When You Were Young Did Your Parents Insist You Clean Your Plate?

[dave50]

My father always used to insist that I clean my plate before I left the table, ie mop up the gravy with the potatoes or what ever so I didnt leave the plate swimming in gravy which he thought was inconsiderate to anyone washing up and was lazy and I still do it to this day. These days I never see anyone doing this and I think it looks slovenly, leaving the plate covered in mess. Anyone agree with this or is it just me?

[Peter Pedant]

war time habit - to leave absolutely nothing on the plate

The children of POWs wre treated to more spectacular "food seeking" activities reflecting the times that their fathers ( parents sorry BN) were starved - picking loaves of bread from compost heaps
( not stale at at all - defintiely edible)
or apples in the road ( obviously edible before or after washing. none of this - too clean for covid stuff then)

Big thing nowadays on AB about giving family or village details (in case it turnd up on Facebook!) but that was how things were in the country in the forties. [see Lammy thread - very long and very crazy]

[Peter Pedant]

does anyone remember - round of bread with meat but no butter?
( another rationing thing)

[Peter Pedant]

oh god did I tell you how rationing worked when you went into hospital?

[burlyshirley]

No, they never insisted, but me and my brother always had healthy appetites and very rarely left any food !

[woofgang]

My Mum never would have butter in a meat sandwich.

[Mamyalynne]

I have never wasted good gravy.

Our meals as children were portioned accordingly so rarely had to be asked to eat more than was acceptable.

[Peter Pedant]

erm so you had children and not strasbourg geese ?

[sozza sozza - must be more accessible damn damn]

[david small]

What you take you eat, was the policy at our house. Eyes bigger than your stomach? You were informed if you’d left anything. Not that we did as food was never wasted.

[Theland]

I hated the bit of cabbage lurking at the side of the plate.
These days I love it.

[andy-hughes]

eleanor - // Oh Andy, regards your father inlaw, did that make you feel sick? //

No - why would it?

I have always eaten the same way my whole life, i eat until I am full and then I stop. If there is food on the plate, then it stays there.

[andy-hughes]

I think the US Army attitude has merit for adults - take what you want, eat what you take.

[rowanwitch]

Not really, but I did anyway I was always hungry.

[Cloverjo]

Andy//If there is food on the plate, then it stays there.//
That’s exactly what I was talking about earlier but you disagreed with me.

[Canary42]

///Anyone agree with this///

I agree Dave, in fact I go one further and lick the plate clean and therefore don't have to bother with washing up.

[Jackdaw33]

The French serve bread with every meal for mopping up. I was taught that wiping your plate with bread was fine at home but taboo when dining elsewhere.

Another thing I was taught was it was impolite to fully clear your plate as it implied that you hadn't been given enough. A little bit of food should be left on the side.

[Peter Pedant]

yes no Jack
leaving food went with the war

[eleanor2]

Andy, I’ve only just seen your reply there. To see someone finish off other people’s leftovers would make me gag.

[eleanor2]

Not saying that in a nasty way, just fact. I’m laughing here as to why you wondered why Andy. Some times up to eight did you say?

[Spicerack]

Spring and Port Wine is on tptv at 6:30.
Just saying.

[Mamyalynne]

Always one I record, brings such memories of how parts of the town have changed.

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