When we sit at the table there are certain rules within a universal protocol that we must take into account. For example, not starting to eat until everyone is seated, chewing with the mouth closed, or placing the cutlery on top of the plate as a sign that it is finished. But what happens when food is left on the plate? Are we facing a sign of bad education or good education? Does it have any hidden meaning to leave food on the plate? Does it tell us something about that person?
Leaving food on the plate, good or bad manners?
- It all depends on the country in which you are eating, although we already anticipate that there is no rule that says that it is bad or good manners. For example, if you are in China and you leave food on your plate, you are sending the message that you want to repeat it and get more.
- In some countries, however, in the past when going to a restaurant or someone’s house, it was recommended to leave some food on the plate to give the impression of not being a hungry person. But that is a thing of the past, currently and as a general rule, it is advisable to eat everything that is served to you because it is considered a sign that everything is delicious and that you liked it; otherwise, it can cause a feeling of frustration and discomfort in the host who has spent so many hours in the kitchen preparing a delicious delicacy.
- There are some studies that relate obesity and overweight problems to the fact of not leaving food on the plate. In times when economic hardships ravaged the world, many children were forced to eat everything so as not to throw away the little food that was available and, from there, bad habits and eating behaviors have been derived.
The reasons why people leave food on the plate
- If you have the “bad habit” of always leaving something on your plate, it is best that next time, to avoid misunderstandings with anyone, ask that they not put so much food on your plate or, if you are the one who serves yourself, put less. Thus, in addition, you will remove from your head a certain feeling of guilt for throwing food.
- There are people who think that if they leave a completely clean plate, others will think that they are a person with anxiety.
- There are also those who are afraid of gaining weight. With this gesture, they have the feeling that they do not consume as many calories. If you are terrified of gaining a few extra kilos and you want to control your weight, take other types of measures such as drinking two liters of water, eating slowly and chewing your food, including fruits and vegetables in your menu and doing some physical activity.
- It may happen that you leave food on the plate because you are allergic or intolerant to any of the ingredients it contains. In these cases, since there is nothing to hide, it is best to notify the person in charge or the waiter, if you are in a public place, so that he can change it or prepare something else for you.
As you can see, it is not a matter of good or bad manners to leave food on the plate, rather to put a little common sense into it when lunch or dinner time arrives so as not to waste food foolishly and that others can take advantage of it.