Eat That

I was raised by depression era parents, so I was drilled in the belief that food was not to be wasted and that I was lucky to have enough to eat. A dinner did not go by where I was not told there are people starving, so eat those potatoes.

I have had this brought to the front of my brain by an innocent forum post of a couple of days ago. Someone I have met once, but really don't know, put online that she had made a resolution to stop wasting food, and then promptly wasted several pork chops by leaving them out.


When I read the first sentence I found myself feeling wonder at the very idea of wasting food. Who does this? Someone younger than me. People who weren't daily told the value of having enough to eat. Someone who has not been effected by the economic hardship so many are living with. Someone who is not mindful.


This simple statement stuck in my mind. Echos of my mother telling me to be thankful I am not hungry and eat those hated potatoes started as I read it. Images of the college students in Michigan standing in line at the food bank. Thoughts of the millions on food stamps. Knowing there are so many who fall through the cracks. Hunger. Waste. No thought, no shame. A light little piece put online as a oops moment.


There really are two Americas.