Wasted food

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
Yesterday I had lunch in a restaurant. As I was leaving, I walked past an empty table where another lone patron had just left. They had ordered chicken fingers and fries which were not cleaned off the table yet. It look like they had just taken a bite out of one finger (there were 3) and not eaten many fries, if any. I was irked by such waste. I just wondered if they weren't hungry, why come to a restaurant and order food?
 

Sounds like you very closely observed what someone else left at their table. Frankly, I don't see why you would "wonder"/concern yourself with why another patron didn't clean their plate.

Maybe they got an emergency call or upsetting text msg.
Maybe they remembered they forgot to lock their back door.
Maybe they saw someone hit their car.
Maybe they suddenly felt ill.

:shrug:

Yes, there is a lot of wasted food in the world, and yes it could feed a lot of people. But most people go to an eatery to enjoy their own meal and socialize vs.taking time to look at what others ate/left on their plate and how many bites they took then wonder about it.
 
What apple said so well!!! I have never felt the need to notice how much people eat unless its a close family member who maybe is ill and I want to be sure they are taking care of themselves. Maybe I am just not as observant as Deb.
 

Growing up my Mom made it very clear that food should not be wasted. I got the poor people in Europe routine whenever something was left on my plate and not to take more than I can eat. I'm definitely not a wasteful person so because of that I do tend to notice food that is wasted on plates on the way out.I don't make a study out of it but I notice. Yes, there can be many reasons why it was left but it seems to happen a lot. I also notice the amount of food people cram on their plates at a buffet when they can go back and have has much as they want. I notice that because I actually had a biscuit land in my mashed potatoes as a man walked by balancing two on top of a mountain of food he had on his plate. I think that would make anyone sit up and take notice. I'm with you on this one Deb.
 
...when I was a kid we always got the spiel about starving children in Biafra...I used to wish she would just give it to them then...cuz I couldn't eat it .. Ruth I never knew any children were starving in Europe.. LOL

I have to say I never notice what people leave on their plate but I agree I do notice when we're at one of those all you can eat places, and people are piling their food up like they're about to feed a small nation.. sheer greed!!
 
hollydolly said:
...when I was a kid we always got the spiel about starving children in Biafra...I used to wish she would just give it to them then...cuz I couldn't eat it .. Ruth I never knew any children were starving in Europe.. LOL

I have to say I never notice what people leave on their plate but I agree I do notice when we're at one of those all you can eat places, and people are piling their food up like they're about to feed a small nation.. sheer greed!!
Click to expand...

Our starving children were in Korea. I wonder if their location depends on geography and time constraints. Sure seems like it might.

Greed bothers me more than anything. I worked for a very successful law firm where some of the senior partners would have trampled everyone in their path when there was free food in the kitchen. I saw any number of shocking incidents there, so food greed at a buffet isn't as surprising as it might have been.

Although I probably wouldn't have noticed the person leaving food, I agree with Deb. I'm surprised they didn't ask for a doggy bag.
 
I agree with you that it is not good to waste food or anything else.

If the food was edible and I was going diectly home I would have requested a doggy bag.

I agree with the others that it's best not to judge people, they may have had good reasons for not cleaning their plate.

cleanplateclub3.jpg
 
Last time I was in a restaurant was 2 wks ago. Friend and I were enjoying each other's company. I left some food on my plate simply because I was full. Friend only drank half his iced tea - I didn't ask why and I didn't wonder about it. As we walked out not once did I look to see what other diners had left on their plates.:eek:hwell:
 
My father was constantly berating people for "wasting money" on things he wouldn't buy himself. But he didn't say it to the person that spent the money, just to us family members.
As I aged, earned and spent my own money, I came to realize he was trying to share his values with his family.
Then, I got berated for 'wasting money' on a used 4 wheel drive, full size SUV. I told my dad that I had worked hard and honest to earn my money, my family wasn't going without and it was up to my wife and I to decide how we spend our money. Very similar to how no one could tell him how to spend his money.
We went camping and off-roading (mostly un-paved forest 'roads') many times in that SUV.
I don't judge others - I just think of the many or very many things I would buy before I got the things I see others buy.
 
debodun said:
Yesterday I had lunch in a restaurant. As I was leaving, I walked past an empty table where another lone patron had just left. They had ordered chicken fingers and fries which were not cleaned off the table yet. It look like they had just taken a bite out of one finger (there were 3) and not eaten many fries, if any. I was irked by such waste. I just wondered if they weren't hungry, why come to a restaurant and order food?
Click to expand...

Maybe something else was bothering you De, I can get critical, or intolerant, but it's always because I am having a bad day for one reason or another.
 
If you think waste in a restaurant is bad, visit your local school cafeteria. Kids are very picky and tons of food goes to waste. I see it everyday. It's a real shame.
 
I think there could have been a hundred different reasons that person left before finishing the meal, but Radish Rose's explanation sounds most common, they just didn't like the food. I wouldn't worry about it being wasted, if some of the restaurant nightmare shows I've seen on cable TV are true to life, then they probably just warmed the untouched portion and served it to the next customer. :p
 
One reason I can't bring myself to eat in restaurants, almost never in fact. I don't care for potlucks either. I do my own cooking at home. That's just nasty to think about seabreeze:(
 
Once the food is prepared it's too late to save it whether you eat it or not. Think of it.

Once I ordered chicken and when I took a bite it was raw and red. Turned me off. I didn't complain. I just left. I cook for myself and try to just make enough so that I don't have leftovers which I hate.
 
Denise1952 said:
One reason I can't bring myself to eat in restaurants, almost never in fact. I don't care for potlucks either. I do my own cooking at home. That's just nasty to think about seabreeze:(
Click to expand...

I like them less and less too over the years Denise, luckily my husband is a very good chef for many dishes, so if we want to splurge, we'll just buy the lamb, beef or seafood and make the dish at home. Relaxing, and we know what goes in there. I'd post some Kitchen Nightmare videos with Gordon Ramsey, but aside from his 'language', they would make the folks here feel sick. :D
 
SeaBreeze said:
I like them less and less too over the years Denise, luckily my husband is a very good chef for many dishes, so if we want to splurge, we'll just buy the lamb, beef or seafood and make the dish at home. Relaxing, and we know what goes in there. I'd post some Kitchen Nightmare videos with Gordon Ramsey, but aside from his 'language', they would make the folks here feel sick. :D
Click to expand...

I've seen a number of those, revolting! But, I think they are scripted.
 
AC, our local news also has restaurant reviews and some have been rated F more than once, rodents, rodent droppings, employees not washing hands, no soap in dispensers, food held at temps too low, raw food and cooked food kept together, and the list goes on and on. I was kidding with my husband one day that we better never see the ratings of the Mexican and Chinese restaurants we often order take out from, or they might be off our list of 'go tos'. :playful:
 
SeaBreeze said:
I like them less and less too over the years Denise, luckily my husband is a very good chef for many dishes, so if we want to splurge, we'll just buy the lamb, beef or seafood and make the dish at home. Relaxing, and we know what goes in there. I'd post some Kitchen Nightmare videos with Gordon Ramsey, but aside from his 'language', they would make the folks here feel sick. :D
Click to expand...

I think I've seen some of those programs/videos Seabreeze, omg:awman: You are sure lucky to have a husband that can cook like that, wow;) I don't know any, fancy cooking at all. I've learned how to use seasonings more over the years, what goes on what etc. I love to have something cooked for me, but I have to know the cook, LOL! The gals in the office of my apartment building cook up a feast on both Thanksgiving, and Christmas. It is so delicious, and they are very neat, and clean so I do indulge in those, two dinners. And it's not potluck, they supply everything, so I am a bit spoiled I'd say;)

Be fun to see a picture of a feast your hubby cooks for you sometime:) My highschool buddy Pam and I use an App called "marco polo" on our phones. It makes little vids of eachother instead of like Skype. She reversed the view so I could see her cooking something and it was really fun to watch, so I did one for her next time.
 
I am lucky Denise, and so happy to do the clean up afterwards. I never take pictures of our food, but if I think of it the next time, I'll take a shot and post it here. :D
 
Whenever we dine at the Steer & Stein (weekly), we always take home a partial serving in a closed foam container and eat it the next day!

My wife has her Bacon-Wrapped Tri-Tip and takes the 2nd serving home.

I'll have my Fish & Chips or Country Fried Steak and take the Cole Slaw home.

So people are starving in foreign lands? That's too bad!


Hut Hut Hut,

Harold
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top