Clean plates rule for DC.. just why?

[Cappuccino5]

At the weekend 16yo DD and I stayed at my cousin’s house for a big family get together. We’d had a number of meals together (all lovely & home cooked by said cousin!) when over Sunday lunch she made the observation to me that DD never finishes her plate, and that her own children were strictly trained not to leave any food uneaten from a young age. I’d understand her discontent if she was leaving large amounts of leftovers every time, but she genuinely doesn’t. At the lunch in question she’d simply just left a small bit of chicken on her plate. She doesn’t have a particularly small appetite and she’s not fussy, she simply just eats to hunger (like we all should!!). AIBU to think that in this day and age ‘clean plates’ is a ridiculous rule to have?

I thought leaving a bite or two on your plate was polite and an indication that you had enjoyed your meal but had had enough. If you cleaned your plate it meant you still wanted more.

that did used to be a thing in upper class circles. The phrase was "Leave a bit for Mr/Miss Manners"

Some people might think that but you've got to realise it makes no sense at all to see it that way.

Eating it all could equally mean you enjoyed your meal and was served exactly the right amount.

Eating more food than your body needs is as much as a waste as putting that food in the bin.

Probably would but on a daily basis of random left over veg it's gonna block the drains which aren't great to start with