Table Manners

If you don't know table manners it may be a sign that you have still not integrated with the society. While eating most people spill food or slurp while having soup, and this is exactly what is considered indecent.

Proper table manners include the food used, the method of preparation, the way it is served and how food is being eaten. If you use the wrong fork while eating, it may be considered offensive. Similarly, not using a fork may seem indecent by some cultures while the use of fork may be considered superfluous by others. You need to learn some basic table etiquette and should try to practice them every day while eating.

Be Calm While at the Table

While you are at the table don't just pull your chair and sit down. Let your host settle down first and then you can take your place (except when the host tells you to sit first). Don't do anything till the host does it first. This includes everything from the time you sit on the table till you complete your meal. Always remember that it's the host who is paying for the meal, so make him feel in charge. While sitting for a meal always remember to place your plate in front of you, napkin and fork on your left, and the spoon, knife and glass on your right.

Use Cutlery Properly

It's important for you to learn to use things in the proper order. The napkins should be placed on your lap as soon as you sit down. Don't snap it open, rather put it over your lap. While taking food on your dish, make sure that you take only a slice of bread at a time. It's fine to break the loaf but you need to be clean. A common mistake at this point is buttering the loaf, wherein most of the people start applying butter just after taking the loaf. Here you should remember to take some butter on your plate and not apply it on the bread. Once you have butter on your plate, you don't need to take butter again and again from a common butter dish. Now you can break a piece of bread and apply butter from your plate.

If you are a right-handed, make sure that you hold the knife in your right hand and the fork in your left. You should not hold the fork or knife like a dagger, rather hold them with your thumb and index finger. If meat is served, gently saw and cut the meat into small pieces. Using the fork, pierce the piece and put it into your mouth. Make sure not to make too much noise while chewing.

Another important table manner is not to let used utensils touch the table. The reason behind this is the utensils may dirty the tablecloth, thereby resulting in increased cleaning cost for your host. While having soup, fill the 3/4th of spoon with the liquid and bring it close to your mouth. Take a sip, making sure that you don't slurp. When your soup is about to finish you may tip the bowl slightly so that you are able to scoop remaining soup in it, but don't repeat the same motion more than twice. While lowering the spoon, place it gently on the bowl.

Tips While Eating

While eating, always sit straight without leaning forward or backward. You should never allow your elbows to touch the table. While you eat, the utensil should be brought towards you rather than your face towards the plate. If you drop the something, say fork, don't just pick up the dirty fork and place it on the table, instead signal the waiter (if you are in a restaurant) or the maid of your host. However, if you have dropped the napkin, you can excuse yourself, lean down, pick it up and continue with your eating.

If someone asks for something to be passed, make sure that you do it, only if, you are nearest to the item asked. If you are passing something then place it besides your neighbor, instead of passing on from hand-to-hand. Continue passing till the requester has got the item he or she wanted. When the person has finished, you may ask him to pass the item back to you. In case you have spilled something, just be calm instead of making a fuss of it. Quietly apologize and try preventing the food splattering onto the person sitting besides you. Once you finish your meal, gently place your knife and fork on the plate parallel to each other with the sharp points facing away from each other.

Thus the above mentioned points would help you to learn the basics of table manners. For kids, the sooner they begin to follow table manners the better it is, as it would save them the efforts of having to learn and follow these simple but essential etiquette at a later date.