Eating out when you only want half

Restaurants still serve full portions. A few easy habits make a smaller appetite less awkward at the table.

Routine · By the Appetite Journal team · 1 min read · Thursday 10 September 2026

Starters are usually a better size than mains. Ordering two starters, or a starter and a side, gets you a proper meal without a plate you'll leave.

Most places are happy to box up what you don't finish. Asking at the start, when you order, saves the moment at the end.

If it's a set menu or a celebration, eat the parts you want most first and leave the bread basket to everyone else.