Witnessed much waste of food during free dining

[nanadeb]

I wish they could make a smaller version of each, sorta like a three course meal.

We did have reduced portions in some restaurants during free DDP in early September. In Le Cellier, one of us received a child's portion of the cheese soup. My mushroom filet was smaller than usual. Our desserts there were downsized. I was glad!
In Les Chefs de France, my Assiette de Campagnarde and my profiteroles were reduced by 1/3. The entree portions were slightly smaller. Even then, I shared my dessert and boxed up some of my entree.
Most of the other TS restaurants had very small desserts, which was good. Not good if I was paying full price and wanted to share, but just right with the DDP. Even then, all 3 of us had our Mama Melrose desserts packed to go. Our appetizer portions at that restaurant we also smaller than usual (don't you just love the food porn threads for ease of comparison!)
Since we stayed at the OKW courtesy of a free upgrade, it made sense to box up food for breakfasts and the way home. We spent our extra CS and snack credits for the drive home. We didn't finish up the rest of the snack credit items until a week had passed! We saved most of the desserts from the CS meals and took them back to the villa.
We didn't eat until we dropped, but we didn't waste food, either. What we couldn't eat, we boxed up. That's why we made all our dinner reservations for around 7 PM. We could spend a day at the parks or wherever we wanted, have a relaxing dinner, then go back to the villa. We had a cooler in our van, so some of the leftovers actually went with us to be eaten on the way back.
The only place we ate too much was at Ohana. Even then, we didn't finish all of our food.
We also tried to make healthy choices. Beefsteak Tomato Stack at Le Cellier. Salads. Tomato and Mozzarella Salad at Mama Melrose. We tried to keep the carbs down as much as possible to save for dessert, adjusting for the amount of exercise we were getting. When we got burgers, we chose apple slices instead of french fries. I got grapes instead of chips with my sandwich at Pizzafari.
None of us gained weight while we were there.
We really enjoyed the variety of restaurants we were able to visit without breaking the bank. There are now some we will pay for OOP, now that we know we like them.
And BTW, my husband is an insulin dependant Type II diabetic. Even with the extra food, he did not have to increase his insulin during the vacation. Because of the excercise, he even decreased it at times. So you see, we are really food conscious in our family!

 

[JeanfromBNA]

As a child of a parent who lived through the Great Depression, I was brought up with an admonishment not to waste food. That means that I should only order what I would be able to consume, and not order something because it's paid for, only to send the rest back to the landfill or the pig farm.

As a financially successful American who was fortunate enough to be able to enjoy a lovely week-long WDW vacation recently, I have to stop and realize how lucky I really am. Yes, we work hard for our success, but other people who had the misfortune to be born into different circumstances work just as hard and have far less to show for it. For me, not wasting food is an acknowledgment that except for luck or the grace of God, go I.

 

[Suzanne74]

If we all minded our own business there wouldn't be a DIS

So true.

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

my youngest son is guilty of wasting a lot of food while we were there as he barely ate anything. We wern't ordering anything more than he would eat at home (he was on the childs plan) but the most he would eat was some salad and 1/4 of a pizza. I never over ordered but the heat must have gotten to him. .

 

[TANYABETH]

As a child of a parent who lived through the Great Depression, I was brought up with an admonishment not to waste food. That means that I should only order what I would be able to consume, and not order something because it's paid for, only to send the rest back to the landfill or the pig farm.

As a financially successful American who was fortunate enough to be able to enjoy a lovely week-long WDW vacation recently, I have to stop and realize how lucky I really am. Yes, we work hard for our success, but other people who had the misfortune to be born into different circumstances work just as hard and have far less to show for it. For me, not wasting food is an acknowledgment that except for luck or the grace of God, go I.

Hey, pigs need to eat too!!

 

[Suzanne74]

Whenever I need cheering up I can always count on the DIS

Why the OP was zoning on in everyone's meals, I don't know but either way - it is no one else's business who wastes what food. Some people like the DDP, some don't. Some think its too much food, some complain they are taking the appetizer away. Some think it is a forbidden law to share food, others complain they can't eat all that food and need to share. No matter what - not everyone will agree which is why the DDP is an OPTION. You have a CHOICE to get it or not get it. What people do at WDW on the plan or not on the plan and how much they eat, not eat, spend too much money, waste too much time eating, etc.... is their choice. This thread could go on and on but why???

What about buffets - how much food do you think they waste there anyway - DDP or not???