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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to stop my children wasting food at the holiday buffet?

167 replies

constantnc · 09/04/2026 07:29

To not let my kids waste holiday AI food?

At home our food waste is minimal, I serve a portion onto plates and seconds is always available.

For the first time on holiday I have let my kids ages 9+ go around the buffet and serve themselves.

I am not happy with the waste, ie the 1 bite and I dont like it, and lots of what they will like then full up.

Unsure whether to reduce independence and serve what they will like and eat, or let them get on with it. Most families seem to have no problem piling the plates and leaving half of it.

(We use AI so i get respite from cooking cleaning so dont want to swap from AI).

OP posts:
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KookyKoala007 · 13/04/2026 10:32

At 9 you should be walking around with them still supervising but giving a little more independence by encouraging them to serving themselves an appropriate portion. If they are stacking their plate with things they don’t eat then they are clearly not ready for the independence you have given them.

You can always let them go to the dessert buffet alone to have the fun of choosing dessert after eating their main course.

Vixmorris · 11/04/2026 19:23

@constantnc If you serve their food at home then they won't have learnt about portion control or self control enough to go at the buffet unsupervised. (No criticism, a lot of kids will be the same)
Its a good opportunity for them to learn this now with your help. And portion control is a good life lesson for adulthood too.

bedtimestories · 11/04/2026 15:09

Could they have a smaller plate to reduce waste?

Original poster
constantnc · 11/04/2026 13:51

CypressGrove · 11/04/2026 11:18

Huh? Who is throwing away leftovers? That's lunch next day or becomes part of the next night's dinner.

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Yep exactly.
Lunches the next day is usually leftovers or soup/sarnie stuff.

OP posts:
Bournetilly · 11/04/2026 13:25

They haven’t got much on their plates and have chosen pretty healthy for a child at an AI buffet, I wouldn’t worry about it whilst on holiday. It’s not like they are piling their plates high.

zingally · 11/04/2026 13:05

I went on an AI holiday with her friend and her kids, who were 7 and 8 at the time. Hers went absolutely NUTS on the buffet, and had no control. We're talking taking a whole cheese burger, taking 3 bites, leaving most of it. Going back to the buffet and returning with another cheese burger and a hot dog. My friend would go, "oh... X, but you haven't finished the first burger..." But the kids would totally ignore her and friend would just shrug.
The first couple of days, I could pass off as, "Oh, they're just excited." But they were like it for the whole holiday.

godmum56 · 11/04/2026 12:06

Megifer · 11/04/2026 09:29

Maybe as op boards the plane back from the not essential £5k holiday when that could have been donated to feed some of the starving people.

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yup, this. Not going to bang on as its not aimed at the OP who has admitted she has food issues.

Hadalifeonce · 11/04/2026 12:05

We always had a rule for DC, take what you want, but eat what you take. If you want more you can go to get more.

godmum56 · 11/04/2026 12:05

CraftyGin · 11/04/2026 09:29

It's about bedding down values in your children, the future generation and future decision makers.

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by talking nonsense?

godmum56 · 11/04/2026 12:03

CraftyGin · 11/04/2026 09:04

Small plate - take one each of three or four things. Eat and return.

Model that behaviour yourself.

Remind them that 'there are people starving in this world'.

Edited

I was told the "starving people" thing at school some 60 years ago. My answer then is my answer now "pack it up and send it to them" leaving food on a plate (or on the buffet counter) is not going to stop them starving.

CypressGrove · 11/04/2026 11:18

Laserwho · 11/04/2026 09:29

You put portions on their plates but seconds is always available. So you are overcooking. What happens when they don't want seconds? It gets wasted. Surely it would be best just to cook one portion per person and if still hungry get a slice of bread or a yogurt?

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Huh? Who is throwing away leftovers? That's lunch next day or becomes part of the next night's dinner.

EwwPeople · 11/04/2026 09:42

CraftyGin · 11/04/2026 09:29

It's about bedding down values in your children, the future generation and future decision makers.

Show quote history

That only works through modelling and concrete and relatable examples that make sense ,intertwined in every day life . Abstract stuff like “there are people starving so you have to eat everything on your plate” won’t make a difference in the way you think it does.

CraftyGin · 11/04/2026 09:29

EwwPeople · 11/04/2026 09:27

But how? How would them changing their eating habits or choices on holiday improve starvation across the globe?

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It's about bedding down values in your children, the future generation and future decision makers.

Megifer · 11/04/2026 09:29

CraftyGin · 11/04/2026 09:24

Well, there's always the opportunity to teach your children to think of others before themselves, and not to automatically be selfish.

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Maybe as op boards the plane back from the not essential £5k holiday when that could have been donated to feed some of the starving people.

Laserwho · 11/04/2026 09:29

constantnc · 09/04/2026 07:29

To not let my kids waste holiday AI food?

At home our food waste is minimal, I serve a portion onto plates and seconds is always available.

For the first time on holiday I have let my kids ages 9+ go around the buffet and serve themselves.

I am not happy with the waste, ie the 1 bite and I dont like it, and lots of what they will like then full up.

Unsure whether to reduce independence and serve what they will like and eat, or let them get on with it. Most families seem to have no problem piling the plates and leaving half of it.

(We use AI so i get respite from cooking cleaning so dont want to swap from AI).

You put portions on their plates but seconds is always available. So you are overcooking. What happens when they don't want seconds? It gets wasted. Surely it would be best just to cook one portion per person and if still hungry get a slice of bread or a yogurt?

EwwPeople · 11/04/2026 09:27

CraftyGin · 11/04/2026 09:24

Well, there's always the opportunity to teach your children to think of others before themselves, and not to automatically be selfish.

Show quote history

But how? How would them changing their eating habits or choices on holiday improve starvation across the globe?

CraftyGin · 11/04/2026 09:24

EwwPeople · 11/04/2026 09:19

Would people be less starving if OP’s kid ate all 12 pieces of pasta instead of 6?

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Well, there's always the opportunity to teach your children to think of others before themselves, and not to automatically be selfish.

EwwPeople · 11/04/2026 09:19

CraftyGin · 11/04/2026 09:04

Small plate - take one each of three or four things. Eat and return.

Model that behaviour yourself.

Remind them that 'there are people starving in this world'.

Edited

Would people be less starving if OP’s kid ate all 12 pieces of pasta instead of 6?

CraftyGin · 11/04/2026 09:04

Small plate - take one each of three or four things. Eat and return.

Model that behaviour yourself.

Remind them that 'there are people starving in this world'.

Usernamenotav · 11/04/2026 09:01

You need to chill

ineousa · 10/04/2026 21:43

constantnc · 09/04/2026 07:48

I do understand the try and dont like it and thats ok, i'm glad they tried.

Its more the taking 10 strawberries and only eating 3 thats annoying.
They also took bread & butter this morning then declared themselves too full. We did eat this between us but to save waste rather than me really desiring it.
People are right I should relax.

I do keep reminding them take 1 or 2 then more later, but its falling on deaf ears 👂

Edited

How is it any different waste wise whether you eat food you don’t want or put it in the bin?

Drats · 10/04/2026 21:33

We don’t do much food waste is our house either. On holiday, I am more relaxed but not completely. It’s a mix of trying things (and it’s fine to leave it if you don’t like it) in a small portion and going back for more if you do. I think it’s gross how much some people let their kids waste, they’re obviously not going to eat 17 waffles covered in chocolate so gently tell them to get 1 and go back for another when needed! I think you could relax a little bit but I admire your stance.

Allonthesametrain · 10/04/2026 21:29

Have encouraged DC to just try a bit and go back for more of what they like so that's what they do. You could go round with them the first couple of nights to role model. Xx

LavenderFieldds · 10/04/2026 21:21

I always tell mine to have a little bit and if they eat it they can have more.

EwwPeople · 10/04/2026 21:20

FoolOfShips · 10/04/2026 19:15

YANBU. There is nothing worse than the spectacle of idiots at a buffet piling their plates high with stuff they're never going to eat, and sure enough half gets left.

It may be true that in an AI resort it would get binned anyway but your children are learning that's the way to behave at a buffet - so they'll do it at buffets that don't have endless resources, like weddings or parties, and others will miss out altogether.

If they want to try something - take a small amount - if they like it they can go back for more/have a larger portion the next day.

Otherwise they take the amount they would normally eat.

You really do not have to 'get your money's worth' at an AI place by eating everything in sight - you've paid the same however much you eat - unless you regard coming home with a stone of extra fat round your belly as a good 'investment' against lean times in the future.

Check OP’s pic of the kids’ plates! They took a small amount to begin with!