AnnE-girl Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I'm in a meal planning and healthy eating challenge group on Facebook where people often post pictures of their meals. A few of the members always seem to be using paper plates and plastic utensils for their regular meals. This seems really odd to me. We use disposable sometimes when we have a large group and not enough regular plates, but not for a random Wednesday night meal. Does anyone use paper plates most of the time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janie Grace Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Nope. I did go through a stage with lots of very small children where I used them at lunch quite often, but we rarely use them now (except for a casual crowd, like our Super Bowl party). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachermom2834 Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I do not but I know other people who use them for pretty much all meals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I don't even keep them in the house. I only buy them for specific purposes, and then no more than a few times a year. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zinnia Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 We use the super cheap ones for lunch and breakfast if it's a fairly dry meal, but that's it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 And you know what? I'm thinking on it, and even if we did use paper plates for some reason, I don't think I'd take a picture of it unless it was some obvious super casual, lots of guests thing - like a barbecue or a children's birthday or a picnic. There are some things I don't mind sharing, but that? I'd be worried people were judging me! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Never ever. Food does not taste good from paper plates, plus they create unnecessary waste. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkTulip Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 When I had 4 children under the age of 5, we used only paper plates for that first year. It was a lifesaver! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Never ever. Food does not taste good from paper plates, plus they create unnecessary waste. Why not? It's still the same food. (Serious question -- I'm not being snarky! :) ) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Why not? It's still the same food. (Serious question -- I'm not being snarky! :) ) Paper has a distinct taste of its own. But styrofoam is much worse. (Coffee from styro cups tastes disgusting). 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 (edited) Paper has a distinct taste of its own. But styrofoam is much worse. (Coffee from styro cups tastes disgusting). Maybe it depends on which brand you use? I don't use paper plates very often but I have never noticed a taste. I'm not anti-styrofoam for coffee, but that's probably because I use so much cream and sugar that the coffee is kind of an afterthought anyway ;), but I definitely notice a taste difference when I have to drink tea out of a styrofoam cup. Yuck! Edited to add: I was just thinking back to when my dh had his transplant and we lived in a hotel for 5 months and I realized we used a lot of paper plates and it worked out fine. We always bought the Chinet plates or the coated paper plates so they wouldn't soak through, and there was definitely no difference in the taste of our food. Edited March 16, 2017 by Catwoman 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryMak07 Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Not too often but I keep some on hand for convenience. Today we had a mom and 4 kids for lunch and it was nice to be able to do paper and avoid a big mess! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy the Valiant Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 We use them almost every Wednesday b/c we have a standing obligation out of the house - we call it "paper plate night' on the menu plan, and the kids appreciate the night off from kitchen clean-up. :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 We don't use paper plates but if they are taking the time to cook healthy food maybe they just want to save some dishwashing and are ok using paper. I guess I'd rather have healthy food on paper than fast food on fine china. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelAR05 Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 We use paper(not styrofoam) plates a few nights a week and for most breakfasts and lunches. *runs away* 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 We use them for parties or picknic type events but not at the house. I had a neighbor who used them all the time for her 3 daughters. They bought the really cheap ones and used the little plate sized baskets for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theelfqueen Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 So... growing up my Uncle ran a Solo cup factory so I grew up with a lot paper plates. We always have them on hand but we don't use them daily but definitely a few times a week. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 We use paper(not styrofoam) plates a few nights a week and for most breakfasts and lunches. *runs away* I don't see anything wrong with that. :) I'm a big believer in doing whatever works best for your own family and not worrying about what other families do. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 We use them a lot. I use normal silverware and cups. For dinner we usually use our fiestaware. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 My dh makes my ds eggs for breakfast. He puts them on a paper plate so my son can eat them on the way to work. If he took a regular plate I'd have no dishes left in the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 My dh makes my ds eggs for breakfast. He puts them on a paper plate so my son can eat them on the way to work. If he took a regular plate I'd have no dishes left in the house. Some people have Taco Bell wrappers all over the car, but your ds would have Fiestaware. Classy guy!!! :lol: 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 We often have them in the house. They will get used for the occasional lunch or to take out of the house to eat at other places. I actually find plates to be the easiest thing to wash, so I don't feel the need to use them too often. I don't buy disposable cups. I will, however, stockpile them from any hotels we stay at. I am keeping them on hand for something..just not sure what. :lol: Maybe they will be useful if there's a hurricane or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I've thought about it but it just seems horridly wasteful, even in my stage of life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I might resort to paper if I didn't have a dishwasher, but I do and plates take up so little space in it. I might use it once a year for a kid's birthday party if design is important to the kid, but I usually have enough plates for the amount of entertaining I'm willing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I have never bought them, or used them for a gathering at my house. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebbyribs Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I have some on hand, but it never occurs to me to use them, even when we have people over. And we have municipal composting, so they wouldn't even be going into a landfill. Hmmm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I'm in a meal planning and healthy eating challenge group on Facebook where people often post pictures of their meals. A few of the members always seem to be using paper plates and plastic utensils for their regular meals. This seems really odd to me. We use disposable sometimes when we have a large group and not enough regular plates, but not for a random Wednesday night meal. Does anyone use paper plates most of the time? I rarely use paper plates. I have quite a few inexpensive plastic plates that I use (and reuse) when I have larger groups over. I would not want my children to think that paper plates are the norm. In the same way, I want them to get dressed every day, because I want jammie day to be a fun special day, not the norm; and we make beds every day, and we keep the house tidy. I want those to be the norm. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 We don't but I see why some families do. My brother's husband is ridiculously picky about how the dishwasher is loaded and, in classic my-little-brother style, my brother used paper plates for everything because he didn't want to wait for his husband to load the dishes "the right way" or live with a mountain of dishes in his kitchen. This cracks me up for some reason, probably because I've also experienced my BIL being a dumbass about how the dishes are washed. He's a great guy...just a little intense on this issue, lol. My brother is also a very busy SAH soccer dad so it sometimes makes on the go eating cheaper and easier. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 When there was a drought at one point, I know that some people were urging people to use disposable plates because it was less water used to wash. And less electricity to heat the water and run the dishwasher. I remember being astounded at the idea that it could possibly be "better" in any way though. Even taking that into account, I find it hard to believe that paper plates aren't wasteful. The taste thing though... I'm a supertaster... food served on metal often has a taste for me. But I can't taste styrofoam unless it's waxed. And paper... that's nearly always got a mild wax on it, which is totally a fine taste to add to something. I can't imagine being bugged by that. I store all kinds of things with wax paper. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 When there was a drought at one point, I know that some people were urging people to use disposable plates because it was less water used to wash. And less electricity to heat the water and run the dishwasher. I remember being astounded at the idea that it could possibly be "better" in any way though. Even taking that into account, I find it hard to believe that paper plates aren't wasteful. But paper plates take more water and electricity to produce! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IfIOnly Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 (edited) Yes. A Costco pack of the cheapo paper plates lasts us a month or so. They're biodegradable, at least. I have chronic illnesses and am very sick on top of working with food allergies and therefore having to make usually 3 meals from scratch a day. I guess I feel the fossil fuels saved from the kids not being transported to and from school and me not traveling to and from work and our other environmental contributions allow us this indulgence. That's what I tell myself anyway. Edited March 16, 2017 by ifIonlyhadabrain 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 We always have paper plates on hand but we don't use a ton of them. Never for regular meals at home unless we're having a big, casual event (like a cookout). DH will use one for his lunch on weekends. I think that's a holdover from his childhood--his mom used and still uses paper plates a LOT. And I'll grab one if I'm fixing microwave bacon, if the dog is getting a snack and his regular plate is in the dishwasher, etc. We use them in the RV, where water is often what we need to conserve the most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I never use them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomatHWTK Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 My house has very un-normal norms. :laugh: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 We rarely use them at home but did when our kitchen was being worked on. And we seem to do a lot of pot-lucks, so we use them for those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Oh yeah, when DH was gone for weeks and I had two littles I used them with ENORMOUS RELIEF. We used the paper kind with no wax/plastic and they compost right out. I've never seen anyone use them that didn't have some extremely good reason to do so. Or just a makes-sense reason. Camping; big party... I do wish they'd outlaw styrofoam :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Have you guys seen the new plates being developed that are made out of leaves? Pretty cool. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/643319217/beleaf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 My grandmother used them for holidays. I didn't care for it, but I do understand. She has a tiny house and really didn't have enough plates for everyone and had to borrow stuff. And she got tired of the fact that only a small number of people would involve themselves in cleanup and dish washing. Namely the women. And she felt as if they should get to enjoy the holiday as well. So she started using disposable plates. She did use regular utensils though. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Have you guys seen the new plates being developed that are made out of leaves? Pretty cool. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/643319217/beleaf Ouch on the price though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I have several friends with a 8 or more kids who use them at every meal because the dishes get overwhelming. They use the dishwasher for glasses, utensils, and cooking bowls/tools after every meal. I've only done that during renovations, but I only have 2 kids! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Ouch on the price though! Well they ARE sewn plates. Nothing is perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Well they ARE sewn plates. Nothing is perfect. Yeah, but I could buy reusable plates for less than that! And fairly decent ones. Not saying the cost isn't in line with what it is, but I can't imagine this being attractive for everyday use unless one is quite loaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I have several friends with a 8 or more kids who use them at every meal because the dishes get overwhelming. They use the dishwasher for glasses, utensils, and cooking bowls/tools after every meal. I've only done that during renovations, but I only have 2 kids! I can totally imagine using paper with a very large family. We fill up the dishwasher sometimes 2 times a day with our family of 4. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I can totally imagine using paper with a very large family. We fill up the dishwasher sometimes 2 times a day with our family of 4. We do two loads of dishes/day and take the trash out once a day. We had to buy a second trash can from the city, I can't imagine how much trash we'd have if we switched to paper products. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 We are currently using them for most meals. But I'm very pregnant, very tired, and trying to keep the house/dishes/etc clean and ready for a homebirth. I'm also known to use them when I'm in deadline mode in my writing. It just makes life a lot faster and easier during "crunch times" for me. We even have paper bowls, and plastic forks/spoons during these times. So a few times a year? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I don't see anything wrong with that. :) I'm a big believer in doing whatever works best for your own family and not worrying about what other families do. Yup. Honestly, they freaking biodegrade so fast..hell sometimes it seems they are biodegrading while I'm using them! I'm not going to feel that bad about it. Besides, we cloth diaper...i figure that more than balances it out lol. I do find it funny how many people think disposable diapers are just fine, but get all horrified at disposable plates. SaveSave 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I have several friends with a 8 or more kids who use them at every meal because the dishes get overwhelming. They use the dishwasher for glasses, utensils, and cooking bowls/tools after every meal. I've only done that during renovations, but I only have 2 kids! Right. Plates don't take up a lot of room in the dishwasher, BUT...that's the same area of the dishwasher that I use for mixing bowls or tupperware containers, etc. So if I put the plates in the dishwasher I have to either wait and do another load for those things, or hand wash them. If I use paper plates I have room for the bigger stuff in the first load, along with coffee cups (which I don't use disposable for!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 We do two loads of dishes/day and take the trash out once a day. We had to buy a second trash can from the city, I can't imagine how much trash we'd have if we switched to paper products. The paper plates all stack on top of each other after a meal, taking up a very very small amount of room in the trash. But..I buy cheap plates, not the sturdy ones, so that probably makes a difference. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Yup. We use paper plates for every meal. We also, gasp, use red plastic disposable cups. And drink bottled water. And own paper towels and paper napkins. We do recycle quite a bit, both with recyclable "trash" items into the recycle bin plus taking things to and buying things from thrift stores. Ooh, and the fossil fuels things someone mentioned above. I rarely drive us anywhere except doctor and ortho appointments. Judge me if you will. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom@shiloh Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Nope. Not judging, but the wastefulness --both the expense and the garbage it generates -- makes me cringe. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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