Are leftovers low class?

[Anonymous]

Why do some people have such an aversion to them? They treat taking some leftovers home like you're trying to hand them a soiled diaper. It's not just holiday food, it's just today reminded me of this. I don't get it. My husband makes terrific money and I've never once thought "our HHI is [now] too high to eat day old good." Is that how some people think -- like eating leftovers is "low" and they're better than that?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think it’s that at all. It tastes very different to me. Plus, I had a stomach virus right after Thanksgiving one year so the thought of the leftovers make me nauseated. Perhaps, it’s the same with others and they are just not sharing a disgusting story with you.

[Anonymous]

For thanksgiving? A lot of people avoid eating carbs. So they splurge one day and do not want to eat more the next.

[Anonymous]

I think people who don’t eat leftovers are usually people who don’t cook. If they themselves were expected to whip up a hot meal every night, they might change their tune.

[Anonymous]

I just think they are wasteful. We could afford to eat different good everynight. I could drink water only out of plastic bottles but I do not.

[Anonymous]

I like leftovers if I prepared the food myself and made sure it was at a safe temperature at all times, properly wrapped and stored. I cook 95% of my meals and appreciate leftovers for lunch the next day or even repurposed into another meal. Roast chicken leftovers made into a pot pie or burrito for example. I don’t prefer taking home leftovers from a party where food was left out for hours. I don’t think class has anything to do with it. I am fairly well off but still economical about food expenses. Plus, I don’t like waste.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of spoiled people.

[Anonymous]

If it’s good and I may want more, to paraphrase Ronald Reagan, “I paid for that [leftover].”

[Anonymous]

Mostly I feel like I’m mooching off host. It can be a difficult social agreement when you don’t know them well. I’d happily have an extra plate or two for later.

[Anonymous]

Thanksgiving leftovers are the BEST part of the food experience!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like leftovers if I prepared the food myself and made sure it was at a safe temperature at all times, properly wrapped and stored. I cook 95% of my meals and appreciate leftovers for lunch the next day or even repurposed into another meal. Roast chicken leftovers made into a pot pie or burrito for example. I don’t prefer taking home leftovers from a party where food was left out for hours. I don’t think class has anything to do with it. I am fairly well off but still economical about food expenses. Plus, I don’t like waste.

That's a good point.

[Anonymous]

I have no problem eating my own leftovers I just don't want to bring home yours. (Did you...have people over?)

I'm sure it was delicious, but I don't want to eat it again tomorrow - it's heavier than what I normally eat, I don't want to make space for it, I don't want to lug it home.

[Anonymous]

Taking leftovers home from a dinner party is definitely not part of an upper class lifestyle, if that is what you are asking? The staff would take extra food home, not the guests.

There is nothing wrong with eating leftover food, or with being frugal. But no, it isn't an upper class thing to send guests home with a bundle of leftovers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just think they are wasteful. We could afford to eat different good everynight. I could drink water only out of plastic bottles but I do not.

What? Wasteful is throwing away uneaten food, not eating it for a later meal. Or do you mean cooking with the intention of leftovers?

My mom is a good cook, but her meals usually take a lot of work. She's a master at mixing leftovers with fresh dishes so it tastes new. I'm a big fan of leftovers, because I grew up with the understanding that some food actually tastes better on the second day. DH just doesn't tend to reach for leftovers unless it's his absolute favorite (i.e. if he liked it but he didn't love it, he won't eat it again), and I suspect it's because his mom (MIL) is not a great cook. It's hard to develop a habit for so-so food twice in a row. MIL finds his aversion to leftovers surprising, which suggests that he did actually eat leftovers as a kid.

I kind of regret that I cooked fresh meals most nights when we were first living together and newlywed. Two kids later, I just don't have the energy.

[Anonymous]

I don’t like Thanksgiving type food heated up. I did take zturkey tonight though but told the host it’s for my dogs. She was ok with that. Chinese leftovers tho.... I save those and take them to work for lunches.