I always feel grateful for food on the table, and I do not like to waste food. Of course, if the food spoils, then I will have to throw it away. So I will still eat the food as long as it is edible, even if the food’s taste is not delicious.
I always said that my mum does not like to waste food; coming from a poor family, she didn’t even have meat to eat every month. Of course she did influence me; that’s why I do not like to waste food.
Reflecting on my past, I see that this incident made me value food more. My mumjust enforced this value more. I worked at a department store in Kuala Lumpur and once had lunch alone at a mamak stall. I ordered a plate of white rice with curry sauce on top, a piece of chicken, and a vegetable. Plus a drink; I can’t remember what drink I ordered, but I am guessing it could be an iced milk tea (teh ais). Then I sat alone at a small table; then one guy came and shared my table with me. He was sitting opposite me. And I look at his plate, and it was only plain rice with curry sauce and a ladyfinger (okra). Typically, mamak curry includes ladyfingers as one of its ingredients. And for the drink, he just had a plain iced water. I feel a bit sad looking at his plate of rice compared to mine. I was thinking, life is tough for some people.
Nowadays, many people, including children, are picky eaters. And they can just not eat the food if it does not taste good, and just waste it. At the end, the dustbin get to eat it. They did not know that there are people out there who do not have enough food to eat. Or they knew, but it just does not bother them.
So I will always be grateful for food on my table. Yes, I am also quite picky sometimes, but at least I will not waste the food. I will still eat it even though it does not taste yummy.