I hate wasting food, don’t you? To me, throwing away food is just awful. To start with, I might as well just take my hard-earned paycheck and put it in the garbage disposal along with the shriveled tomato, wilted lettuce, or moldy cucumbers.
I remember hearing my mother say that I had to eat everything on my plate because there were children in the world who were starving. This typically invoked a response from me that included some well-known preteen eyeball rolling. But, like so many other things in my life, as an adult, I view things differently and have to admit that I agree. How dare I waste food when there are mothers all over the world watching their children waste away from starvation?
If I lived alone, I would live life as a vegetarian; it really bothers me that animals have to perish in order for me to eat a meal. I resolve my emotional conflict over this issue by making absolutely certain that I never waste meat. Before I purchase meat, I have a plan in place for how I will use it all.
Thanksgiving turkey is a perfect example. Like everyone, we eat leftovers. I always have a menu planner on my iPad and once the turkey is consumed my planner has a
lot of turkey items lined up. We make hot leftover turkey plates, hot or cold turkey sandwiches, turkey salad, and finally turkey soup. The turkey soup is important to me because I eke out every bit of nourishment from the turkey.
Today is turkey soup day and it makes me happy to make this big pot of comfort food for my family. Paired with a fresh, warm loaf of homemade bread, nothing seems better. This afternoon as I simmered the turkey with carrots, onions, celery, and a bundle of fresh herbs, I took a moment to feel thankfulness and gratitude for my ability to provide nourishing food for my family.
So, for me and my family, the true message of Thanksgiving is not wasted, nor is any turkey. And so, I say, “For the creatures of this Earth, I give thanks.”
Chalk Dust and Dreams 