TABLE MANNERS

Home & Careers

BEGINNING OF THE MEAL Arrive on time or a few minutes early Dress appropriately Have a clean face and hands Have neat, kept hair

IF YOU ARE A GUEST… Wait for Hostess to tell you where to sit Stands behind your chair until told to sit

by Hostess Sit in chair from left side Males help the female who is seated to

his right sit down Wait for the Hostess to begin eating

before “diving in”

WHEN YOU FIRST SIT DOWN

Open the napkin and place it on your lap Watch what the hostess does If the hostess says a table prayer, bow

you head politely Start eating with the utensil furthest

from your plate.

PASSING FOOD AT THE TABLE Pass for to the Right Use “Please” and “Thank You” Turn handles towards person receiving

dish Use serving spoons, not your own spoon

or fingers to put food on your plate Pass an entire dish, not a single roll

USING A NAPKIN Blot your lips. Do not wipe whole mouth If you leave the table during the meal,

napkin is placed to the left of your plate

USING SILVERWARE Work from the outside in, towards your

plate Do not overload spoon/fork Hold spoons like a pencil Cut only 1 or 2 bites of food at a time Placed used knife or fork on the plate

when not in use (not on table) When finished eating, place silverware

across the plate.

EATING SOUP Never blow on soup or any food! Tip the spoon away from you, skimming

the top of the soup Touch spoon to the side of the bowl (to

remove drips) before lifting it to mouth Sip don’t slurp from the side of the

spoon

GOOD HABITS Do not talk with food in your mouth Chew with your mouth closed Chew and swallow quietly No electronic devices at the Table

GOOD HABITS CONTINUED Keep your elbows in, especially when cutting food Keep elbows off the table Turn head away from table when

sneezing When not eating, put hands in your lap Do not tilt back in chair Have appropriate table conversations

WHY ARE GOOD TABLE MANNERS IMPORTANT? Courteous Respectful Polite Appropriate Expected Mature Considerate of Others

WHAT TYPE OF CONVERSATIONS ARE APPROPRIATE AT THE TABLE? Weather How your day was Sports Upcoming events/trips Class/homework Favorite….food, place, teacher, color,

etc Trivia Books Television shows Celebrities

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