Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Is the Doggy Bag Useless?

This publish could include affiliate hyperlinks and Corporette® could earn commissions for purchases made by hyperlinks on this publish. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

We just lately noticed an attention-grabbing New York Occasions story that puzzled, “Is the doggy bag lifeless?” [gift link]. If you happen to’re a NYT reader, you could have seen their pattern tales typically exaggerate the extent to which one thing is definitely a pattern, however since we have not talked about this challenge for a LONG time, we thought it might be an amazing dialogue.

A number of years in the past in that publish, we answered a reader query about whether or not or not it is a good suggestion to take leftovers house from a enterprise lunch. Kat cautioned that it is usually a nasty concept, and many of the commenters agreed.

Do you normally take house leftovers from work lunches or dinners? What about with household and buddies?

{associated: what to not order at a enterprise lunch}

Personally, I do not like leaving leftover meals. I do not wish to waste it, for one, and in addition, who does not like to eat leftovers when you do not really feel like cooking? It bothers me that once I’m on trip, or just will not be house for hours, I’ve to say no to a doggy bag as a result of I haven’t got entry to a fridge. (I tend towards individuals pleasing — I have been engaged on it! — so I typically clarify this to the server, who in all probability doesn’t care.)

Anyway, this is one startling reality from the story: In accordance with 2023 information, the common American leaves behind 53 kilos of restaurant meals a yr.

This is what NYC restaurant house owners (and others) shared with the reporter as causes many diners say no to leftovers, a few of them shocking:

  • “social stigmas”
  • a return to sharing meals at a restaurant post-pandemic
  • a precept towards consuming leftovers
  • Gen Z’s love of supply meals — who wants leftovers when you’ll be able to simply get extra meals delivered anytime (eek)?
  • the awkwardness (hmm) of taking house leftovers while you’re on a date (relatively than with your loved ones)
  • the inconvenience of taking meals house on public transit, and/or when you might have post-meal plans

{associated: our greatest ideas for enterprise eating etiquette}

Readers, tell us: Do you normally take a doggy bag house? (Does anybody actually name it a doggy bag anymore anyway?) Does it rely upon the kind of meals, the scenario, the corporate, or one thing else? Have you ever seen buddies or members of the family bringing leftovers house much less typically than up to now?

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Articles