Going to a restaurant to order food then hardly eat any of it - why?

[doorss]

I just don't get this. People come into a restaurant and order food. Its one of those restaurants you pay in advance. Food arrives, they just eat about a quarter of the dish - maximum. Then all leave with everyone in the group leaving loads of food left.

Why do people do this? If not hungry, don't eat. If pushing for time, don't eat. It's disgusting that people leave that amount of food. A bloody waste

Because portion sizes are too big,
they're too busy chatting with friends,
they prefer drinking,
they ate earlier and are not that hungry but can't order a half portion,
Perhaps they're on WLI/a diet/cocaine,
because they're too embarrassed to ask for a doggy bag,
They don't feel very well,
because they don't like the food,
because they're suffering from ED...

Many reasons really. If I worked there I'd be checking if everything was alright. If no complaints I'd consider making portion sizes smaller.

I don’t see this so much - I’m more astonished by people who order loads and manage to eat it all! Starter, mains, extra side and dessert!

tbf nandos is rank

Are you talking about nandos lol
anyway I notice this too - maybe the food is rubbish , or portions too big
who knows

Portions are way too big nowadays. I genuinely cannot fathom how anyone could clear a plate in a pub/restaurant. I eat until I’m full. No amount of judging from you about the waste is going to force me to over eat. I always ask if they’ll do a smaller portion, they won’t. The kids menus are absolute crap like chicken nuggets and I don’t always want something from the starters menu. Are you saying I shouldn’t go out to eat because I can’t eat it all? The waste is being caused by the restaurants, not the people with average appetites that can’t manage it all.

Most of the time I leave 25% and sometimes up to half. Portions are always too big for me and I honestly think it's wasted if you force yourself to eat food past the point you're full. I'm not going to absolutely stuff myself to be polite or eat something that's not hitting the spot. Foods "wasted" as soon as it's cooked and on the plate, it's just as wasteful to shovel down food that's going to make you feel gross, especially given there's an obesity crisis. I wish places let you choose portion size, sometimes brealfast/fry ups have this option and sometimes roast dinners do too. Most places don't allow you to just have a side or a starter, particularly nicer restaurants or smaller places, they need you to pay for a proper meal and have ordered food in to align with the number of diners they have booked in.

I do this. Because I love food but can't eat very much. What would be better is if restaurants offered mini portions for people like me.

Although my husband generally eats his meal and half mine.

Ive had sleeve surgery so can manage about half a starter. So I always leave some. If its food that travels well I can take it with me in a doggy bag but often things dont really travel that well particularly if we're going somehwere else later. Or they dont reheat that well the next day.

Theres a lot of food waste involved in day to day food unfortunately and resturants are worse.

TUPPERWARE!!!!

Maybe the portions are too big.

Maybe it wasn't nice when it arrived

Maybe they only WANTED a 1/4 of the meal.

Maybe they didn't feel like a big meal but fancied that specific item.

Why does it matter? They have paid the full amount, they can do what they like with the food - that includes NOT eating it all.

(Yep, I am someone who often only eats 50% as I think portions are often TOO big. If I pay the full amount and am polite to all staff, say thanks etc I don't see the issue)

Because it comes in one portion size. Presumably designed to sayisfy/not look tight to most customers.
Some of us just can't eat that much. It was a light bulb moment for me where I realised I could order food and not have to eat it all.
Often ill have sat half of the main so I can enjoy dessert

I very rarely do that, but when I do it’s for one reason, the food is not good!.

@doorss

The food wasn't nice?!

I absolutely hate food waste. If I can't manage to eat all my meal I usually ask for a doggy bag and have it the next day. I can never eat a whole pizza and it's great having the next day for lunch or evening meal.

Even worse though, in my view, are people that go to buffets and pile their plates and then leave loads.

I think it would be good if restaurants offered small or half size portions as standard. I quite often find adults portions overwhelming and will order off the children’s menu if it actually contains a good range of food.
I do take a doggy bag home if I don’t finish food though.

I used to have massive anxiety issues around food and would order something I was desperate to eat and then only manage a few mouthfuls. It is so hard to force yourself to eat when you can’t but why should I have missed out on the social aspect of eating out just because some judgemental idiot doesn’t approve? Me eating my entire meal or not makes zero difference to world hunger!

I've never ever cleared a plate of food in a restaurant. I'm a grazer so eat little and often. Portions are always far too big in restaurants. What am I supposed to do? Not go out to eat?

Sometimes I don’t like the food, sometimes the portion is so huge i struggle to finish it all and sometimes because I eat so bloody slowly, everyone is finished before I am finished. Mostly, the portion size is way too big.

I agree with all of this.

I AM on MJ but even I agree the portions are massive anyway.

Kids meals are rubbish, I want a grown up meal but half the portion!

I have taken to ordering a starter instead in some places.

Rarely eat out to be fair, but had some occasions recently etc.

I hate wasting food (and money!) but I’d rather that force overeating.

I’ve even asked for smaller portion (but willing to pay normal price) and been told it comes as it comes 🤷🏻‍♀️

Same. On those rare occasions that I don't find a way to stuff it all down my neck!

Since I can’t serve my own portion, I’ll likely leave something. Doesn’t stop me wanting to eat at restaurants. I love food. Funnily a tasting menu often works really well for me because of the tiny sizes of each dish. But we can’t do that type of restaurant all the time!!

I can't eat large portions but will take away any leftovers. My restaurant meal the other night provided 2 more dinners at home!

I hate food waste and will always take it away.

I never clear my plate in a restaurant . I've paid for it so surely it belongs to me for me to choose how much to eat?

I genuinely can’t think of the last time I received a meal that was too big so I’m surprised by people saying that. If I saw half eaten food I’d assume the people just didn’t like the food. But maybe it’s a mindset thing, I was brought up in a house where we saved absolutely all leftovers despite having enough money for food so I wouldn’t leave something at a restaurant unless I seriously disliked it. I’d find it quite wasteful to frequently go out and pay for food I know I won’t eat. I’d prefer to order in and save half for tomorrow

Can’t say I’ve ever seen this happen 🤷🏻‍♀️