Clean Bones

Photos of chicken bones are not usually posted, if ever, on a blog. Bones are not necessarily a photogenic item, and blogs need to grab the readers attention with captivating and heartfelt visuals.
But these bones “spoke” to me when I sat next to the Guatemalan child who left them on her plate.

Frankly, I had never seen such clean bones. I’m used to the leftovers on American plates, which in most cases, a whole new meal could be gleaned from.
Sydney had never been to a restaurant, even though the one I took her to was only six miles from her house in north west Guatemala. She was overwhelmed by the choices on the menu, and when the waitress came to take our order, the entire family ordered what their mother did. I don’t think they knew what to do with so many choices. Every bit of leftovers were packed up for home. Sydney even ate the ketchup. This photo looks like a slide from an anatomy class. In reality, it is a representation of what hunger looks like. When you live in a poor community, and you worry about where your next meal is coming from, you make sure you leave clean bones on your plate. They may be the last ones you will see for a long time. Protein deficiency among the worlds poor is a chronic problem with long-term health consequences.