Survey: Do You Take Leftovers Home?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.25.07
When dining out with my mom the other night we asked to take home the leftovers. Mom was embarrassed; she thought it bad form to be taking doggie bags. We were not, saying that we paid for it and didn't see why it should go to waste. However we draw the line at bringing in our own Tupperware and usually leave with horrible styrofoam clamshells. Instead, we left with neat little "Biopaks" that made us feel much better. They were "developed in the early 1990's. During this period local West Coast governments were banning the use of foam products in foodservice applications. Bio-Pak was developed as an alternative paperboard product that could be substituted for foam clamshells." Unfortunately on checking we found that the are poly-lined; Jennifer Wright of Green Shift notes that "“Coatings found on most cups are made from petroleum-based products, which don’t breakdown and contain toxic chemicals.” Which raised the question:
This is a practice that has always struck me as an affectation peculiar to North America. It's not something that'd even cross my mind to do here in Ireland, nor have I ever encountered anyone doing it, its also not a practice I've come across elsewhere in Europe - but I couldn't say it doesn't happen anywhere.
Additionally, surely wasting some food ,which will break down quite easily once disposed of, is better than taking (and encouraging the use of) styrofoam packaging.
I paid for the food, I'm going to eat it.
I need to get in the habbit of brining my own tupperware.
Restaurants statistically serve you twice the normal serving. I try to remember this, and only eat half my meal. Besides, what's better that not having to cook a meal the next day?
I don't know if it's true or not, but I was once told that for public health and safety reasons they don't allow "doggy bags" here (in Australia). The problem being that customers don't know the conditions the food has been in at the restaurant and might not store it correctly at home leading to food poisoning. Not to mention the time it spends in transit, possibly in hot conditions which could spoil the food.
In any case, the serves here (and pretty much anywhere I've been out of North America) are easily finished, so leftovers are really not an issue.
Travel mugs work nicely for this purpose as long as they're empty and you're prepared to wash them afterwards. I often end up using them since I'm more likely to have one with me already.
I bring my own containers if I suspect there will be leftovers. I don't want to waste the food, or the money I paid for it, and I try to avoid disposable products whenever possible. Plus, servings are usually so large (Texas sized! as they say around here) that planning to take half of it home is much healthier anyway.
Who cares if people look at me weirdly? They already do when I bring my own bags to the grocery store. Maybe someone will see me and go, hmm, that's actually a good idea.
"However we draw the line at bringing in our own Tupperware"
Mr. Alter, you are probably my favorite Treehugger writer.
However, simply refusing to bring your own containers to a restaurant because you "draw the line" is frustrating and outrageous.
It's such a tiny thing, and if everyone did it the results would be huge. There is no good reason for anyone, never mind someone as aware as yourself, to not bring their own container.
It just shows that most people really don't have a clue. The earth is cooking but "I draw the line". We'll lose half of all species but "I draw the line". We're going to hit the wall, but "I draw the line".
Gimme a frigging break. Bring your own damn containers, or quit eating out.
NO kidding give me a friggen break. Why in the hell should you bring your own containers? If you are that concerned then you should not be eating out in the first place.
Why in the hell should you bring your own containers?
Why shouldn't someone?
If you are that concerned then you should not be eating out in the first place.
Who are you to dictate whether people should eat out or not?
Jilted, lets not get a flame war going here. Conan, I do not refuse to bring containers, I and "draw the line" was poor phrasing. I am like most people who probably don't plan ahead and think about it; I sometimes even forget my reuseable shopping bag and have to take plastic.
I really like the travel mug idea and will think about doing that.
Fair enough, Lloyd. I apologize for the rant.
Bringing your own containers for leftovers is an excellent lifestyle choice. I hope that readers of this blog consider it as a free way to reduce their impact.
My family and I do it all the time, and just like bringing your own shopping bag with you, it becomes second nature in no time.
Here in China it's shameful for the host not to order enough food, so the goal is to order way more food than anyone could possibly ever eat. As a result it's common practice to take food home with you afterward. Otherwise there would be tremendous waste.
They usually use small flimsy plastic bags, though it's not uncommon to see styrofoam boxes.