A doggy bag is a container for leftover food from restaurants, often used to feed dogs. It is also used for packing leftovers for take-out or giving to the homeless. Pet owners should avoid feeding leftovers to their dogs, and some restaurants offer special meals for pets.
A doggy bag is a container that is used to package leftover food in restaurants. The term is a reference to the idea that many people like to bring home scrap bones and other foods for their canine friends. Instead of “doggie bag,” people may prefer to say “to-go bag” or just “box.” The term is probably the most widely used in the United States; this can perhaps be attributed to the fact that there are an estimated 53 million dogs in the United States, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
At a dine-in restaurant, people may end up with leftovers due to generous portions or deliberate overordering. Many people are reluctant to waste food, especially if they enjoy their meals, so most grocery stores provide boxes for packing leftovers at the end of a meal. It’s not uncommon to collect take-out or take-out boxes into a bag so customers can handle them easily, and in more homey, casual restaurants, this bag is often referred to as a “dog bag.”
Doggy bags are also convenient for people who practice substitution, the gifting of healthy leftovers to people in need such as the homeless. Doggy bags can help keep food organized and warm, and people can write short messages so homeless people know the contents are safe to eat.
The implication of a doggy bag is that the owner plans to feed his dog. In the case of waste material like bones, the contents of dog bags often end up with canine friends, but real leftovers are usually consumed by humans. Since feeding leftovers can destabilize a dog’s diet or disrupt training regimes, pet owners should actually try to avoid abandoning their dogs with leftovers. In some cases, common human ingredients can even make dogs sick, and dogs generally don’t enjoy highly spiced foods.
Forward restaurants rarely call their bags “dog bags,” as they assume their food will be eaten by the humans who ordered it and not their pets. Some restaurants even offer special meals just for pets. This practice is especially common in traditional French restaurants, as dog owners in France often bring their pets along, and chefs-in-training are expected to prepare food for the dogs. Meals formulated just for pets generally take into account the pets’ dietary needs, and this type of dog bag can be a nice surprise for a four-legged friend.
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