Common Dining Etiquette Mistakes
From chewing with your mouth open to keeping your eyes glued to your phone at the table, there are many dining etiquette mistakes you're probably guilty of without even realizing it. Sure, some of these might be acceptable in casual settings, but you know the saying: Bad habits die hard. Wondering if you're a good dinner guest? Then you'll want to make sure you're not doing these 20 bad table manners.
1. Chewing with Your Mouth Open
We get it: sometimes you're gnawing on a tough steak, and you can't exactly close your mouth as you do it—but you can still cover your mouth with your hand and try to suppress the smacking noises. What you don't want to do is let everyone at the table see you breaking down food with your gums.
2. Slurping Your Noodles & Soup
Unless this is culture-appropriate (for example, when traveling in Japan), refrain from slurping your noodles and soup as if you're on a megaphone. Just like how people don't want to see you chewing with your mouth open, they also don't want to hear you scarfing it up.
3. Burping Loudly
Surprise, surprise—people don't want to hear you belch at the table, especially when they're still finishing up their meal. If you need to release pent-up gas, try to keep it as quiet as possible: cover your mouth with your hand, face away from everyone else, and remember to say "excuse me" afterwards. You can also avoid excessive belching by chewing slowly.
Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels
4. Blowing Your Nose
No one wants to see you (or hear you) snuffling and wiping up your snot at the table. If you have a runny nose, it's better table manners to excuse yourself to take care of it in the bathroom. The same goes for sneezing or coughing.
5. Eating Before Others
When you're out dining with a large group, you don't want to be the one who digs in as soon as your plate arrives. While it's understandable that you might be starving, it's good table manners to wait until everyone else is served before touching your food.
6. Eating Too Fast
Eating too fast has two main cons: you'll swallow too much air (which will lead to excessive belching and bloating), and you'll be sitting there awkwardly with your empty plate while everyone's still finishing up. Pace yourself; it's not a race.
7. Using Your Phone
Everyone's definitely guilty of this one. Even if you're addicted to your smartphone or you're waiting for an important message, no one wants to sit with someone who has all their attention glued somewhere else. As soon as you take your seat, set your phone to silent mode and put it away.
8. Putting Your Personal Items on the Table
Even if you don't want to put your personal items on the ground, it's better to leave them on your lap than to set them down on the table where dishes will be served. For one, you'll only end up blocking everyone's space. Plus, you'll probably be met with new stains on your belongings afterwards.
9. Double-Dipping
Unless you're at a casual diner and it's been agreed upon that double-dipping is okay, don't assume it for everyone else. If you want more sauce, use a spoon or another utensil to scoop up extra for yourself instead of dunking your chewed-up piece straight into the condiment.
10. Interrupting Conversations
Just like how you shouldn't interrupt conversations elsewhere, don't do it at the dinner table. If you have a comment to add, do so by waiting for a lull in the discussion before voicing it. Cutting in when it's not your turn to speak will only make for an awkward meal.
11. Sitting Cross-Legged on Chair
Your feet should be placed on the ground when sitting down, not cross-legged on your chair, not resting on an empty seat, and definitely not propped up on top of the table like it's your personal footrest. No one wants to be treated to that kind of sight, so show some respect.
12. Talking with Your Mouth Full
Just as you shouldn't chew with your mouth open, you shouldn't talk with your mouth full, either. Chew slowly, swallow, and then speak once you're finished with your bite. If you must make a comment while you're still chewing, cover your mouth.
Utopix Pictures Pictures on Pexels
13. Using the Wrong Utensils
This might not sound like too bad of a table manner to not follow, but trust us, it'll only make the eating experience more inconvenient (and frustrating) for you. You'll find that you won't be so successful eating spaghetti with chopsticks or sushi with a fork.
14. Not Using Serving Utensils
If serving utensils are placed at the table, use them—don't use your own to pick up extra food. Just like how you shouldn't assume everyone is okay with double-dipping, you shouldn't assume people want to eat something that has your saliva on it.
15. Being Greedy
Even if it's your favorite dish being passed around, refrain from scooping up a huge chunk of it for yourself and leaving barely anything on the plate for everyone else. Take a small portion first, and if you want seconds, wait until everyone else at the table has gotten their first share.
16. Cutting Up All Your Food Before Eating
You might think it's convenient to cut up all your food before digging in, but this is bad table manners, too. Plus, it's unsightly for everyone else at the table. Resist the temptation and slice your food up as you eat, not all at once.
17. Picking Your Teeth
We get it—it's uncomfortable to feel that something is stuck in your teeth while you eat. But it's bad table manners to go digging for treasure in your gums with a toothpick (or worse, your fingers) when everyone around you is still enjoying their meal. If you must, excuse yourself to the bathroom to take care of it.
18. Licking Your Fingers
When you get sauce on your fingers, your instinct might be to lick it up—but no one at the table wants to see that. You have napkins for a reason, so clean your hands with them instead of lapping up with your tongue. For larger messes, tend to them in the restroom, not at the table.
19. Reaching Across the Table
You might think it's more convenient to reach over the table to grab something for yourself, but all you're doing is disturbing others as they eat. If you need the salt, don't be afraid to ask for it by simply saying, "Please pass the salt."
20. Elbows on Table
Believe it or not, elbows on the table is considered bad table manners—and yet, you're probably more than guilty of doing this time and time again. While it's technically okay in casual, familiar settings, it's better to sit back than to hunch over your plate.
KEEP ON READING
The 5 Most Consumed Foods in the Entire World
