My 7-year-old nephew schooled me on food waste in 2 minutes flat

Last Sunday at a family barbecue, my nephew watched me scrape half-eaten potato salad into the trash. He just stared at me and said 'Uncle Henry, that's like throwing away a whole chicken.' Kids remember those food waste stats from school. I had no idea he'd memorized the numbers from his class recycling project. He listed off the water wasted and the methane from landfills. Made me realize I talk big about climate action but still toss leftovers without thinking. He asked if I could just make smaller batches next time. Now I'm actually measuring portions before I cook. Anyone else get humbled by a kid's basic logic?

2 comments

2 Comments

martin.jamie12d ago

My buddy Rick got TOLD off by his neighbor's kid last month for throwing apple cores in the regular trash. Kid gave him a whole lecture about composting and now Rick keeps a bucket under his sink. Kids really do not mess around.

terryr4612d ago

Man I had almost the same thing happen with my neighbor's daughter, she's about 10 years old. Caught me tossing banana peels in the trash and gave me this whole talk about how they take forever to break down in a landfill. Next thing I know she's at my door with a little compost bin starter kit her mom helped her put together. Now I've got two buckets under my sink, one for food scraps and one for regular trash. Kids these days are way more serious about this stuff than we ever were and honestly they're probably right.