere near as much as paper production. Paper making is an exceptionally water intensive process. Even if you used a sink load of water for one plate, you're probably still not using as much water as was used in the production of a single paper plate.
On the subject of the actual topic. Reading the comments I cannot believe how many people use paper plates because they simply cannot be bothered to wash up. I mean it takes literally at most 10 seconds to wipe a plate down, and then another 10 seconds to dry it. If I needed a plate and I've run out, I will just clean one and use that. I got this habit from my parents who would do the same thing and they were both working (running their own business) and had 4 children, so the excuse of being busy by having children and working full time just doesn't fly with me.
We don't even have paper plates in our house. If we needed more plates for an event I'd ask people to bring some over with them (unless it was a really big event, then I probably would get some paper stuff in rather than asking lots of people to bring lots of plates, but at that point I might just considering hiring some actual plates, or a lots of small kids, although reusable plastic plates exist), because paper plates are just rubbish, I mean seriously, they're small and you can't put sauces on them well, and they're just unpleasant to eat off, and they bend if you do put a reasonable amount of food on them. And that's not even considering that fact that once you're done with them they literally ARE just rubbish because once they've been stained with food they can't be recycled, unless they have a plastic film on them (which is super hard to recycle anyway, so is probably not recycled even if you do put in the recycling bin) and then you'd have to wash them before putting them into the recycling anyway, and then what have you saved?
TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being would need to use paper plates in their own house.
"TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being capable of doing washing up would need to use paper plates in their own house."
It was too late to edit my previous post
It's still showing. ☺
Honestly, I can't see why people have such strong opinions on how other people choose to plate their foods..
I've also started getting Judging People at the Supermarket thread vibes.
Either you're physically capable of washing dishes or you're not. Either you want to take the time to wash dishes or you don't. If I brought prepared food home that was already packaged, it would never even occur to me to get out a nice, clean plate to put it on. I wouldn't even put it on a paper plate. Why dirty something you don't need to? I have no one I need to impress. And, no, I'm not saying any one who uses real dishes is trying to impress anyone.
Did you guys know that Chinese food containers are designed to be opened up so they can be used as plates? Information you never thought you'd need. One of the joys of the internet. ☺
Well, people have strong opinions about environmental issues, which is how I see this.
If you chucked a bag of garbage out your car window, you might get some strong reactions, even if that's how you choose to dispose of your trash.
I don't have a zero carbon footprint, so I'm not trying to be "holier than thou"...but I think reducing waste by using reusable dishes and flatware is relatively easy to do for the able-bodied.
Electric dishwasher works great.0 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
Sorry was letting my privilege show there, obviously that final sentence should have read:Redordeadhead wrote: »I only use real crockery and cutlery (plastic washable if taking a packed lunch), including in the microwave and to dish out takeaway food. Often, I wash dishes after every meal.
Paper and disposable items for me would be exclusively for a picnic setting or something like a kid's birthday party. Otherwise I would personally find it wasteful, although I'm conscious that all that washing up also uses water and energy.
As someone who used to work in papermaking: nowhere near as much as paper production. Paper making is an exceptionally water intensive process. Even if you used a sink load of water for one plate, you're probably still not using as much water as was used in the production of a single paper plate.
On the subject of the actual topic. Reading the comments I cannot believe how many people use paper plates because they simply cannot be bothered to wash up. I mean it takes literally at most 10 seconds to wipe a plate down, and then another 10 seconds to dry it. If I needed a plate and I've run out, I will just clean one and use that. I got this habit from my parents who would do the same thing and they were both working (running their own business) and had 4 children, so the excuse of being busy by having children and working full time just doesn't fly with me.
We don't even have paper plates in our house. If we needed more plates for an event I'd ask people to bring some over with them (unless it was a really big event, then I probably would get some paper stuff in rather than asking lots of people to bring lots of plates, but at that point I might just considering hiring some actual plates, or a lots of small kids, although reusable plastic plates exist), because paper plates are just rubbish, I mean seriously, they're small and you can't put sauces on them well, and they're just unpleasant to eat off, and they bend if you do put a reasonable amount of food on them. And that's not even considering that fact that once you're done with them they literally ARE just rubbish because once they've been stained with food they can't be recycled, unless they have a plastic film on them (which is super hard to recycle anyway, so is probably not recycled even if you do put in the recycling bin) and then you'd have to wash them before putting them into the recycling anyway, and then what have you saved?
TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being would need to use paper plates in their own house.
"TLDR: I cannot see any reason why any human being capable of doing washing up would need to use paper plates in their own house."
It was too late to edit my previous post
It's still showing. ☺
Honestly, I can't see why people have such strong opinions on how other people choose to plate their foods..
I've also started getting Judging People at the Supermarket thread vibes.
Either you're physically capable of washing dishes or you're not. Either you want to take the time to wash dishes or you don't. If I brought prepared food home that was already packaged, it would never even occur to me to get out a nice, clean plate to put it on. I wouldn't even put it on a paper plate. Why dirty something you don't need to? I have no one I need to impress. And, no, I'm not saying any one who uses real dishes is trying to impress anyone.
Did you guys know that Chinese food containers are designed to be opened up so they can be used as plates? Information you never thought you'd need. One of the joys of the internet. ☺
Well, people have strong opinions about environmental issues, which is how I see this.
If you chucked a bag of garbage out your car window, you might get some strong reactions, even if that's how you choose to dispose of your trash.
I don't have a zero carbon footprint, so I'm not trying to be "holier than thou"...but I think reducing waste by using reusable dishes and flatware is relatively easy to do for the able-bodied.
Electric dishwasher works great.
For those who have one to use (I don't - but it would maybe conserve water if I did, depending on load size).
That said, having the time and able-bodied-ness, I figure dishwashing is another 6 or 12 calories burned via daily activity, so why not?
I do have a dish drainer always on the counter by the sink - the horrors, from an anti-clutter standpoint! 😆 - in fact, I store daily-use dish/utensil items right in it, in effect. Air dry is reportedly cleaner than towel dry - gotta "eat clean", y'know? 😆🤣6 -
ExistingFish wrote: »
MIL uses plastic silverware, she can taste the metal (she isn't crazy, it's legit, most people just filter it out). I suggested some washable plasticware for her, but I don't think she got it.
I had a friend who always used plastic ware, even in a restaurant. Her reasoning being, the chill from the metal cooled off the food.0
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