Recently while serving at a Grihapravesam (house warming), I was very impressed with two elderly ladies - maybe sisters - who left a very clean leaf behind, not wasting even a single morsel behind.
But, they constituted probably a minority. Leave alone children, even adults are unable to do justice to all that is served on the leaf. The host invariably spends about Rs 80-100 a plate. And orders for at least 10 extra people.
Concerned about the waste of food, I have tried to make sure that I am served only that which I can do justice to.
Recently I saw a forwarded mail about how in Germany, even in hotels, you are not expected to waste food even if you are paying for it. "You are using a common resource and therefore have a responsibility towards it," a social inspector was quoted in that mail.
It is not just about affordability but about drawing from natural resources. One may argue that the food can always be given away to the poor, I am not sure how many of us really manage to do it, and that too, when it is fresh and suitable for consumption.
Just a thought: All our cultures tell us to make enough so that we are not scraping the vessel when serving a guest. But when it is just the family, maybe a bit of caution and disposing it wisely so that other living things can benefit if at all there is extra may help us preserve this resource.
But, they constituted probably a minority. Leave alone children, even adults are unable to do justice to all that is served on the leaf. The host invariably spends about Rs 80-100 a plate. And orders for at least 10 extra people.
Concerned about the waste of food, I have tried to make sure that I am served only that which I can do justice to.
Recently I saw a forwarded mail about how in Germany, even in hotels, you are not expected to waste food even if you are paying for it. "You are using a common resource and therefore have a responsibility towards it," a social inspector was quoted in that mail.
It is not just about affordability but about drawing from natural resources. One may argue that the food can always be given away to the poor, I am not sure how many of us really manage to do it, and that too, when it is fresh and suitable for consumption.
Just a thought: All our cultures tell us to make enough so that we are not scraping the vessel when serving a guest. But when it is just the family, maybe a bit of caution and disposing it wisely so that other living things can benefit if at all there is extra may help us preserve this resource.
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