I believe that when you are on a first date, there is an unwritten rule of mutual respect regarding finances. If I offer to take you out to dinner, I am doing so with the intention of sharing a meal and getting to know you in that moment. When a date repeatedly emphasizes how hungry they are, orders an expensive or large meal, and then barely touches it before asking for a box, it feels incredibly disingenuous. It creates the impression that the date was not about the connection, but about securing a free meal for the next day. While I understand that appetites can change, doing this consistently feels like a way to exploit someone's generosity. If you are not actually hungry, or if you know you have a small appetite, you should be honest about that. Ordering a full spread just to take it home on someone else's dime is inconsiderate and sets a bad tone for any potential relationship. It makes the other person feel like a walking wallet rather than a romantic prospect. A date should be a shared experience, not a grocery run. It's about being present and respecting the person who is treating you to a night out.
I think it is unfair to jump to the conclusion that someone is using you just because they did not finish their plate and wanted to take the leftovers home. First dates are nerve-wracking experiences, and nerves can absolutely kill your appetite even if you felt starving twenty minutes earlier. When the bill comes, if one person offered to host or if we are following the traditional etiquette where the person who asked pays, the cost of the meal is part of that commitment. Once the food is ordered and paid for, it belongs to the person it was ordered for. Throwing away perfectly good food just to avoid looking greedy is wasteful and illogical. Taking leftovers home is a practical habit, not a scheme to get a free lunch for tomorrow. Furthermore, if you are so concerned about the cost of a meal that you are monitoring every bite your date takes to ensure you are getting value for your money, perhaps a sit-down dinner is not the right choice for a first date. We should focus on the conversation and the chemistry rather than policing how much someone eats or what they do with their doggy bag. Expecting someone to perform hunger to justify the price of a meal feels controlling and transactional.