Etiquette tip: How to properly use a fork and knife

I had recently been on western etiquette training workshop; Apart from learning the cultural differences I also got to know the kind of food that westerners eat and prefer and more importantly the table manners that needs to be followed.

Very rarely do people from the West (including Europe) use their hands to eat food; the spoon, fork and knife are regular items. As I was learning how to use the fork and knife, I found eating with them a much harder task than lifting weights in a gym.

Follow these easy steps below and become an expert at good eating.

7 easy steps for better using a knife and fork at a dining table

• Hold your knife in your right hand. The index finger is mostly straight and rests near the base of the top, blunt side of the blade. The other four fingers wrap around the handle.
• Hold your fork in your left hand. The tines (prongs) face away from you. The index finger is mostly straight, and rests on the near the back-side of the head of the fork.
• The other four fingers wrap around the handle.
• Bend the wrists, so that your index fingers are pointing down towards your plate. This makes the tip of the knife and fork also point towards the plate.
• Hold the food with the fork, by applying pressure through the index finger. Cut with the knife, in the same way.
• Bring smallish bits of food to your mouth with the fork.
• Do not turn the fork over and use it as if it were a spoon to shovel food into your mouth.

Note:

Cut and eat small sized pieces rather than big ones that may land you in trouble. Rest your shoulders and elbows and make this process natural. If you are a first timer- practice eating with the knife, fork and spoon once a meal everyday until you become a natural.

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References and Links:

Table Manners and Dining Etiquette (from Wikipedia)

Tips on Dining Etiquette (from MannersInternational.com)

How-to Videos:

How to use a fork and knife video (Youtube.com)

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Photo Credit and Copyrights: jonmcmanus and hills_alive via Flickr.com

This article has been adapted and republished with permission. Original article can be found at: wikiHow.com – The How-To Manual That Anyone Can Write or Edit.