Plate waste, in a generalized sense, is made up of the remnants of a meal thrown away, and is a specific classification of food waste, which can be defined by any food lost throughout the consumer chain. Plate waste is ubiquitous in nature and nearly impossible to eliminate, but when appropriate measures are taken, previous studies have shown that it is possible to minimize the loss. This study explores the most prevalent reasons why Gunn students create plate waste, and in turn will enable future measures taken at Gunn High School to reduce plate waste to be better suited to the needs of the campus and students.