h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In about 50% of traditional British households, you should never totaly clear your plate. This indicates that you are indeed full and the host has given you more than enough food.

In the other 50%, to totaly clear your plate indicates how delicious the meal was.

I've never encountered this personally. Maybe there aren't many traditional British households left.

I have a question. Would I be right in supposing that it is in the better-off, more middle class homes that you are supposed to leave food behind (i.e. money means you can waste) whereas in more working class environments waste is seen as wrong and everything should be eaten? Common old me, I was always exhorted to consume every morsel.

My parents are in opposite camps on this divide, and both claim that there are other people in their camp. However, it could be that the 'eat everything' side are just a few people whose family has been very poor in the last few generations. In my mother's case, this was caused by her grandmother losing everything when the Austrian economy totaly collapsed after the first world war. Despite the fact that my family has known no hardship since then, I still always totaly clear my plate.

"a few people whose family have been very poor in the last few generations"? This could take us back to Victorian times and also cover the 1930's depression and post-WW2 rationing. It would be a very unusual family who did not experience any limitations on food during this time.
I would suspect historically (and in poorer countries today?) people ate everything they could get their hands on - just in case! Waste would be viewed negatively. The richer you were the easier it would be to escape this. Indeed, as history shows - think of various monarchies just before they were killed! - indifference to waste could even be used to show off your wealth.

I've never heard of anyone being encouraged to leave fod in this part of the world... even at huge parties where the food is overflowing, the general rule is "Take all you want, but eat all you take." A host with more leftovers than could be consumed in the household will usually send extra food home with the departing guests. Blatant wasting of food is frowned upon... "there are starving children in Africa!"

Hmmm... perhaps the American obesity problem is not dietary, but cultural?

I've heard of people saying "it's not my fault, it's genetic" but "it's not my fault, it's my culture" is a new one on me!

I think the more appropriate response would be "It's not my fault, I'm just a lazy slob who doesn't know when to stop!"