Why I Always Finish Each Grain of Rice

“Every Grain of Rice: A Lesson from Nanay”

Growing up, my Filipino nanay—my grandmother— was a source of endless wisdom and gentle teachings. When she moved to America she worked for S.O.M.E (So Others Might Eat) where they strive to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. Her voice was a steady guide in my childhood, weaving lessons into my everyday life. Of all the teachings she taught me, one stuck with me the most: “Finish every grain of rice on your plate. There are hungry children in the Philippines who would give anything for what you have.” As a child, I didn’t fully understand her insistence. To me, it seemed like an exaggeration. What difference could a few leftover grains of rice make? But my Nanay’s words were never empty. Each one carried the weight of her own lived experience. My Nanay grew up in a small town in Lucban, Quezon, Philippines. Her memories painted vivid pictures of gratitude. She told me about neighbors who shared what little they had, of how a single bowl of rice could sustain them for the day. Her words weren’t just about food but about valuing the sacrifices and labor behind every meal.

One spring break when I was about 7 years old, I visited my grandparents’ and parents’ hometown of Lucban. There, I saw what she meant: children played in dusty streets with smiles that hide their hunger. Families gathered around their meals, their joy was unmatched. I watched farmers bent under the sun, planting and harvesting rice—a backbreaking process I had never truly appreciated.

It was humbling.

Back home, her lesson became clear. Leaving even a single grain of rice on my plate felt disrespectful—not just to her, but to the farmers who worked for it and the children who wished for it. It wasn’t just about food; it was about empathy, gratitude, and the invisible connections that bind us to others, no matter how far apart we are.

Today, as I scoop rice onto my plate, I think of Nanay. I hear her voice reminding me to take only what I can eat, to never waste what others desperately need. And when I finish every grain, I honor her, the hungry children she spoke of, and the values she instilled in me.

Her lesson was simple but profound: every grain of rice carries a story. And by cherishing it, we keep those stories alive.