I happened to read that Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has backed the idea of asking for a doggy bag if you cannot finish your meal at a restaurant, despite our natural discomfort.

This goes some way to addressing the millions of pounds worth of food we throw away.

Having lived in California for four years, I am familiar with the fact that this is quite commonplace and very acceptable over there.

Coincidently, my friends and I had a few drinks in The Wick Inn, Western Road, on Sunday and had very nice pizzas in the early evening.

Two of our party couldn’t finish their pizzas so it was “on the line” time. Were we brave enough to ask for a doggy bag and would the staff be happy to help us?

Happily, the answer was yes to both.

Despite the couple next to us enjoying a laugh at our expense, we asked, and they provided us initially with quite a big box supplemented by some tin foil so everyone was happy.

So one lot of food was not wasted. We will also ensure the tin foil is reused and the box recycled.

Could this be the start of a Brighton and Hove war on waste? I hope so.

Fi McKinlay, Wordsworth Street, Brighton