Cricket Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 We don't go out to eat very often and usually when we do, I can't finish what is on my plate. It's good food so it kind of irks me if someone eats the leftovers I brought home. So, what are the unwritten rules regarding leftovers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I said person who ordered the meal because when we go out (very rarely) I'm the only one with leftovers!!! And I want to eat them darnit!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginevra Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 The meal is "yours" primarily, for as many meals as it can provide. Now, if somebody wants to ask if you were planning to eat the other crabcake, that's another matter, but nobody better be eatin' my crabcake I brought home without asking! :D We don't eat out very often, but I want all the meal I have coming to me when we do. Sidebar: Although it does annoy me when there's two pounds of pasta, but only 5 shrimp. I don't really care who eats the other pound-and-a-half of pasta that no longer looks like shrimp scampi. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane in CO Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Our rule is if it is your leftovers you get to eat it. However, that being said, it is polite to eat your leftovers within a day or two, or offer them to someone else if you don't feel that you will get around to it :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofkhm Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Person who ordered the meal, but everyone is free to ask if they can have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzannah Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 They belong to the person who originally ordered them, but the original owner may allow someone else to have them if asked politely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyBee Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I voted other. Here's the deal: If I ordered the meal, I eat the leftovers. If dh ordered the meal while out at a fancy business dinner, during which time I ate mac 'n' cheese with the kids, then he leaves me with the kids the next day to go to work, then I EAT THE LEFTOVERS, DARNIT! :sneaky2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arghmatey Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 They belong to the person who ordered the meal; however, I always allow anyone who asks to have them. I voted for "Whoever wants them" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I also voted leftovers go to the person who ordered the meal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Person who ordered the meal, but everyone is free to ask if they can have them. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mynyel Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I voted other. In our house, if it wasn't originally yours, ask before eating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I voted "whoever wants them" We eat out somewhat regularly and bring home plenty of leftovers. I really don't care who eats them. That could have something to do with me not really caring for leftovers. They never taste as good to me reheated, so I usually only bring them home so DH can use them for lunch if he wants. There is one exception. If I bring home rice, beans and pico from Moe's Southwest grill, you'd better make sure that you're not eating the last of it without asking me, or you may end up hurt. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 We don't go out to eat very often and usually when we do, I can't finish what is on my plate. It's good food so it kind of irks me if someone eats the leftovers I brought home. So, what are the unwritten rules regarding leftovers? In our house leftovers are open to anyone to eat unless you claim them "I am intending to eat these" -- and even then if they are still in the refrigerator two days later, they are fair game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My3Monkeys Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I voted other. We have a time limit for eating leftovers. They belong to the person who ordered them for a day or two and then they are fair game without asking. In the past, Dh would forget to take his leftovers to work and I politely left them alone to the point that they went bad and went to waste. Now he better take them right away or lose out :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gailmegan Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 First dibs definitely go to the person who ordered the meal, but we often choose to share with each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Our rule is if it is your leftovers you get to eat it. However, that being said, it is polite to eat your leftovers within a day or two, or offer them to someone else if you don't feel that you will get around to it :D This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I voted other. Here's the deal: If I ordered the meal, I eat the leftovers. If dh ordered the meal while out at a fancy business dinner, during which time I ate mac 'n' cheese with the kids, then he leaves me with the kids the next day to go to work, then I EAT THE LEFTOVERS, DARNIT! :sneaky2: EXCELLENT point! Officially changing my response to "other." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoforjoy Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 We don't go out to eat very often and usually when we do, I can't finish what is on my plate. It's good food so it kind of irks me if someone eats the leftovers I brought home. So, what are the unwritten rules regarding leftovers? I think it probably should go to whoever ordered the meal. But, I know from long experience that if I don't eat leftovers within 24 hours, DH considers them fair game. At least he gives me that long. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 The meal is "yours" primarily, for as many meals as it can provide. Now, if somebody wants to ask if you were planning to eat the other crabcake, that's another matter, but nobody better be eatin' my crabcake I brought home without asking! :D We don't eat out very often, but I want all the meal I have coming to me when we do. Sidebar: Although it does annoy me when there's two pounds of pasta, but only 5 shrimp. I don't really care who eats the other pound-and-a-half of pasta that no longer looks like shrimp scampi. :glare: That's how it usually works in our house. It is YOUR food but if you don't want it, give it to Dad because he'll ALWAYS eat it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirch Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 If they're my leftovers, I expect to eat them unless someone else asks. I'd be a bit peeved to go to the fridge for lunch the next day expecting to eat them and find that they're gone. Someone else (dh, at this point) can ask--I *might* share. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Other: anyone may ask the person who brought home the food if they can have it. If the owner of the leftovers does not want to share, that is fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hikin' Mama Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I voted that they are the property of the person who ordered the meal. I may want to share them with someone else, but that is my choice! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabrizia Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Other here. In general you can ask the person/adult if you can have some of their leftovers and it is their choice. In reality DH can't eat what I order 99% of the time and I don't normally want his leftovers anyways. With the kids leftovers we will sometimes order them an adult meal instead of a kid's meal because the adult meal fits their tastes better or is something they can eat while they can't/won't eat anything on the children's menu. We will sometimes eat the leftovers without asking them, or even get them the bigger meal with the plan of one of us eating their leftovers. None of them care at this point in time, but eventually the leftovers from them will follow the same rule as mine and DH's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah C. Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 The person who ordered the meal is the one with possession of the leftovers, unless and until that person explicitly gives permission to other people to eat said leftovers. Depending on one's role in the family, asking another person if they will give their leftovers to you may be all right or very rude. I would be very unhappy with anyone who ate my leftovers without asking, but most of the time I gladly give permission for someone else to eat my leftovers. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristineW Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I voted other. Here's the deal: If I ordered the meal, I eat the leftovers. If dh ordered the meal while out at a fancy business dinner, during which time I ate mac 'n' cheese with the kids, then he leaves me with the kids the next day to go to work, then I EAT THE LEFTOVERS, DARNIT! :sneaky2: I'm changing my vote. The reality in our house is that if DH wants the leftovers from the work dinner then he'll keep them at the work fridge, if he brings them home then they are MINE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I voted other. Here's the deal: If I ordered the meal, I eat the leftovers. If dh ordered the meal while out at a fancy business dinner, during which time I ate mac 'n' cheese with the kids, then he leaves me with the kids the next day to go to work, then I EAT THE LEFTOVERS, DARNIT! :sneaky2: :lol: I think you are right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Touch my doggie bag and DIE. That being said, I've brought home a doggie bag when SpecialMama and I have gone out, specifically 'cause I know Wolf will enjoy it, so I give it to him as soon as I get home. Otherwise, paws off!!! :angry: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAMom Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I said "other." Typically it's understood that the original person has claim on the leftovers. But, we will often put leftovers in the fridge with the announcement that they are free game to anyone who would like them.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricket Posted June 16, 2011 Author Share Posted June 16, 2011 I'm glad I'm not the only one territorial with my leftovers. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Other. The majority of the time the leftovers belong to the person who ordered the meal. As a pp mentioned if dh leaves leftovers from his fancy work dinner they are mine. If we went out for Chinese then the leftovers belong to whoever gets to them first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Person who ordered the meal, but everyone is free to ask if they can have them. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Oops. I voted anyone who wants them before reading the first post. I think anyone who wants them should eat them, but only once the person who ordered has turned them down. My leftovers are often eaten by dh with my consent, so I guess that's what I was thinking of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paisley Hedgehog Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Anyone who wants them. Anything in the fridge is fair game! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyD Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Open season, unless you preemptively stake a claim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 :iagree: Person who ordered the meal, but everyone is free to ask if they can have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Since leftovers are almost always my lunch, they're mine unless dh stakes a claim or one of the kids would like them for lunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatmansWife Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I voted like the majority: person who originally ordered the meal . The person who ordered the meal and had it on a plate in front of them and ate from it and didn't finish it but asked for a doggie bag......GETS FIRST DIBS!! How's that for a run-on sentence? :tongue_smilie: If that person later doesn't want the leftovers they can offer it to anyone who does. I would never just eat someone elses leftovers unless they said I could. Sorry your food got eaten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenoraddict Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Funny, we had a big discussion about this in our family recently. My DH grew up in a family with 8 kids where it was every man for himself, ie don't leave your drink on the counter or someone else will finish it. I was an only child (you can imagine how much fun we've had over the past 20 years, trying to mesh those 2 worlds :001_smile:). Anyway, the kids and I finally had an intervention and told him to stop eating our food and drinking our drinks without asking. He really saw nothing wrong with his behavior and was perplexed by how irritated we all were. So then we moved on to the subject of restaurant leftovers. Very decidedly, we told him that whoever orders it gets to eat it. He's very generous about his business meal leftovers: he brings them home for us. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KellieMI Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Funny, I've never really thought about it. If my husband and I come home with leftovers, the boys usually eat it right then and there! I've always assumed someone else would eat them. Maybe I should stake my claim!:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 The adult who brings home leftovers gets to eat them. I (usually) get to eat any kid's leftovers because they tell the server that they don't want them and I override them and tell the server to bring a box anyway since I want my money's worth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAutumnOak Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I know the leftovers should be eaten by the person who ordered the meal, but I am guilty of eating a few of my son's chicken tenders :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 We don't go out to eat very often and usually when we do, I can't finish what is on my plate. It's good food so it kind of irks me if someone eats the leftovers I brought home. So, what are the unwritten rules regarding leftovers? The leftovers BELONG to the person who ordered it, but I think the unwritten rule is (or should be) that if you want to eat them, you must ask the person to whom they belong and get their permission first. I often have leftovers. My son will often want to eat them. He always asks first and more often than not, I'm happy to at least share the food with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasharowan Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Other. If we went out without kids or some of the kids, then the ones who stayed home get leftovers when we return. If the leftovers belong to one of the kids, then they get a short time (like a day) to eat them or they become fair game. Now that said, usually ds15 is the only one even wanting any leftovers and he will leave mine alone if I tell him that I really want them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abigail4476 Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 In our house it belongs to the person who originally ordered the food, but they can give it away upon request if they WANT to. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virg Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I actually pull a pen out of my purse and write "MAMA ONLY" on my take-out box AT the restaurant :blush: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovelaughs_times_three Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I get first dibs to the food that was mine that I brought home. But if a long time goes by, and it's getting closer and closer to just having to throw it out, and I still haven't eaten it, my dh or some kid with a "Please???" gets to eat them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I had to vote other just because I love polls. We never eat out. ( I think in my whole married life of 19 years we have eaten out maybe 6 times). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2squared Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Other. If we went out without kids or some of the kids, then the ones who stayed home get leftovers when we return. :iagree: Those who stay at home usually get first dibs on leftover restaurant food. Our dc will save some of their meal to share with brothers and sisters as home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 we usually ask the person to whom they belong -- usually one of the kids -- if they aren't going to eat them, they are fair game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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