Can I have these food for take away?

When I was working in a restaurant, there's one thing that really saddens me. Sometimes people order too much food and end up unable to finish them. It's still all right if they ask the food to be wrapped but more often, they just leave it as a waste which end up in the rubbish bin.

I noticed that in chinese tradition or for some people as well, over-order of food (or over-preparing), symbolizes abundance. I was told that for some Filipino, it's customary to have abundance of food on the table during new year so you will have an abundance throughout the year. Another case is, whenever I went to my friend's home for chinese new year dinner, there are so many food we can't even finish half of them.

I understand that it's nice to have an abundance of food. But I noticed the negative part on ordering/cooking more food than you need.

First of all. Some of those will be wasted. While some can be kept in the fridge, given to the dogs or cats, the rest would likely end up in the bin. And yes, I hate to waste food. Even those I don't like. Think about the production chain needed for the food to arrive at our table. From the farmers, the ranchers, the truck drivers, the market vendor, the suppliers... to the cook and the person to serve. A long way from where it came from and ended up in your trash.

Secondly, extra food on the table is the best way to induce overeating. Say you have 4 pieces of chicken on the plate that was so tasty. Although you only plan to eat 2 pieces and left the remaining 2 for the next meal, it's infinitely more temptation to clean up the whole 4 pieces rather than having only 2 on your plate.

Third, kept food is no longer fresh. Frankly, I hate reheated food. I know someone who don't eat reheated food and all food served must be freshly prepared. For me, I feel reheated food already lose a lot of it's original flavour.

So how to manage these problem? Simple, order less food if you're in a restaurant. If it's not enough, you can always order some more. If you're stuck in a rut like, one is too little-two is too much, order one and water down the rest. Water is the best medicine for overeating. Don't worry whether you'll have enough food. Hey, you're in a restaurant! You can just order more or even better, keep some extra space for desserts!

But what if you cook? There's a simple trick here: Cook less, standby some heat-and-eat ready. Sure you can cook 4 pieces of chicken right away, but keep the other 2 out of sight! If you cook for a group of four, or even 10: cook as if they're all on diet! However, do prepare some extra fruits and healthy munchies in the fridge. Create some fibre-rich appetizers such as carrot and celery stick with blue cheese dip or homemade salsa. These tummy fillings are healthy and will induce everyone to eat less.

So help yourself. Eat less, be healthier. There are people out there, don't mention places with hunger and poverty, they might just around you: people who can't have food. Students that have to skip dinner and having their lunch with instant oatmeals, children whose parents are downsized and have not even a penny to buy them food, homeless people who have to get food from social charity day by day, or even those with diabetes and kidney problem who can no longer taste how wonderful rice is.

Taste you meal, savour it... make every single bite counts and appreciated.

My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four. Unless there are three other people. [Orson Welles]