Food is a basic necessity; for some people, putting it on the table can be a struggle. In a world where so many people go hungry, this kind of waste should be a concern for all of us.
This story follows a woman — we’ll call her Evelyn — as she tries to pass this lesson on to a young girl, and things spiral much further than she had expected.
Evelyn’s daughter had a friend over for a sleepover, and Evelyn ensured both girls had a great night. She prepared the games and food, allowing them to have fun as they wanted. By morning, the girls were making breakfast.
While making toast, the bread came out a little burnt, and the friend, Jane, threw it in the trash without a second thought. Jane’s actions surprised and upset Evelyn.
As someone who didn’t grow up with much, she knows the value of food and how hard people work to afford it. So she explained to Jane that it wasn’t okay to throw away food and why it’s important to be mindful of waste.
She was a little embarrassed for her friend, even though Evelyn made sure her tone was correctional and not harsh to ensure that Jane would reconsider the next time she was about to throw out food.
Instead of acknowledging her daughter’s behavior, she was defensive and blamed Evelyn for calling out her child. She took no accountability for what had happened, leaving her upset and confused.