Why People Take Leftovers Home When Dining Out

Introduction to Taking Leftovers Home

It is a common practice for many to take leftovers home after dining at a restaurant. I often do this, sometimes for my pet and other times because there is enough to make another meal, usually during lunch time. This practice is quite common, and there is nothing inherently wrong with it since the uneaten food would otherwise end up in the garbage and go to a landfill.

Financial and Practical Benefits

Since you paid for the food, it is perfectly acceptable to take any portion of it home that you didn’t finish. I have brought home leftovers from restaurants to enjoy the food at another time. This not only saves money but also allows you to savor the culinary experience in a subsequent meal. Additionally, in restaurants where the option is available, any leftover food can be given to those in need. Historically, distributing food to the less fortunate could be a safe and effective way to aid in their well-being. However, it is now considered unsafe and potentially dangerous due to health and safety concerns.

Protecting Food and Preventing Wastage

When visiting a new restaurant, I don't know the portion sizes, so I often ask for the remaining food to be packed if it is large. In regular restaurants where I regularly visit, I might also ask for leftovers to be brought home if the portion size is too large. The food that is left over would otherwise be discarded, so by choosing to take it home, I am preventing waste.

Using Leftovers Safely and Responsibly

At home, I store the leftovers in the refrigerator and reheat them for consumption at a later time. Alternatively, I feed the leftovers to the dogs in the streets, which supplements their diet and helps them through times of shortage. I also bring a small polythene bag with me to restaurants so that I can take home bones from chicken or mutton, which I feed to the street dogs. This practice not only helps the dogs but also ensures that the food does not go to waste.

Bonus: Planning Around Portion Sizes

When dining out, I generally try to order in a manner that minimizes waste and leftovers. However, it is difficult to predict the portion sizes, especially when visiting a new restaurant. Sometimes, there is just no appealing portion size yet a reasonable portion of a dish like a biryani from an Indian restaurant can be reheated well and thus taken home.

Conclusion

In conclusion, taking leftovers home from a restaurant is a common and acceptable practice that saves money, helps prevent food waste, and benefits both the diner and those in need. While there are risks associated with distributing food to those in need, the benefits of taking home leftovers often outweigh these risks, especially in terms of reducing waste and saving money.