Table manners

[Creative]

Is anyone else on here embarrassed about their table manners? Mine aren't that great and I don't feel confident eating in front of people.
I always seem to be spilling things, or taking too big a mouthful by accident!
How do you all manage this dyspraxic problem?

[Shadwell]

I try not to think about it, and eat out of a troff!!

no seriously, if I think people are watching, then usually makes me 10 times worse, and more prone to doing the wrong thing, or slip up with dropping food. especially into gravy, and then that makes a right mess

[Pooky]

Apparently I am the noisest eater ever.

[rah]

yep, i'm not the most elegant of eaters!

my nan put in a lot of hard work when i was younger to get me to use a knife and fork properly (ie with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right) but it means that i'm always just swapping my cutlery from one hand to the other as sometimes i find it comfortable eating in the "proper" way and sometimes i don't!

i'm terrible at cutting things as well, i end up slipping or pushing other things off the plate and causing a mess.

luckily i never frequent posh restaurants as i have no desire to pay ridiculous prices for my food!

[Pooky]

oh I swap cutlery from one hand to the other as well, and I don't even notice I am doing it.

I normally chop my spaghetti which winds the other half up. Its either that or it will go cold trying to get it in to my mouth

[rah]

oh I swap cutlery from one hand to the other as well, and I don't even notice I am doing it.

I normally chop my spaghetti which winds the other half up. Its either that or it will go cold trying to get it in to my mouth

because i've practically lived on spaghetti i've become quite good at winding it up on my fork. that doesn't stop me from managing to get it all around my mouth and on my top though!

also, whenever possible i make do with just a fork because i find that the co-ordination needed to push food onto the fork with a knife completely impossible and i just end up pushing it all off the other side of the fork. it means slightly less washing up too!

[xdyspraxic_accountantx]

im reallly, reallly grubby but in front of my family it doesnt matter too much there very accepting and it does make people laugh sometimes when i get food all over my face lol (i feel like such a kid)..
When we all eat out though i mess up the table cloth so bad and i always knock people with my arms accidentally and it feels very awkward and embarassing...
does anybody actually have problems eating in front of people.
i avoid and largely dont eat in front of people. i dont know if its my anxiety or dypraxia probably both xxxx

[sheppeyescapee]

Using cutlery is a nightmare. I'm really bad especially when something is particularly difficult to cut, it ends up sliding off the end of the plate and onto the table I always got shouted at for not holding my cutlery properly.

I'm not a particularly good guest as I tend to speak before I think. Tact is seriously not my strong point. I am one of those people who are far too honest.

[Creative]

I used to have a phobia about eating in front of people but I am getting better now. I am still not keen on eating in cafes or restaurants but it is getting much better.

[Lithium_joe]

I've always eaten with my knife and fork reversed since I am right-handed.

I'm also forever being told off for eating with my mouth open well not open but like I breathe and don't realise I've opened my mouth to do it.

[Ruth]

Years of restaurant eating ( I'm very old you know) has left me fairly comfortable with it and reasonably presentable too - but the net result is that I'm SOOOOO SLLOOWWW ( theres ALOT to keep together) It means that I'm only about half way through my tea when everyone else is finished. I can sit woth them watching me foe about oh two minuets and them I get TOTALLLy self concious and get it all wrong agin - you know spilling scraping dribbling etc etc. So I say I'm full ( when I'm not) and let the hivering waiter snach away my oplate.

Recently genious friend suggested that I order 2 starters...it was intended to save us money but I finished at the some time ( ish ) as the main coursers! hoorah problem solved for me at least

[chloe]

I know this thread has been sleeping for a while but I am filled with the urge to add my bit.
Bad eating habits galore.
My patient husband told me after nearly 18 years that he has wanted to say something for some time but did not want to upset me.
He does not care how I eat at home etc - pick up the plate to drink the gravy, dive in like a cave woman and use a spoon if it is easier. However in public situations I try to be a bit lady-like and if I forget my husband will discreetly bring the word "Bananna"into the conversation, just as a reminder to me to slow down, take smaller mouthfuls and chill a bit.
It is not easy co-ordinating the knife, fork, food, and my mouth all at the same time.
I have never gone out for a meal without spilling stuff on the table or myself. I could do with a bib a lot of the time.
However I love my food, so will just keep trying.
Chloex

[Creative]

I like the 'bannana'word idea. That is something I would find helpful. It would remind me without embarrasssing me.

[gomababe]

I've never had any real problem with getting food onto forks and using a knife and fork properly for some reason. Probably because my mum was pretty good with me when I first learned to eat with them. I do have problems with spaghetti though, I generally try to chop the strands down a little bit before winding them around my fork, it keeps the mess down and I don't end up with a huge wad of spaghetti on my fork that I can't fit into my mouth with a huge tail at the end of it.

My main problem is actually trying to keep burgers all in one piece ^^', I usually have to give up and eat the roll/bap and the burger part separately {this is the main reason I don't like to eat baguettes either, but paninis are just fine}. Patience is really the key when you're eating out, take smaller mouthfuls and don't rush and, generally speaking, you'll be fine.

[Lady Fluff]

I can eat burgers, but only if I turn them upside down - people think I'm nuts, but it's the only way they'll stay together!