AIBU to think this waste of food is obscene

[AuntieMeemz]

I've jut got a job in a small pre-school. Everyday, the staff put out the food for the children to serve themselves at dinner time.
The staff put a ridiculous amount out, and 90% of the food is wasted. Yet, the staff (most are young girls who don't want to eat the food) say those of 2 of us us who don't work directly with the children must wait until the end before having any. Invariably, there is nothing left, its all in the bin by the time we get there. Honestly the amount thrown away would easily feed my family of 4 for 2 meals!
When I suggested they put less out, the staff were shocked, and when I asked if we could have a small amount as they were serving to the children they were equally shocked.

You're new, pick your battles.

I would wait until you've been in your job for a bit longer before you raise this one again - it sounds like they aren't too receptive to suggestions at the moment
I can understand seeing so much wasted and not being allowed to have any is frustrating - but try and bite your tongue for now - you don't want to make enemies

I'd wait until you've been in the job a while to raise your issues. But I don't think you are being unreasonable, I can't stand food waste it really annoys me. I work in a bakers and what we have left at 4pm closing I take to the homeless shelter which my boss is happy for me t do.

Definitely wait until you're settled in your job then suggest a new system - maybe a new plate of stuff put out when the last one is 75% gone.

Not having absolutely everything out encourages some of the more reserved kids to pick up foods they normally would give a swerve, too. So, if theres a massive plate of cherry tomatoes and a massive plate of cucumber, the cucumber lover would not bother with the cherry tomatoes that they don't like as much. However, if only 1/3 of each are put out at the start, the cucumber lover might need to pick up a few tomatoes, as well, or risk going hungry.

Though, if you're one of my kids, you'll just hold out for the plate of raisins then go hide in the corner with the whole lot.

So the food actually goes out onto the children's plates, but the children don't eat it and it goes in the bin? Is that what you're saying? Presumably they don't put it straight on the bin?

I read it that they food is put out, most of it isnt taken by the kids so ends up in the bin.

I agree that they need to massively cut the amount of food they put out.

OP, is you eating some of this food part of your job spec? If it is then I suggest you take it up with your manager rather than the other staff, by pointing out that you and others are not getting lunch and how much is being thrown away.

Bill OP says it's put out for the kids to serve themselves so I assume it's bowls and plates of finger food which they can reach for and put on their own plates.

Probably, the bowls are almost full and that's all getting binned.

OP, you can't come to a job and immediately question the way things are run. You may be correct but their protocol won't allow for staff to partake of the children's food as it is being served and for good reason.

When you've been there for a few months, raise it with the manager.

The waste is an issue, but kids serving themselves is never a good idea either. How on earth do they make sure that each child is eating a proper meal? At my kids nurseries they always used to get a basic sandwich lunch on a plate of 2 sandwich quarters, some cucumber and tomato and half a dozen quavers or something, with extras put on the table. They could take more but had to finish what was on their plates first. Anyone who wasnt eating would be honed in on in case they were feeling poorly or tired or just needed encouraging.

Posted too soon....

meant to say that if the staff are putting out what they think is enough food for all the kids and are throwing most of it away, why are they not concerned about the amount that the kids are (or not) eating?!

The food waste doesn't sounds good. I don't think small children serving themselves is a good idea of course they will over load there plates and not eat it and another issue is when serving themselves you can't be sure each child has actually eaten a proper meal.
Until you've been in your job a while I wouldn't mention it

Children serving themselves is a good idea, if staff are sitting & eating with them, supporting them to take appropriate amounts, learn table manners etc... I've worked in countless nurseries over the years and it has never been an issue. We found less waste & more children eating.

I agree with the other posters though OP, wait until you have been there a while and suggest a self review about the whole of lunch time. Encourage a discussion about how meal times are going for everyone, observations about what is working well & what isn't, and then you can add in your observations.

Suggesting that they figure out ways to reduce waste should be something agreed with my everyone, but some people don't like others making perfectly reasonable suggestions when they are new. Which is silly, but generally the way it goes! Good luck :)

Is having a provided lunch an included thing in your role? Or is it the case that it's not and you bring your own food, but you would like some of the children's food if there's any left over when they are finished?