I’m a tourist in Malta and have been so on many occasions.

This time I have noticed one thing that I had not thought of before: the waste of food caused by the very big portions served in restaurants.

One reason could be the modern, very big plates.

A reason for my attention to this matter is the movement in my country, Denmark, called ‘Stop waste of food’.

One evening I asked the waiter taking away half my portion – just a starter – how often people finish their dishes. He said: “Not very often and you should see the main courses.”

A report by the United Nations estimates that waste of food in the industrialised countries is about 40 per cent.

Seeing as a good number of meals in Malta are served in restaurants, due to the tourist industry, the restaurants ought to keep an eye on the leftovers and adjust their portions accordingly.

It might even give some of us room for the dessert – without our conscience pricking us for wasting a good deal of the main course.