In my family, we do everything we can to avoid wasting food.
When we have leftover food, especially in Ramadan since we cook five times the amount of food we usually consume otherwise, we pack the remaining food after our guests leave and give it to our gardeners, cleaners or anyone in need.
We grew up with these values and it has become a part of us.
As a child, my parents always told us to put small amounts of food on our plate each time so we don’t waste any of it and to make sure we finish everything on the plate.
I didn’t understand it back then, but it makes sense now because in Islam, wasting food is wasting a blessing from God that other people do not have.
It’s our duty to share it with those in need and to have mercy on them.
— Galia Gamal, 21, civil engineer.
