Here's how to stop worrying about the starving people in ________________

“You try to eat right but old habits die hard. Here's how to stop worrying about the starving people in (enter the third world nation of your choice here:”

We've all heard the standard lines from our parents as we were growing up: Sit up straight, don't sit so close to the television, you'll go blind if you kiss a boy, etc., etc. As we grow up, we realize what was good advice and what was bad, or do we? Do we still think that cleaning our plates will somehow save a starving person in a third world country? Do we clean our plates because, "waste not, want not," echoes in our memories? Maybe we go back for seconds or thirds at the buffet because "you want to get your monies' worth!"
How can we change these ingrained thoughts? Let's find a way around them. If you feel bad because you have so much food while others in the world are starving, eating more is not going to save them. How about buying less food? Tally up what you saved on chips, cookies, and fast food and send it to starving children somewhere. There. Starving children actually benefited from your abundance. If you feel wasteful, stop buying food you're not going to eat and stop dishing up more than you can eat in one sitting. Cut back on your portions so you don't waste food. Problem solved. If you feel you won't get enough value from the buffets, stop going to them. Most places offer a regular menu as well. Order just what you want so you get what you pay for. Many times you'll find you get more than you can (or should) eat at once. Ask for a take home container right away and divide half into it before you begin. This way, you'll feel like you've gotten twice as much for the same price.