Our elders always used to teach us to take small portions of food at first to avoid wastage. However, somehow, most people tend to forget this lesson, and that’s evident at social gatherings, especially weddings. People love throwing lavish parties while organising a wedding, which calls for large quantities of food. However, the amount of food that goes waste at such gatherings cannot just be ignored. A photo of food wastage shared by IAS officer Awanish Sharan is doing the rounds on social media, and it has left many people shocked.

Awanish Sharan shared the photo on Twitter where we can see a man cleaning the plates after an event. What catches our eye is the heaps of food next to the plates. The food appears to be a rice dish.

While pointing out the large quantity of food wasted, the IAS officer wrote, “The photo that your wedding photographer missed. Stop wasting food.”

Take a look at the post:

The photo that your wedding photographer missed.

Stop wasting FOOD. pic.twitter.com/kKx9Mxadpp— Awanish Sharan (@AwanishSharan) February 18, 2022

The photo has gone viral with 13.5k likes and 2,518 retweets till now. The comments section was filled with a range of reactions. There were various suggestions that said of ways to deal with such situations. Some people urged others to understand the value of food and never waste it.

A user commented, “Only way to stop food wastage is by reducing the number of dishes offered. In a normal wedding, more than 30 kinds of dishes are offered.”

Only way to stop food is by reducing the number of dishes offered. In a normal wedding more than 30 kinds of dishes are offered.— Aakash ???????? (@Richard_thaler1) February 18, 2022

Another agreed with the request made by Awanish Sharan and stated, “Very Correct Sir. Where are we all going… We have the party to enjoy or whether we have enjoyed the party for wasting of food. We are doing nothing for Needy.”

Very Correct Sir????????
Where are we all going…..

We have the party to enjoy or whether we have enjoyed the party for wasting of food.
We are doing nothing for Needy

हमारा पेट इतना भी अमीर नहीं हो पाया कि थाली में लिया खाने से भी भर पाया????????

Prashant Kumar Pandey Gorakhpur— PRASHANT KUMAR PANDEY (@PRASHANTKP23) February 18, 2022

(Also Read: Reducing Consumer Food Waste Could Save $300 Billion Yearly by 2030)

A third user shared, “Sir wasting food is a sin but nowadays people are not taking due care of this wasting. Awareness about this topic is very necessary. I am lucky I learned it at a very early age in spite of having the privilege of govt food all-time in school college but I have never taken extra food.”

Sir wasting food is sin but nowdays people are not taking due care of this wasting. Awareness about this topic is very necessary. I am lucky I learned it at very eraly age inspite of having privilege of govt food all time in school college but i have never taken extra food.— Ishwar Chandra Agrahari (@Ishwarc40625114) February 18, 2022

There were also people who felt that the extra food at weddings must be distributed among animals on the streets.

It is never wasted whn put on clean place for stray animals in fact it is delightful day for them… Depends how u utilize it— faiqa ???????? (@catijah__) February 18, 2022

Here are a few more reactions:

I have also seen my grandmother always fold his hands to food thali before taking any bite .Old generation respect food much bcz they know the true values of it .— Shubham Aggarwal (@Aggarwal074) February 18, 2022

Respect food ???? pic.twitter.com/T1JcoKXQQW— Ajay (@ajay_mirzam) February 18, 2022

So, the next time you end up buying more food than you need at markets, letting fruits and vegetables spoil at home, or taking larger portions than you can eat, think many times. A little bit of prudence could help save a lot of food.