The Art of Using Reusable Containers (Instead of a Doggie Bags)

Eating out isn't always a green scene. I shudder to think of the food scraped off of plates and trashed at restaurants daily. Unfortunately, a lot of restaurants out there aren't going out of their way to be green and one of the last things many restaurant owners are probably thinking of is how to replace that standard styrofoam to-go box with something more eco-friendly. Meanwhile, portions are so out of control in America, to-go containers are nearly necessary if you want to stay in shape but not waste your food. So the best answer is to bring your own reusable container to the restaurant. And doing this while retaining some etiquette and class can be a challenge. Make your reusable container-bringing endeavor flawlessly simple by following these tips:

1. Bring The Right Reusable Container

Before we even discuss how precisely to bring your reusable container to a restaurant with style, it's crucial that we make sure you're bringing the right kind of reusable container to begin with. Support companies that manufacture eco-friendly reusable containers. Better yet, try not buying any reusable container at all. Often times the containers you get your food in when you order take out make for perfect reusable containers. Those kinds of containers paired with yogurt, whipped cream, and butter containers, for example, will leave you with a full collection of green reusable containers. (I'm not saying those plastic containers were initially made green, but reusing is green).

2. Use A Big Bag

Ladies are carrying giant purses everywhere and hardly filling them up. It's widely accepted for men to wear 'man purses' these days, yet so many guys don't take advantage of this. Look, I don't care where you shove your reusable container. It could be your giant purse, man purse, or shopping bag from Target. My point is that part of bringing reusable containers into a restaurant is not making a show of it. Keep it in a bag until you need it.

3. Use Some of Those Plastic Bags

No matter how hard you try to avoid plastic bags, it seems to me as though they'll come your way here and there regardless. At my house, we collect them for recycling and lining our small trash bins. If you've got some of these plastic bags around, take one to the restaurant with you. You never know when your reusable container might fail you and spill your leftovers out into your bag. If you've got your food-filled containers secured in a plastic bag, you won't have to worry about the mess this scenario could leave.

4. Be Kind To Your Waiter

Most waiters aren't used to having customers bring in their own to-go containers. Certainly it's not a crime, but you're not going to enhance your dining experience if you're snotty or short with your waiter about the subject matter. Be frank, sincere, and thankful with your waiter and he or she will happily pack your leftovers away in the reusable containers you brought.

Bringing your own reusable container to a restaurant is a great way to save on waste and it doesn't have to be a nightmare. Think it's still a burden? Then look into collapsible, compact reuseable containers.