The Waste Of Eating Out (PHOTOS)

The Week Of Eating In is a time to make conscious decisions about your food, which is as much about what you don't eat as it is about what you do. That is to say, all the packaging and food that is wasted when you choose to eat out. From the restaurant food you decided wasn't worth taking home down to the unused plastic fork that got tossed out with the take-out, the amount of waste involved in eating out can border on the absurd.

This doesn't mean eating at home exempts you from contributing to waste. It is, however, within your control. Here are some tips to manage your waste at home. In the meantime, take a look at our journey through the dark side of eating out, with exclusive excerpts from our resident eating-in expert Cathy Erway's book,The Art of Eating In.

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Municipal Waste

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According to the Clean Air Council, nearly 44 million American workers purchase or eat lunch out every weekday. This contributes to the tossed out paper & plastic cups, forks and spoons every year, which could circle the equator 300 times.
From The Art of Eating In:
It’s no surprise that Americans are the world’s biggest producers of garbage. According to Elizabeth Royte in her book Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash, “Since 1960, the nation’s municipal waste stream has nearly tripled, reaching a reported peak of 360 million tons in 2002.” Interestingly, over the course of the same period the number of meals Americans ate in restaurants verses the number of meals they prepared and ate at home has risen nearly that much.

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According to the Clean Air Council, nearly 44 million American workers purchase or eat lunch out every weekday. This contributes to the tossed out paper & plastic cups, forks and spoons every year, which could circle the equator 300 times.

From The Art of Eating In:

It’s no surprise that Americans are the world’s biggest producers of garbage. According to Elizabeth Royte in her book Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash, “Since 1960, the nation’s municipal waste stream has nearly tripled, reaching a reported peak of 360 million tons in 2002.” Interestingly, over the course of the same period the number of meals Americans ate in restaurants verses the number of meals they prepared and ate at home has risen nearly that much.

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Comments

[hedah]

03:26 PM on 03/07/2010

The only "positive" meaning of eating out is the "sociable fact".......anything else is just a WASTE of everything : FOOD > HUNGER is epidemic ! PACKAGE > KILLING nature and POLLUTING the environment ! FOOD-POISONING > E-coli, Salmonella, etc...etc.....! And how about the proliferation of Rodents and Scavengers spreading all kind of diseases all over.......everywhere !!!

[LMPE]

03:08 PM on 02/27/2010

Usually, I only eat out once a week, and I only go to local restaurants. I make a point of eating EVERYTHING on the plate, and I lick the the plate to make sure that NOTHING is wasted.

[khowser]

05:40 PM on 02/27/2010

That doesn't sound too healthy.... If you're full, you should stop eating. Maybe bring tupperware or something instead so you can take the leftovers home and still make sure nothing is wasted.

[Shall0wJ]

07:05 PM on 03/02/2010

"...and I lick the the plate to make sure that NOTHING is wasted."

--WOW, talk about overkill.

[jonathonz]

02:50 PM on 02/27/2010

This issue really gets me. Here in NY a cup of coffee often comes in a paper bag with a stack of 7 napkins. I guess just in case you spill the whole thing on your lap. I often rush to say, "No bag" or "Just one napkin, please." Sometimes I just put them back in front of the cashier with a smile. I went to HALE AND HEARTY for a soup and salad the other day and was shocked by the pile of plastic and paper that was left over. On the other hand, CHIPOTLE does a good job in my opinion. After a meal of a burrito bowl there I throw away a paper bowl and a plastic fork. Their napkin dispenser dispenses one napkin at a time. I take one. Not too bad.

[BowlingForRevenge]

02:36 AM on 02/28/2010

That's funny...here in Texas you have to ASK for a napkin! Even at the Starbucks drive thru.

[Organic-Guy]

10:23 AM on 02/27/2010

Pretty nearly every single take out container is now made compostable. There's no reason why any restaurant chain should be using noncompostable ware.
http://www.dirtworks.net/Biodegradable-Foodservice-Ware/Biodegradable-Cups-and-Plates.html

[simplyme81]

09:22 PM on 02/26/2010

People are still buying lunch everyday?

[realpolitic]

08:48 PM on 02/26/2010

Well, at least the fast food joints are no longer wrapping everything in plastic.

[koelschwolf]

07:24 PM on 02/26/2010

I used to be station mgr for an airline in Dallas/Ft. Worth with incoming flights from Mexico and charter flights from Europe. All the food that was not consumed was condemned: Milk and fruit from Mexico, partially broiled meats and meals from Europe. I asked if the milk could be given to orphanages, but no way. The same thing with baked goods. I took home some of the foods, such as filet mignon, lobster, shrimp etc. If we had a charter flight coming in from Europe, the flight was reprovisioned on the east coast and half the pass. refused another meal. So the galleys were stuffed with meals, which the crews were allowed to take home. Otherwise it would have been destroyed. What a waste.

[JennaBeanzzz]

12:27 PM on 02/28/2010

You can thank trial lawyers for that nonsense.

[koelschwolf]

07:13 PM on 02/26/2010

We don't throw out those extra pouches of ketchup, Mayo and mustard. We have a weekly take out of a hamburger w/fries. that comes with all those condiments and napkins. We don't throw them out we use them. The ketchup, salt & pepper can be used in soups and stews. Napkins for wiping up the kitchen counter.

[rzzza]

06:26 PM on 02/26/2010

George Carlins bit on plastic got it right, i'm not worried about waste.

paper? trees are renewable

plastic? see: george carlin

my willful ignorance is a comforting blanket, it is

[Havana Thinks]

06:40 PM on 02/26/2010

Trees R renewable but not when there is clearcutting 2 the maximum and deforestation. It is all 2 make a buck. Send our trees 2 China. Cut down our rain forests. Deplete the earth of it's natural resources at a rate that makes it impossible to be 'renewable'. That is what the corporate world has created 4 our environment. Thank God 4 Greenpeace, Peta and others who do spread the word and try 2 make the change. Human greed is tearing away our environment and we need 2 keep it real. Comedy is one thing but human beings need to be champions of the environment not killers of it!

[ceez]

05:43 PM on 02/26/2010

welcome to america home of the free and land of the waste. It's our culture and it has to start changing soon. and those catering places can sometimes go over board with their decor which is useless...no one cares, ppl just wanna get to their food!

[Dr Revolt]

05:32 PM on 02/26/2010

"the average American eats fast food 150 times a year"
That is a shocker!! I eat fast food just about 0 times a year for the past 25 years.
Someone must be packing on my slack.
Go vegetarian, it is good for the planet, good for the animals, and good for you.

[BowlingForRevenge]

05:56 PM on 02/26/2010

That would be my son the college student.
Carrying 21 hours and a part time job leaves little time for preparing meals.
When he comes home for the weekend he hauls back containers of soups, stews, casseroles etc that I've prepared and frozen but when that runs out it's back to the drive thru fare.

I leaned heavily on the drive thru when I was a single mom of 2, working 75 hours a week with a commute of 3 hours daily. Neither child suffered and I made it through that 5 year window without a break down.

[ssfahrer]

06:15 PM on 02/26/2010

It's still less than one fast food meal per person every two days. People panic over such small things like fast food usage and fail to see the big picture (i.e., TRILLIONS of imaginary dollars being spent by D C politicians on things we shouldn't even have in the first place).....

[Havana Thinks]

05:21 PM on 02/26/2010

God bless U 4 B'ing a good mom. I love stories like yours. So many kids don't have what you give your children. They R raised on fast food and microwave food. I remember when mothers started dinner @ 3pm and it was ready 4 dad when he came home from work and we ate as a family. There was plenty use of the crock pot, oven, mixer, egg beater, potato masher, pots and pans. We loved the smells and enjoyed the end product. Life was good. We spent time 2gether. I miss my mom & dad but always have those wonderful memories and still taste the miracles my mother made for the holidays.

[teresa1960]

04:33 PM on 02/26/2010

"the average American eats fast food 150 times a year"

This was a shocker, but I guess it would explain the American obesity rate. I prepare 3 square meals a day for my kids, but occasionally we'll order a pizza or Chinese food. Both my kids hate McDonald's, but will have a Harvey's angus burger now and then. Approximately 90% of my $200/wk grocery bill comes from shopping the outside isles at the grocery store, meaning mostly fruits, veggies, fresh meats, nuts, and grains.

I've always found I feel sick after eating fast foods, and sometimes restaurant food. I only trust my own kitchen!

[BowlingForRevenge]

05:58 PM on 02/26/2010

Do you work outside the home?
If you do and still prepare 3 squares a day...my hat's off to you.
YOU are SUPERWOMAN.

[Havana Thinks]

06:20 PM on 02/26/2010

teresa1960 is not a superwoman, she is an old-fashioned, good mom. You might want 2 ask how old she is? All of my aunts, mom and cousins grew up with mom's who cooked everything from scratch. They made use of crock pots, plenty of stews, pot roasts, soups, barbques, red beans and rice, cornbreads, yeast rolls, etc. Do U get the picture. We did not own microwaves nor needed them. The schools don't utilize home ec anymore. We were taught how 2 cook, bake, saute, simmer, marinate, etc. Have U noticed kids aren't taught anymore bcuz their parents go 2 drive-thrus or microwave, open a can of this or that...It doesn't make you a superwoman 2 do what is correct and tastes better. It makes you wise. My hat is also off 2 teresa and her family...U go girl!

[BowlingForRevenge]

06:42 PM on 02/26/2010

52 X $200 = $10,400 a year.
Nice food budget.

[Hal Jaquith]

11:56 PM on 02/27/2010

Jeepers! Your food budget must consist of McDoubles and 5 dollar footlongs if you think that's a crazy figure.

[Suntio]

01:18 PM on 02/28/2010

My family of 3 spends about the same for food a week and we mostly buy organic milk, eggs, orange juice, cereal, fruits and veggies and meat when it's available. We get Chinese about once a week, fast food maybe once a month. Eating well is definitely not cheap.

[ruffbizness]

04:27 PM on 02/26/2010

One last thing, did everyone see the movie Supersize Me? What a picture. This guy proved that if you only eat crap from McDonald's at ever meal for a month then you get fat and it's not good for you. Plus, this Einstein would supersize ever order if the McDonald's asked if he wanted to supersize, just as John Q. Public does.

Ok, I'm being sarcastic. That was one of the most stupid and pointless films I've ever seen. It made me want to make a film about eating at McDonald's for a month and losing weight -- eating only salads, breakfast on occasion, water, juice or milk instead of soda. What would that prove? So stupid.

[ruffbizness]

04:23 PM on 02/26/2010

There is an enourmous amount of waste at ALL restaurants, not just fast food. "Good" food is thrown away all the time at white cloth restaurants, casual dining, etc. It's not just fast food.

[MJinCanada]

02:09 AM on 02/28/2010

I know. I was thinking about that the other day, and some of that wasted food (the stuff from the kitchen, not people's plates) could go to homeless shelters. The other waste could go to a pig farm and get recycled into bacon, ham and pork chops.