Does anyone else find it annoying someone that always leaves some food on the plate?

[nickiredcar]

Even if they serve themselves out they always leave something on the plate. I know their choice and everything, but to me it is a bit annoying leaving this food to be binned every meal. If you add it up over the year it's probably several weeks work of meals and at a time where so many need food banks.

Santaclarita I agree. I don't think people can guess exactly how full they will feel before they start eating.

I just think people can't accept that you shouldn't clean your plate just to please them because if you clean your plate each time, every time then they are clearly eating with their eyes rather than the feelings that come from fullness.

I agree with Santaclara, it makes zero difference to someone using a food bank if I eat the last dozen peas and half potato on my plate or put them in the food recycling. It makes a difference to my personal comfort and waistline if I eat food I don’t want or need.

I actively praise my DC for listening to their body when they leave stuff on their plate.

Me & DH were both raised to clear our plates, and it is a really difficult habit to break. I do use small plates and try to do small portions, but I still struggle with my weight.

My mum was raised to eat all the food on her plate. Her dad would yell at them if they didn't. She tried to force me, without yelling, but thankfully my dad hadn't had that kind of upbringing and sided with me.

I was always getting told that my eyes were bigger than my belly as a child x

It's mainly the kids who leave stuff on the plate here, and we try not to comment beyond 'what do you mean, you want chocolate when you weren't hungry enough to eat dinner? ". But one family member eats breakfast at ours regularly and invariably leaves two rice krispies or cornflakes in the bottom of a cereal bowl, which eventually got on my wick and I said why can't you tilt the bloody bowl. They hadn't realised they were doing it and now usually don't.

YABU - food is just as wasted if it's eaten by someone who neither wants nor needs it, as it is if it's thrown in the bin.

It doesn't bother me if the food is already plated, I often can't finish a plated up for me meal because I'm pretty tiny, my appetite is small too (though I do still love food, just very small quantities of everything)

But agree completely with it being very annoying when people's eyes are bigger than their bellies, it's such a waste

I don't want people to plate up my food, I'm an adult. Clearly it's different in a restaurant but at any other time I serve myself the food I'm going to eat and it's really not hard. If I'm unsure if I'll like something or not sure how hungry I am then I serve myself a small portion. I can always take more. I agree that's it's a terrible waste of food as an adult to constantly leave some food on your plate

People used to be raised to do this out of politeness- to clear your plate was a sign your host hadn’t fed you enough! To leave a mouthful on the plate was considered good manners.

Unless he's piling his plate high and just eating a little bit, YABU.

He's not psychic.

He can only estimate how much food he's going to eat. In fact if he cleared his plate after every single meal I'd assume he was forcing the last few bits down.

I refuse to carry on eating if I’m already feeling full. I hate the feeling of feeling sick from lots of food and I think if you are already at that stage than carrying on with eating is just greedy and gluttonous.

Exactly troubleswillbeoutofsight

This is the 21st century. We are a nation with high obesity levels and people relying on food banks to survive. How difficult is it to only put as much on your plate that you are going to eat? Seriously.

I leave stuff on my plate if I am eating pub food becausemeasl arrive already plated up and portions are ridiculously large, but at home I only put sufficient to satisfy my appetite.

The old fashioned "it is rude to empty your plate" is completely irrelevant and, IMO, snobby these days.

I don't mind at all, I am a bit greedy and always clear my plate even when already too full, my sister is put off the meal if too much is put on her plate and always leaves some. We are all different. Only bothers me if it's one of my children and it's because they were snacking but I don't make it into a big argument.

But LoniceraJaponica unless you eat at the exact same time and exact same thing how do you know how to put 'exactly' the right amount on your plate every single time for every single meal.

I can have a meal and feel full but that exact same meal another day won't make me as full. I 'feel' the same at the start but maybe one day I can eat 3 roast potatoes but another time after 2 I start to feel full. I can only assume those that clear the plates each time just eat the last one so it isn't 'wasted' even though if you stopped when you had that full sensation you wouldn't finish it. I mean if I ate the third one I wouldn't burst or roll around the floor saying I am stuffed but I would still be eating more that I really needed to.

"But LoniceraJaponica unless you eat at the exact same time and exact same thing how do you know how to put 'exactly' the right amount on your plate every single time for every single meal."

I just know. I have been cooking for over 40 years and have a good idea of how much I can and can't eat. My cooking repertooire is very varied and covers many different types of cuisine.

I thought it was supposed to be good manners to leave a little. Doesn't bother me either way.

No. It is an outdated concept kept alive by social climbers who want to think that they are better than their peers.

I'm surprised some people have such difficulties knowing how much they will eat, so such an extream level where eating the last two mouthfuls will make them throw up.

Rosepetalgeranium but it's not about throwing up if they eat the last two mouthfuls. It's about saying I have had enough and I don't want to eat those last two mouthfuls because I don't need too.

Interestingly I was reading a book on mindful eating which is about starting to listen to your body and recognise you are full. It talks about whether those last bits of the meal are really enjoyable and that lots of people simply clear their plate without thought. It seems that for a few people here they would prefer someone to do that rather than recognise their 'own fullness and enjoyment'.

So am I Rose

Although, having said that I don't care how much people eat. I just dislike waste, and it is far better to leave the extra food in the serving dish to be used for another meal than on a plate to be thrown in a bin, and added to the landfill mountain because our council doesn't do food waste bins.

I have stomach issues & never know how much I am going to be able to eat from one meal to the next. Its highly frustrating, because I love to eat & really want & intend to finish a meal, but 9 times out of 10 I simply can't. It's actually quite embarrassing. Going out to eat is certainly no longer an option & I only ate a third of my gorgeous Christmas dinner yesterday.

Clearly, anyone with health issues can't expect to know. OH had major stomach surgery three years ago, and he can't always tell how much he is going to be able to eat, but he wasn't brought up to think it is polite to leave food. In fact, with his background, it would have been considered odd and rude not to finish your plate if you were still hungry.

i can’t think of anything more miserable than a fridge full of Tupperware with a spoon of peas here and half a slice of ham there waiting to be used in the next meal. (And before you start, of course I actually can think of many things that are more miserable, but none of them will be changed by my not eating half a potato).

WE have the concept of seconds, thirds and fourths, so you can just put a little on your plate and keep going back for more.

ANd I enjoy making making meals including leftovers , adds variety