As we all know, love comes from the table: cooking together, sharing a dish, or selecting a gourmet experience is still one of the most natural ways to cultivate a relationship or break the ice. But beware: food waste can be a real "heartbreaker". For more than eight in ten Italians, leaving food on their plate is a major red flag. This is revealed in a new poll conducted by Too Good To Go, a company that links consumers with commercial partners to save unsold food and minimize waste, in partnership with Appinio, a market research organization focused on the relationship between food and love. When it comes to love, cooking is a daily activity for Italians: nearly seven out of ten (64.9%) prepare a special dish at least once a week for their loved one. On a first date, there is no doubt: 51.6% of those polled prefer a restaurant. The study reveals a startling contradiction. While 80% of those polled believe that leaving food on their plate after a date is a big "red flag," 41.4% avoid taking leftovers home for fear of the other person's reaction. It's not surprising that 38.5% of Italians admit to "sometimes" forcing themselves to finish a meal they don't like. The message is clear: reducing waste is a shared value, but embarrassment and fear of judgment continue to dictate the rules of our dining experience.