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

Is this typical of what they have been getting? As in type of food, not amount. Because both of those plates seem to just be everyday food, so it doesn’t look as tho they are trying new things and leaving it because they don’t like it. How much would they normally eat at home for a meal, as it doesn’t look enough that it would overfill them? Could it be the heat and they just don’t have much of an appetite?

There’s more waste from accidental spills, than leaving half of those plates. Honestly, loosen up!

Also whatever the reason for choosing AI, choosing it then agonising about food waste is just silly.

Her stated reason for wanting AI was for respite from cooking and cleaning. But thanks

They need supervising if they can’t control themselves. There's an all you can eat Asian buffet near us that is very popular with families. They have a very clear notice on each table stating that tables where full plates are collected (ie waiters clearing away a plate still loaded up with unwanted food) will be subjected to a €15 charge at checkout.

I think just remind them to get a very small portion to start as they can always go back for more, that’s what my 9rd old does.

I don’t judge you going AI. I do too. But I recognise that it isn’t the choice for someone concerned about food waste so I think you either have to accept the additional cost of going board only and eating at restaurants/ self catering or relax about the plates they choose at the built-in-wasteful buffet. Saying you choose the buffet but then worry about waste on their individual plate is green washing your holiday choice.

Seriously? You're fussing over those portions being too much?

This has got to be a wind up

I agree with you @constantnc . Encourage them to take a small portion of something they want to try and go back for more if they like it.

So they left half of whats on those plates?

Lord yes you do really need to loosen up you'll give yourself piles 😂

I mean it isn't a lot of food really, what didn't they like ?

Standard 9 yo AI food by the looks of it 😂

Holidays abroad are totally unnecessary, nothing about them is environmentally friendly so just relax, enjoy it, no need to have evidence of half finished plates of food, let them be excited kids and eat chips as a treat (?!), relax and when you get back donate to an offsetting program perhaps to help level it all out.

I hate waste too. Definitely keep encouraging then to try small amounts and remind them they can go back as many times as they like if they want more.

In my first experiences of AI (as an adult) it took me a few goes to learn "how to do it". I'd go round thinking ooo, a bit of this, a bit of that and then sit down to a heaving plate of stuff that didn't go together and suddenly seemed a bit unappetising. Now I tend to do a full walk round first to see what there is, then decide what I want the most and what will go with it and only take small portions first time as sometimes it's not as nice as it looks. My kids have gradually picked this up too although youngest is fussy and still sometimes has eyes bigger than her belly!

Well they also need supervision if that’s to kind of food they’re choosing 🙈

Its a good opportunity for them to try new foods let them

I agree with other they you don't have to clear your plates or eat the bread because it is there, just help them not pick to much.

I think you should relax. It's all new and exciting for them. They are learning how their appetite works .
Yes there will be waste but that's better than making them eat everything on their plates.
Encourage them to only take a bit and then go back for more if they want it but I don't think you should worry about it.
There is bound to be waste at all inclusive buffets anyway

Shoving down bread and butter you don’t really want is just as wasteful as binning it IMO.

@MyballsareSandy2015 Yup, I was coming on to say exactly that. I have never been in sympathy with the view that you have to clear your plate even if you are completely full otherwise the food is wasted. That's just treating yourself like a human dustbin.

Having said that I can see where the OP is coming from in not wanting her DC to take things they won't eat. However, I think this is probably just a learning curve they need to get over. At 9+ they really should be allowed to serve themselves IMO and if they are getting it a bit wrong at the moment it's probably because they are not used to it yet.

Well you don’t like food waste, so clearly it’s a behaviour you aren’t happy with.

I totally agree with this. The best thing you can do for your children is let them serve themselves with guidance from a young age. It allows them to work out for themselves how to serve to their appetite.
You don't want them trying to learn this skill laster in life, when we are less attuned to our natural hunger.

Im not a fan of food waste, but i am surprised at someone so bothered to the point of considering chaperoning their children's strawberry selecting choosing to go AI.

I think id remind them not to forget they can go back up, so why not put just one of everything on the plate so they have room for lots of things to try at once. But I wouldnt turn an AI holiday buffet into an opportunity for a sustainability lesson. Id agree you do need to unclench a little.

If they are taking too much food they need supervision. I wouldn't get too upset about some wasted bread and butter though.