is throwing away uneaten/unwanted perishable food wasteful?

_noob_
_noob_ Posts: 3,306 Member
edited January 31 in Chit-Chat
Like specifically getting too much at a restaurant and just not eating all of a portion even though it's not just something you can take home and eat later?

I'll be honest, I don't always eat everything I'm served just because it's there. And I'd also include the typically southern tradition of using white bread as an edible spounge in this....

Replies

  • Melissa22G
    Melissa22G Posts: 847 Member
    Yes.


    You should be ashamed.


    Edited to include I'm from GA and can vouch for the bread comment.
  • IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym
    IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym Posts: 5,573 Member
    what a waste. I'll eat it.
  • _crafty_
    _crafty_ Posts: 1,682 Member
    Like specifically getting too much at a restaurant and just not eating all of a portion even though it's not just something you can take home and eat later?

    I'll be honest, I don't always eat everything I'm served just because it's there. And I'd also include the typically southern tradition of using white bread as an edible spounge in this....

    I rarely eat everything I'm served in a restaurant. Portion sizes are ridiculous these days. I don't feel bad leaving it on the plate. If I enjoyed my meal, even though I didn't eat it ALL, I feel I've gotten my money's worth.
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    you can always take it home . . .
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    You could ask that they serve you a smaller portion if you're really worried about it.


    When my mom was a kid, her parents used to tell her that she had to finish her meals because there were kids digging in dumpsters for food and it was a shame to waste. Then one day, they caught her throwing food away, whole portions bagged up. She just wanted those dumpster kids to have a good meal!
  • Unknown
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  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    I don't have this problem.

    I usually eat everything on my plate, though I do avoid restaurants with ridiculous sized portions. I also often finish my wife's kids' food when they can't.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    I don't have this problem.

    I usually eat everything on my plate, though I do avoid restaurants with ridiculous sized portions. I also often finish my wife's kids' food when they can't.

    lol this for sure......
  • PetulantOne
    PetulantOne Posts: 2,131 Member
    You could ask that they serve you a smaller portion if you're really worried about it.


    When my mom was a kid, her parents used to tell her that she had to finish her meals because there were kids digging in dumpsters for food and it was a shame to waste. Then one day, they caught her throwing food away, whole portions bagged up. She just wanted those dumpster kids to have a good meal!

    :heart: That's so sweet!
  • NumbrsNerd
    NumbrsNerd Posts: 202 Member
    Like specifically getting too much at a restaurant and just not eating all of a portion even though it's not just something you can take home and eat later?

    I'll be honest, I don't always eat everything I'm served just because it's there. And I'd also include the typically southern tradition of using white bread as an edible spounge in this....

    I rarely eat everything I'm served in a restaurant. Portion sizes are ridiculous these days. I don't feel bad leaving it on the plate. If I enjoyed my meal, even though I didn't eat it ALL, I feel I've gotten my money's worth.

    ^Ditto.
  • TheCaren
    TheCaren Posts: 894 Member
    I used to freak out about paying $15 for a plate of food and only eating half of it. Because taking it home just meant eating it again the next day, and usually going out to eat was a planned splurge meal, so it would mean another splurge meal.

    But I finally decided that it's $15 no matter how much I eat. So I'm going to stick to good health and eat a reasonable portion, and only take home food that it's a good idea for me to eat the next day.

    An old weight watchers trick I still use sometimes is ask for the to go box when your food arrives, and immediately put half of what's on your plate into the to go box. Sometimes I'd intentionally leave the to go box on the table when I left the restaurant. I just really needed to get that extra food off the plate before I shoved it into my mouth.
  • EmilyEmpowered
    EmilyEmpowered Posts: 650 Member
    No, it is not wasteful. If I am at a restraunt and order, say, a salad... it gets to me and it is much bigger than I expcted and I cannot finish all of it. Obviously a pre-dressed salad is not something y ou can save for later- yuck!

    IF YOU EAT IT EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOT HUNGRY/NO LONGER WANT IT, IT IS STILL BEING WASTED!!!!!!!!

    Personally, I order half sizes of anything I think I will not be able to finish. And I order my kids food I know they can take home and finish later because they are always too distracted to eat a lot while in restraunts.
  • TAMayorga
    TAMayorga Posts: 341 Member
    I grew up in the clean-plate era so I feel guilty about throwing away food. But eating more than I need is what got me in trouble in the first place. So I tell myself that my body is not a disposal and in the trash it goes (or down the disposal). I am talking about the last few bites of ice cream in my daughter's bowl, or the half-sandwich she didn't eat. If it's enough for a meal later, I'll put it in the fridge.
  • SpeSHul_SnoflEHk
    SpeSHul_SnoflEHk Posts: 6,256 Member
    When I finish with what I want on my plate, I look around the restaurant and find a family who looks like they have hungry kids. I then walk over and scrape my remainig food onto the littlest kid's plate before leaving.

    No waste, and no guilt on my part. If it gets thrown away, it's on the kid not me.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    When I finish with what I want on my plate, I look around the restaurant and find a family who looks like they have hungry kids. I then walk over and scrape my remainig food onto the littlest kid's plate before leaving.

    No waste, and no guilt on my part. If it gets thrown away, it's on the kid not me.

    Omg :laugh:
  • fit4lifeUcan2
    fit4lifeUcan2 Posts: 1,458 Member
    When I was a kid we were made to eat everything on our plates. If not we had to sit in the corner till we did. We also were not allowed to eat between meals. We were told it would spoil our dinner. We were never over weight. We had to listen to how kids were starving in china. There was always one smart *kitten* at the table who would reply well then give them my food. My mom was known for burning things so there were many times we had to be shamed into finishing our food.

    Now as an adult and with my own children I never make them eat everything on their plate. I never shame them into eating and I certainly do not make them sit in the corner if they don't want to eat what they have in front of them. There usually is at least one item they're not fond of and they will just eat more of something else. Same goes for eating in restaurants. We eat till we are satisfied. If there are left overs and they liked their meal but just couldn't finish it we let them have the option of taking the rest of their meal home with them. That being said, if my husband is anywhere around when we're eating there is rarely anything left to take hime. My husband has a hollow leg lol. He will eat himself into a food coma most nights lol. Believe it or not he is very thin. He walks all day for his job and rarely gets a chance to stop to eat so we figure he is just stocking up his fuel for the next day. When he's on vacation he does tend to pack on 10 lbs very easily but will lose that in a week or two once he is back to work.

    I agree that most restaurants sever way too much food. Keeping that in mind we never order appetizers or the soup and don't touch the rolls. Even then we usually have something left over to pass to my husband.

    Anyone want to rent my husband for a dinner out? I'm sure he would gladly finish your plates for you. :laugh: :laugh:
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