This terrific essay via The Atlantic reminded me of the moment when I knew I needed to make a change.

It happened in Kenya.

Almost all of our meals were served buffet-style. Each day, our tent camp put out a spread three times. I found myself taking a little of this, a little more of that and subsequently sampling it all. But when I finished eating, my plate usually still held food. Sometimes as much as one-third of what I had taken from the buffet.

Kenya made me aware of this bad habit. I was so embarrassed by the food I wasted. Now I try to take only what I’ll eat and eat what’s on my plate (within reason–American portions are HUGE).

When I read Tim Walker’s essay about breaking American habits living in Finland, I laughed and cringed simultaneously. #3. Yes.

What’s your bad habit and what forced you to acknowledge it?