Basic Table Manners

1. Sit up straight. Try not to slouch or lean back in7. Keep your elbows off the table. You have also
your chair (even if you are playing cards and don'theard this one from your mother, ad infinitum, but in
want you opponents to see your hand).close dining situations it is a vital rule. Elbows take up
2. Don't speak with your mouth full of food. Sure,table space and can be a danger in knocking plates or
you've heard your mother say it a hundred times,glasses. Elbows on the table give you something to
but no one likes to see a ball of masticated meat inlean on and tend to lull you into slouching. If you must
your mouth. If you feel you must speak immediately,lean on the table a good tactic is to take a roll or
if you have only a relatively small bite, tuck it intopiece of bread into your free hand and rest part of
your cheek with your tongue and speak briefly.your forearm on the table.
3. Chew quietly, and try not to slurp. This is a8. Don't Reach. You don't want to get in the way of
corollary of rule number 2. Making noises is not onlypeople either eating or talking. Not only is it as
unappetizing, and distracting, but it can also interruptimpolite as standing in front of a TV with other
the flow of conversation.people behind you, but there is always the possibility
4. Keep bites small. In order to facilitate the aboveof upsetting glasses or running your sleeve through
rules it is smart to keep bite sizes to a moderatesomeone's mashed potatoes.
forkful. Cut meat and salad so that it doesn't hang9. Don't forget please and thank you. These are
from your mouth after you shovel it in. Don't cut allhandy words in most situations but especially vital at
of your meat at one time, this tends to remindthe table where common courtesies are noticed by
people of feeding small children - and the messinesseveryone present.
associated with this activity.10. Excuse yourself when leaving the table. You don't
5. Eat at a leisurely pace. This rule, besides beingwant people to think that you are tired of their
good for the digestion, also shows your host thatcompany. If you must leave the table make your
you want to enjoy the food and the company.excuses somewhat obvious and appear to be
Eating quickly and running is sign of disrespect for thepressing. You want to leave people with the
host, as it shows that your focus is on the food andimpression that you would rather remain at the table
that you would rather be at home watching thetalking with them than doing anything else, but the
grass grow than passing time with your host.matter at hand is so pressing that it must be
6. Don't wave utensils in the air, especially knives or ifattended to at once.
there is food on them. Besides the danger of11. Compliment the Cook. Even if the food is
knocking over glasses, piercing waiters or launching aperfectly awful say something nice. You don't have
pea into the eye of your date, this is a sign ofto lie, simply find the positive side of the burnt leg of
over-excitedness that may be unappealing to thoselamb..."Gee, the sauce was sure tasty." It is always
present. Earnestness is to be commended, butpleasant to end a meal on a positive note.
irrational exuberance goes beyond the limits of good12. Wipe your mouth before drinking. Ever notice that
table manners.disgusting smudge on the edge of your wine glass?