What percentage of food taken from restaurants in a 'doggy bag' actually goes to a dog?

“Doggy bag” has just become the term for it. Maybe originally when portions were smaller and less left, the scraps did go to the dog but now I would guess that 99% is eaten by humans. Of course, there is no way of knowing.

I’m assuming present day it’s very rare leftovers go to the dog. I think of a doggie bag as being for a bone that is leftover.

When I was a child I rarely took home leftovers. Sometimes from Chinese restaurants, but usually we orders 3 dishes for 4 people to avoid too much food.

I remember being in my late 20’s and going to Cheesecake Factory for the first time and being struck by how ridiculously large the portions were. Now, it’s commonplace to see portions like that.

About once a month I go out with a friend who carefully saves out part of her meal for me to bring home to my dog. She loves but no longer has dogs, so I have a feeling that almost all of her appropriate restaurant leftovers go to friends’ dogs.

Just thought that was cute so I had to share. :-)

I don;t think people even call it a doggy bag anymore, and they don;t get a bag but instead get a box.

And in the past it was to take home the bone from a porterhouse or T-bone steak, since a night out on the town meant celebrating with a hunk of meat.

How many items shipped to your door actually arrive by ship?

In my case 0%.
When I go to a restaurant, as soon as I am served I ask for a take out box and split the meal in half while it is still uneaten and clean. That way I can enjoy it the next day – and not overstuff myself.

Any table scraps I do find go to the neighborhood fox family.

We use it to fill the staff canteen.

When we had dogs it all went to the dogs.

Now I rarely bring doggie bags home, even though I never eat everything. Last time I did it was about 2 weeks ago. It was 3 half pieces of some French Toast that I couldn’t eat. We dropped it off at my son’s and watched his kids devour it on the front porch.

They’re funny to watch. One time we went over there with a large piece of carrot cake. They asked what was in the styrofoam container. I said carrot cake. Like a bunch of baby birds they flocked to the silver ware drawer, each grabbed a fork and flocked to the table, and sat with the butt of the forks on the table, waiting for me to get the cake over to them. I did and boy they just went to town. I had no clue they even knew what carrot cake was!

Forks. @Dutchess_III – who taught them? Emily Post?

Fingers. When you bring over cake, eat it outside and let them grab with their hands!

I didn’t give them any instructions! They just did whatever. I don’t care how they eat, actually.