We waste too much food
I went to one of my good friends’ wedding dinner the other day. The food was pretty good but 4 people on my table had to leave early. So we ended up with a lot of leftover food after their departure. None of us wanted to pack the food up, so we left it there. What surprised us was that the waiters actually poured all the rubbish/waste (bones, etc) onto the clean food when they were changing the plates for us.
Maybe it’s the restaurant’s policy for not allowing their own people to eat… I don’t know. All I know is that…those clean food should not be wasted that way. They can pass to their workers, or ask people if they want to take away, etc. Anything is better than just throwing them away like that.
Maybe they are not to be blamed? Maybe they are being trained to do so by the customers? Or maybe they just want to keep a good image of the restaurant? *sighs*
To be honest, I believe their action could be due to the fact we’re in Malaysia – a country where clean food and drinks are abundant. However, this abundance has actually caused people to waste a lot of food and water. After all, things that can be obtained easily will not be treasured and appreciated – in this case, the food and drinks.
Yes, I know most of us here can afford good food and drinks…and we pay for them. So we are supposed to have the rights to do anything with them (a friend once told me this). But shouldn’t we think about those poor people who cannot have proper food and drinks (and they exist even in our own country)? And don’t you think it’s really a big waste if we just throw those food away?
Maybe it’s time to do something about this bad habit of ours? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not asking you to swallow everything even though you’re very full. I’m asking you to try your best not to waste – don’t take so much if you can’t finish, don’t order a large portion, share it with friends, take away, etc.
Well, I know sometimes we can’t really avoid wasting a little bit of food, but we should always try to minimize that. Learn to order according to the amount you can consume.
Actually , we are QUITE OKAY …
Damien will tell you more stories about how AMERICANS waste their food away ..from the College canteens all the way to big fancy restaurants
gapnap
5 Oct 09 at 11:35 am
@gapnap
I know we’re actually OK compared to many people, but still, there’s plenty of room for improvements.
Well, what other people do in other countries is not really our concern. We should focus on ourselves actually.
Alvin Lim
5 Oct 09 at 6:07 pm
i do share your views on this issue. reasons being; we’re too blessed with good and cheap foods all year round, famine is practically unheard of in this part of the world.
as for the wedding dinners, erm, i myself wont tapau for sure, but realise that most guests wont eat their own share, for instance the prawns with shells (ladies … ), the almost unnecessary fried rice/glutinous rice at the end of the meal, etc.
J2Kfm
5 Oct 09 at 6:18 pm
There was once I helped my friend to setup his birthday party. At the end of the party, there are tons of leftover food. And me and my friend were forced to throw all of them, including a plate of big prawns (about 30 of them). I hate myself to waste so much food even though it’s not my fault.
Jessen
5 Oct 09 at 7:46 pm
@J2Kfm
I normally won’t tapau also but when I see so much good food being thrown away, I really feel bad. It’s not that I am cheapskate and want to take those free food away, but it’s really a waste to throw food that way.
And yeah, the fried rice is always wasted.
@Jessen
Why don’t you all pack away? I did that in my previous parties.
Alvin Lim
5 Oct 09 at 8:49 pm
In America, taking home unsold burgers and pastries when the store is closing can be construed as theft, even though the food is destined for the trash heap. Anyway, would anyone really eat half a plate of uneaten fried rice left by a customer? I saw one diner use his plate of uneaten food as an ash tray once. Gross!
Damien Tan
5 Oct 09 at 10:17 pm
@Damien Tan
Yeah, even some restaurants/shops in Malaysia disallow the employees to take home unsold food.
I think it depends on which kind of food. If buns, prawns, chicken, etc… I believe it’s still OKAY. But stuff like fish…erm…i don’t think so.
Alvin Lim
5 Oct 09 at 10:40 pm
well , i like to go to pasar malam near my shop (thursday night ss2) at 10.45pm when all the stalls are going to close ..
start low balling them until they sell me 50 cents a fry chicken , see i am soooo not wasteful .
gapnap´s last blog ..Fretdance Music
gapnap
6 Oct 09 at 12:39 pm
@gapnap
wah, good wor u! respect ! ppl should learn from gappie the great!
Alvin Lim
6 Oct 09 at 9:27 pm