Big news at the apartment. We switched from paper plates to Styrofoam plates. The choice had never been a big issue: I always assumed paper to be cheaper. However, the dilemma of choosing paper or foam arose when I realized I could save 13 cents by going foam. Now, the two were on equal ground. The choice hearkens back to other great questions: paper or plastic, mayo or Miracle Whip, Ford or Chevy, white or wheat, leather loincloth or mahogany grape slings. Here’s the roundup:
Paper Plates:
Pros – Heat resistant, good for the environment, edible, fits well in our pantry
Cons – Flimsy structure results in inopportune food dumps, sometimes you grab two or three at a time, not soak-proof
Styrofoam:
Pros – Sturdy, soak proof, difficult to grab two at a time (unless you are a fumbling dope or Helen Keller)
Cons – every plate probably kills three squirrels and eight hamsters, not heat resistant
The choice seemed obvious at the time. Sturdy plates?kill the hamsters…Styrofoam it is!
I didn’t regret that choice until tonight. I cooked a hot sandwich up for dinner, ate it and enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I realized I had JUST BIT THE HEAD OFF OF A HAMSTER!
Not really, that was for shock value and another excuse to say hamster again. Actually, I noticed afterwards that most of my sandwich had melted Styrofoam on it.
