Ramadan Parenting Challenge Day 20: Don't be Wasteful - Teach Your Children Not To Waste Food

Ramadan Parenting Challenge 2014

Allah has told us to not waste our wealth: And give to the kinsman his due and to the poor and to the wayfarer. But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. (Qur’an 17:26) And when we spend, we do so in moderation: And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes). (Qur’an 25:67)

Likewise, we should not overly-indulge in food and drink: O Children of Adam! …eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not Al-Musrifun (those who waste by extravagance).  (Qur’an7:31)

Ramadan is a time when there should be less consumption of food but the opposite is true these days. We spend so much time cooking different delicacies that our table is spread with all sort of culinary delights. But when it is time to break the fast, most of us will find that we cannot eat every single item. To overcome this you should cook only one appetizer for eating after the date and water and then only one main dish for dinner (and possibly one dessert if you must). The amount of each dish should be enough to feed your family not an army.

To teach children not to waste food, you need to start when they are young. Make sure that they finish everything on their plate. It may be helpful to teach them to only take enough food that they could eat instead of piling it on. Then if they’re still hungry they could come back for seconds.

The same thing applies when eating out. Many times have I seen people leave their tables with food still on their plates. What can the restaurant do but to throw it out? So only order enough but if there are leftovers then ask for a container to put them in and take home to eat later.

Remember to model this behaviour as well.

Challenge for today is to:

1. Not waste money.
2. Cook one appetizer and one main meal. Cook only enough to feed your family.
3. Make sure your children finish everything on their plate.
4. If eating out then bring back any leftovers.

Do these and continue to do them throughout Ramadan.