I entirely agree with you. But we should distinguish forms of "eating out." Donna Schaper refers to a phenomenon much in evidence in NYC, of regularly buying take-out food, and eating it in public. She might have added that the new practice of not going out for lunch, but eating at one's work place, out of fear of being uncompetitive, or looking unproductive, is yet another servile demonstration of how wage labor is a form of slavery.

On the other hand there's a good "eating out" too. Commercial interactions among neighbors in a society can be good, healthful activities. And the talents of culinary professionals certainly deserve to be appreciated. Also we should note that dining in a restaurant -- which is what "eating out" usually means -- does not involve throw-away packaging, about which Ms. Schaper rightly complains.