Too cool to bag leftovers after a date?

Will · 12-20-2007, 05:17 PM

I've noticed that people never take home doggie bags after a date. I asked some of my friends and these are the arguments they came up against it:

Taking food home makes you look cheap.
The food might stink up the car if you two took one car.
Supposedly, it is breaking some unspoken dating rule.
If there's any um, romantic action later on, the food will get in the way.

Am I just being super cheap?

soupkitchen96 · 12-20-2007, 07:43 PM

Your friends are right I'm afraid. Being frugal is fine but you want tomake a good impression on your first date. Save the bagging for later.

You want to be your "best self" when you're on a date. If it means leaving some food on the table, well you just have to live with that.

I'm not trying to be mean or anything. Hell I bring food home all the time. But a lot of people find that offensive and I ain't gonna fight against that stereotype.

Greg · 12-20-2007, 09:15 PM

Bag it up! The best dates are when you are honest about who you are.... okay, maybe not on a first date. The honesty should roll out slowly.

davoscat · 12-20-2007, 10:28 PM

There is an unjust double standard for men and women. Men get a free pass for taking food home because supposedly we women should just accept the fact that men are bachelors who don't know how to cook.

But oh no, if a woman does it, we're being pigs!

Personally I like guys who take food home. Green is sexy now. Why be wasteful?

Julie Rains · 12-22-2007, 12:44 PM

I think of taking food home nearly the same as I think of someone using coupons on a date; frugality can be endearing but it's not impressive and probably should be avoided on a first date.

imagine girl · 12-23-2007, 08:06 AM

I agree with Soup and Julie. There are a lot of reasons to take food home but you save that for much, much later into the relationship.

hishtafel · 12-24-2007, 12:12 PM

Let me argue for the side that says, "Are you kidding? Why are you even asking this question?"

Pretend you (the guy) are on a first date with me (the girl). We are eating out. Now there are three possible ways this could go:

1. You eat everything on your plate, which probably contains 3000 calories. I think you're a glutton, and am wary about embarking upon a relationship with you.

2. You eat half of your food, like it very much, but refuse to take the leftovers home. I think you've bought in to the American over-consuming lifestyle, and am wary about embarking upon a relationship with you.

3. You eat half of your food, like it very much, and get the rest boxed to go. I think you are prudent, which means I might like to have a relationship with you.

I guess it just comes down to the type of person you're trying to attract.

~Q

Megan · 12-26-2007, 06:21 AM

For me, it depends on the meal and the leftovers. If you went to a bar and grill and had a burger and ate half, don't bag that and the fries. But if you went out for Italian, and were given enough pasta for a small family, by all means. I just feel like it's wasteful not to.

But were I on a first date, I don't think I would judge the date by what he wanted to do. If he wanted to take the food or leave the food, that's his choice and it really doesn't matter to me.

However, don't ask to take home your date's leftovers. I have a friend who does that when we go out to eat (and I usually do take leftovers, but if I'm not going to be able to get them to a fridge in a reasonable time, I don't) and it just feels weird to me.

Will · 12-26-2007, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julie Rains

I think of taking food home nearly the same as I think of someone using coupons on a date.

Uh oh..... so coupons are no good either? Rats.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hishtafel

I guess it just comes down to the type of person you're trying to attract.

~Q

Someone very hot because I'm very shallow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megan

However, don't ask to take home your date's leftovers. I have a friend who does that when we go out to eat (and I usually do take leftovers, but if I'm not going to be able to get them to a fridge in a reasonable time, I don't) and it just feels weird to me.

I'm cheap but I haven't advanced to taking OTHER people's food home. Not yet... anyway.

hollyvangogh · 12-31-2007, 07:18 PM

If I were still single, and I went out with a date who refused to bag perfectly good food I'd never go on a second date. First off that's a waste of good food (and the US could feed the world on the food we throw out alone). Second it's a waste of money.

12-20-2007, 05:17 PM	#1
Will Administrator Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 343 Reputation: (19)	Too cool to bag leftovers after a date? I've noticed that people never take home doggie bags after a date. I asked some of my friends and these are the arguments they came up against it: Taking food home makes you look cheap. The food might stink up the car if you two took one car. Supposedly, it is breaking some unspoken dating rule. If there's any um, romantic action later on, the food will get in the way. Am I just being super cheap?

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12-20-2007, 07:43 PM	#2
soupkitchen96 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 51 Reputation: (11)	Your friends are right I'm afraid. Being frugal is fine but you want tomake a good impression on your first date. Save the bagging for later. You want to be your "best self" when you're on a date. If it means leaving some food on the table, well you just have to live with that. I'm not trying to be mean or anything. Hell I bring food home all the time. But a lot of people find that offensive and I ain't gonna fight against that stereotype.

12-20-2007, 09:15 PM	#3
Greg Administrator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sunny Southern California Posts: 168 Reputation: (47)	Bag it up! The best dates are when you are honest about who you are.... okay, maybe not on a first date. The honesty should roll out slowly.

12-20-2007, 10:28 PM	#4
davoscat Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 78 Reputation: (14)	There is an unjust double standard for men and women. Men get a free pass for taking food home because supposedly we women should just accept the fact that men are bachelors who don't know how to cook. But oh no, if a woman does it, we're being pigs! Personally I like guys who take food home. Green is sexy now. Why be wasteful?

12-22-2007, 12:44 PM	#5
Julie Rains Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 265 Reputation: (91)	I think of taking food home nearly the same as I think of someone using coupons on a date; frugality can be endearing but it's not impressive and probably should be avoided on a first date.

12-23-2007, 08:06 AM	#6
imagine girl Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 53 Reputation: (12)	I agree with Soup and Julie. There are a lot of reasons to take food home but you save that for much, much later into the relationship.

12-24-2007, 12:12 PM	#7
hishtafel Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2 Reputation: (10)	Let me argue for the side that says, "Are you kidding? Why are you even asking this question?" Pretend you (the guy) are on a first date with me (the girl). We are eating out. Now there are three possible ways this could go: 1. You eat everything on your plate, which probably contains 3000 calories. I think you're a glutton, and am wary about embarking upon a relationship with you. 2. You eat half of your food, like it very much, but refuse to take the leftovers home. I think you've bought in to the American over-consuming lifestyle, and am wary about embarking upon a relationship with you. 3. You eat half of your food, like it very much, and get the rest boxed to go. I think you are prudent, which means I might like to have a relationship with you. I guess it just comes down to the type of person you're trying to attract. ~Q

12-26-2007, 06:21 AM	#8
Megan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 307 Reputation: (63)	For me, it depends on the meal and the leftovers. If you went to a bar and grill and had a burger and ate half, don't bag that and the fries. But if you went out for Italian, and were given enough pasta for a small family, by all means. I just feel like it's wasteful not to. But were I on a first date, I don't think I would judge the date by what he wanted to do. If he wanted to take the food or leave the food, that's his choice and it really doesn't matter to me. However, don't ask to take home your date's leftovers. I have a friend who does that when we go out to eat (and I usually do take leftovers, but if I'm not going to be able to get them to a fridge in a reasonable time, I don't) and it just feels weird to me.

12-31-2007, 07:18 PM	#10
hollyvangogh Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 30 Reputation: (10)	If I were still single, and I went out with a date who refused to bag perfectly good food I'd never go on a second date. First off that's a waste of good food (and the US could feed the world on the food we throw out alone). Second it's a waste of money.