The doggy bag is a simple container in which you can take home the leftovers of food eaten at a restaurant. It is a practice that, if widespread, can have a big impact on the fight against food waste.
Every year in Italy, about 140 kilograms of food are wasted per person. This is equivalent to about 1.2 million tonnes of food that end up in the trash. An impressive figure that has a negative impact on both the environment and the economy.
The doggy bag can be an effective way to reduce these waste: if, in fact, a customer orders a plate that is too large and cannot finish it, they can ask the restaurant to put it aside for them in a doggy bag. In this way, the food will not be wasted, but can be consumed at a later time.
In the past, the doggy bag was seen as a sign of impoliteness or lack of appetite. Today, however, it is increasingly accepted and widespread; many restaurants, like ours, are always willing to prepare them and, in fact, encourage customers to ask if they want to take something home.
So, the next time you go to a restaurant, don’t be afraid to ask for the doggy bag. It is a small act that can make a difference.
A curiosity: why are they called doggy bags?
The term “doggy bag” originates in the United States, where it was common for dog owners to take home leftovers of food for their pets. In Italian, it is customary to use the term “leftovers”, but it is preferable to use a more inclusive term that does not refer to a particular type of food and that does not create embarrassment when requesting it.
