That's what we were told when I was a kid. I never understood how clearing my plate was supposed to help starving children in Europe, but since adults were saying it, I figured it must be true . . . somehow.
In retrospect I suppose the message wasn't "you can help them by finishing your food" but more along the lines that "you can show your gratitude that you aren't among the starving by finishing your food."
I'm guessing there aren't a lot of starving children in Europe any more. So clearly I and the kids from my generation did a good job.
I'm now a fat old man living in an increasingly obese America. Food is plentiful and fairly cheap. Do kids today have to be told to clear their plates? If so, which starving children are we saving (or glad we aren't them) these days?
In retrospect I suppose the message wasn't "you can help them by finishing your food" but more along the lines that "you can show your gratitude that you aren't among the starving by finishing your food."
I'm guessing there aren't a lot of starving children in Europe any more. So clearly I and the kids from my generation did a good job.
I'm now a fat old man living in an increasingly obese America. Food is plentiful and fairly cheap. Do kids today have to be told to clear their plates? If so, which starving children are we saving (or glad we aren't them) these days?