|
Post by workingclassdog on May 16, 2022 13:36:56 GMT
We use mostly for larger parties.. 10-20 people would be a large party for us at home. If there are leftover plates we will use those up for everyday stuff just to get rid of them.
DH has to use disposable since he is a truck driver and he has really no way to wash dishes. It kinda kills me but however there isn't other option even if he really cared. (He's not into recycling really). The waste at truck stops is A LOT.. but again, there are not a lot of options.
I use plastic silverware at work because we are not allowed 'real' silverware. I do wash and reuse them probably at least 3 times if not more.
|
|
|
Post by katiejane on May 16, 2022 13:39:39 GMT
I am not from the USA, I can't remember the last time I went anywhere and had a paper plate. Must be around 12 years sinc I have seen one. Everyone I know uses normal plates or if outside picnic wear (reusable plastic/bamboo plates and glasses). Its not unusual in my friendship group to ask people to bring their plates and cutlery with them when getting together.
|
|
|
Post by padresfan619 on May 16, 2022 13:39:42 GMT
Almost never. Like maybe 1-2 times a year.
|
|
|
Post by mayceesgranny on May 16, 2022 13:42:03 GMT
Typically its just me and dh for meals so we use our regular dinnerware. We use paper plates a lot in the summer when the kids and grandkids are here for the weekend - we will have 15 or more people and we eat on the patio.
|
|
|
Post by workingclassdog on May 16, 2022 13:45:09 GMT
I’d guess it’s more a personal decision rather than generational? Could totally be. Surrounding me, it's the older generations that use them. My parents and my ILs don't recycle either. So maybe it's just less likely to happen for people who are environmentally conscious and that can apply to anyone really, no matter their age. I'm going to disagree on the generational thing.. my mom who is 82, recycles like crazy. She is like hard core. She even takes the paper off the canned goods. (is that even a thing?). She does have some paper plates for a few certain things but doesn't use them much. But never a cup or silverware in sight. All their leftover foods go to the neighborhood dogs (no fences) or into their garden. She is from the generation that you don't waste a thing. She doesn't do this on purpose but just the way she is.
|
|
milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,570
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
Mar 18, 2015 4:10:31 GMT
|
Post by milocat on May 16, 2022 13:56:30 GMT
I follow someone on IG, they are not a Youtuber in the sense that they have a big following and I noticed they are always using disposable plates and cutlery. Even when it's just her and her DH or just a couple grandkids over.
For us almost never. When we get together with my parents, sister and family (same with my sister in law) we each have enough plates and cutlery for everyone to eat off of. We had my DDs grad here and there were more people than I had plates so we used disposable. This summer we're having a backyard birthday party for my mom so we'll use disposable. Before that I couldn't remember the last time we used it, had been quite a few years.
|
|
|
Post by **GypsyGirl** on May 16, 2022 14:09:49 GMT
Only for picnics when traveling or when remodeling work is going on. jeremysgirl - My mom switched to paper plates exclusively the last few years of her life. Before that they were only for cookouts or when camping.
|
|
|
Post by ~summer~ on May 16, 2022 14:23:29 GMT
Basically never.
|
|
|
Post by jeremysgirl on May 16, 2022 14:24:55 GMT
jeremysgirl - My mom switched to paper plates exclusively the last few years of her life. Before that they were only for cookouts or when camping. It is not uncommon to hear in the Fiesta threads here that the plates are too heavy for some with aging/arthritic hands too.
|
|
|
Post by angieh1996 on May 16, 2022 14:31:23 GMT
I keep them in the house, but really only use them when we're having a bbq with family and I don't have enough place settings for everyone. We also keep them in the camper.
|
|
StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,692
Location: Ohio
Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
|
Post by StephDRebel on May 16, 2022 14:41:23 GMT
I don't keep any on hand but will sometimes buy themed ones for dessert on holidays, birthdays, etc.
The only paper/ disposable we use regularly are insulated coffee cups with lids. Our building has maintainance 2 days a week, someone who cleans the floors every night and 'trash fairies' that pick up trash on rhe evenings and they all know if they stop on their way down the hall, ill make coffee or tea by the time they come back around and im happy to make it or let them use my bathroom.
I'll just pack it to go so they dont have to worry about bringing a mug back.
|
|
|
Post by voltagain on May 16, 2022 14:45:28 GMT
I love watching meal preps ,grocery hauls and “ day in my life “type vlogs I have noticed that a lot of them use disposable paper plates o plastic cutlery and toss them after a regular meal. I also see the purchase of paper cups often in grocery hauls I am wondering if this is a common thing in USA? I am an Aussie and I can honestly say the only time I would use paper plates is for a kids party or maybe an outside BBQ if I had a lot of guests. My kids are grown so I can’t remember the last time. I can see these bloggers have a dishwasher Surely the cost of dishwasher tabs and electricity is cheaper than the disposable products. I am not trying to be snarky just genuinely wondering Cultural differences fascinate me I use disposable cutlery more often than paper plates. I take it to my office in my brown bag lunches so if it gets forgotten it is no big deal. I also wash and reuse it. We will use disposables when having a larger gathering so the women aren't stuck in the kitchen doing dishes. So maybe 2 times a year? I do keep a stock of plates, cups and utensils for emergency use like when power is out and I can't wash dishes. I've had the same stash for about 5 years now. A bit has been used but not near all of it and I don't have a big stash.
|
|
|
Post by boymom5 on May 16, 2022 14:48:09 GMT
We use them for parties and occasionally when we have a lot of friends over. For my kids lunches they use a reusable bento box, cloth bags for things like chips and if they take plastic silverware I wash and reuse them. We aren’t perfect about it but try to reuse most of what we have. Birthdays are the exception as I do buy them themed supplies for that day.
|
|
TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 2,955
Jun 26, 2014 17:25:06 GMT
|
Post by TXMary on May 16, 2022 14:48:11 GMT
We only use paper plates in the summer if we BBQ at the pool. I hate eating with plastic cutlery so that's a never. And we never use disposable cups either. I hate them.
|
|
|
Post by cmpeter on May 16, 2022 14:56:08 GMT
Only for a large party. The last was three years ago for a college graduation/sleep out in our backyard.
|
|
|
Post by crimsoncat05 on May 16, 2022 15:11:53 GMT
I bought a pkg of paper plates and plastic cutlery when we were packing to move, so that we could pack the dishes last minute and still have plates to eat off of right before and right after we moved. If I'm only making myself a sandwich, sometimes I will use a paper plate just because that package is still up in the cabinet. And on the odd occasion if we're going for a drive / picnic out somewhere, I will take paper plates and plastic utensils.
But for every day meals? not ever. Even if it's just pizza and chips in front of the tv, it still gets eaten off of a 'real' plate. Our plates are just cheap Corningware, but still- it's how I was brought up, I guess.
eta: I take it back; at work they have paper plates and plastic utensils in the breakroom. If I have something that requires a plate / utensils, I will use those at that time. But not at home.
|
|
|
Post by katlady on May 16, 2022 15:18:30 GMT
We rarely use paper plates/cups for everyday meals. We have a small stash that we bought when we remodeled the kitchen. As for plastic utensils, we do use those more than paper plates/cups. We get them in our take-out, so we’ll use them but then we wash and reuse them. Our pile of plastic utensils is really growing. Probably need to thin out the collection soon.
|
|
|
Post by fiddlesticks on May 16, 2022 15:22:33 GMT
We used them during our kitchen remodel and would use them if we had a bbq where there were more people than I had plates for. And we use paper plates when we go camping and they get used to help start the fire.
|
|
iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,370
Location: Michigan
Jul 13, 2014 12:40:31 GMT
|
Post by iluvpink on May 16, 2022 15:34:48 GMT
We used them when we had a brand new baby .. we were so overwhelmed and looking for ways to simplify any tasks not related to keeping our little one alive. (Today is said little one’s last day of high school 😭) Otherwise, we only use them when we’re hosting a big gathering. I will admit that we used them a lot more often when dd was younger and we were extremely overwhelmed young, depressed (me) and exhausted working parents with long commutes. It was a total sanity saver as even then we couldn't keep up with dishes/housework. We got away from that as dd got older and now it's pretty rare.
|
|
|
Post by greendragonlady on May 16, 2022 15:57:39 GMT
Hardly ever. My husband does use a plastic spoon or fork when he packs his lunch so he can just throw everything away at work.
If we are having a big gathering where it's more of a grazing, eat whenever you want kind of thing we will usually use paper plates because people will eat more than once but don't want to worry about keeping their plate somewhere for later.
|
|
hannahruth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,689
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Aug 29, 2014 18:57:20 GMT
|
Post by hannahruth on May 16, 2022 16:05:51 GMT
Could totally be. Surrounding me, it's the older generations that use them. My parents and my ILs don't recycle either. So maybe it's just less likely to happen for people who are environmentally conscious and that can apply to anyone really, no matter their age. I'm going to disagree on the generational thing.. my mom who is 82, recycles like crazy. She is like hard core. She even takes the paper off the canned goods. (is that even a thing?). She does have some paper plates for a few certain things but doesn't use them much. But never a cup or silverware in sight. All their leftover foods go to the neighborhood dogs (no fences) or into their garden. She is from the generation that you don't waste a thing. She doesn't do this on purpose but just the way she is. Sounds like my grandma who was recycling before I had even heard of the concept. As you mentioned living through WW2 and the Depression re-using/repairing was what they all did just for survival. the last time I bought any paper plates and/or napkins was for DD’s baby shower and this year that baby will be 8. obviously we don’t use them at all and we only use cloth napkins. If there is a large gathering at home we would hire china plates and silverware.
|
|
|
Post by ntsf on May 16, 2022 16:05:52 GMT
once in a very great while.. I use camping plastic plates when camping. --we don't mind washing the dishes.. takes 5 minutes.
I use them more often if I am taking cookies to someone ..so I don't have to worry about getting something back.
our whole family uses something other than paper plates.
|
|
|
Post by sunnyd on May 16, 2022 16:16:34 GMT
I cook a lot. I use the super cheap uncoated paper plates for food prep, mostly a place to move cut vegetables as I'm chopping. I usually put them in my compost bin with my vegetable waste. I would also use one for a snack like crackers occasionally. I would never eat a meal off of one. I detest disposable plastic plates, cups and utensils.
|
|
|
Post by snugglebutter on May 16, 2022 16:20:45 GMT
Just for camping and large gatherings. I do know a number of people who use paper plates for breakfast and lunch and their real dishes only for dinner. I priced that out once as our family got bigger and we couldn't get by on running the dishwasher just once a day - it turned out to be more economical to run the dishwasher more often.
We did have a big plumbing issue that stopped us from using the dishwasher and the kitchen sink for a couple of weeks when my 4th child was just a few months old. We definitely used them then!
|
|
|
Post by Merge on May 16, 2022 16:24:14 GMT
I keep them in our hurricane/flood emergency supplies in case we're without power for several days and unable to use the dishwasher or get hot water for washing. Other than that, we don't use them.
|
|
|
Post by CardBoxer on May 16, 2022 16:25:47 GMT
jeremysgirl - My mom switched to paper plates exclusively the last few years of her life. Before that they were only for cookouts or when camping. It is not uncommon to hear in the Fiesta threads here that the plates are too heavy for some with aging/arthritic hands too. Yes - during the last few years of my father-in-law’s life, he wanted to help in the kitchen by setting the table, but the dishes my in-laws had were too heavy. He had also suffered a stroke many years before and only had good use of one arm/hand. So we bought them a set of very lightweight Corelle dishes, called Vitrelle. Years later I hurt my hand so we bought a set for us and still use them. They’re actually glass, not that they look like it - they’re opaque and close to unbreakable. Lots of patterns and colors now. www.corelle.com/search?qry=Vitrelle
|
|
lavawalker1
Full Member
Posts: 488
Jul 9, 2021 21:41:57 GMT
|
Post by lavawalker1 on May 16, 2022 16:29:48 GMT
I’m American and rarely use paper plates, although I have a small stash. I don’t even use them for gatherings, since our gatherings are small.
|
|
Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,798
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
|
Post by Rhondito on May 16, 2022 16:42:18 GMT
Only for large cookouts, etc.
Never for daily life; I also use cloth napkins instead of paper.
|
|
kelly8875
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,407
Location: Lost in my supplies...
Oct 26, 2014 17:02:56 GMT
|
Post by kelly8875 on May 16, 2022 16:48:52 GMT
We use them, but not as a replacement for 'real' plates. Cheap, and thin ones. I get a big pack from Sams, and they last for a very long time. Pizza nights, a sandwich, usually stuff like that. I will use a real plate more than the guys do in my house. A sandwich is usually just a little napkin.
Parties, cookouts, etc also use disposable goods. Cookouts/camping, they almost always get burned in the end. But if they're clean enough, we will also save and re-sue (again, camping/cookout, not regular life).
I do know people who use them all the time.
|
|
|
Post by papersilly on May 16, 2022 16:52:26 GMT
rarely. if we have a large sit down gathering at the house, we don't use disposable stuff until dessert. and even then, it's only the smaller plates. we still like to use regular cutlery.
|
|