Over time I've come to realize I have a pattern for eating every meal. When I'm at home, and especially now that I'm eating healthy, I start with the healthiest food item and work down. Like today I started with my salad, then the peach, and then my wrap with egg white, turkey bacon and cheese. I'm telling myself I must want to fill up on the healthiest stuff first, but I've never consciously said, I HAVE to eat the salad first, it's the healthiest....
When I used to go out to eat I'd tend to start with the salad, fries and/or bread, then my main dish. My reasoning for that was that if I got full, I wanted to box the stuff that would reheat the best. Soggy, reheated fries are nasty, so I never bothered to box those anyway. My ex boyfriend thought I was a nutjob because of this.

So I guess I'm wondering... Does anyone else have any certain eating patterns??

Wow I do that as well. First is my salad and veggies, then my rice or potatoes and last my meat or fish.

We are both nutjobs. ^.^

I've heard that a more European or Mediterranean pattern is to have the salad last (but before cheese, fruit, or dessert). It's an interesting idea I'd like to try sometimes. But I'm not a huge side salad eater.

I do this also, and for the same reason you mentioned...I want to take things that re-heat well. Side dishes typically do not "save" well. So I would rather have them where I am eating.

At home on the other hand, it is similar. I do not eat left overs so I would rather save them for my DH and kids who will eat them. I LOVE my vegi's and sides so I would rather have them....if there are left over vegi's I start eating them and I will avoid my main dish most of the time....

Interesting. Thanks for posting.

In Cyprus and Greece we eat the salad with the bread, olives and yogurt first and then the main meal.