How about those New Year resolutions... Lose weight? Check. Stop complaining? On the list. Be more patient? Yup, that one too. Quit eating with a mouth full of food spewing out? Uh, hadn't thought of that one yet! Manners matter too, so here are a handful of icky habits to add to the list. Cheers to a more refined year ahead!
Double Dipping. Think no one will notice if you use that half-eaten nacho to scoop up another dab of salsa? Or stick your bitten carrot back into the hummus? They will! No matter how delish the onion dip is, keep your chips to yourself and resist the urge to go back for seconds.
Nibbling With Your Hands. Unless it's a type of food that's normally eaten with your digits (like Indian breads and curries, or crudites), use those utensils and keep your paws out of the grub, especially when dining family-style with a slew of other people. Sure, it can be tempting to grab and nibble one of those bite-sized tortellini, but it's also rude, not to mention unsanitary. And, this takes us right into the next gross habit...
Not Washing Your Hands Before A Meal. Do yourself a big favor, especially during this flu season, and always always always wash your hands before they get close to your mouth - whether it's a full on meal or a tasty little snack. Between opening doors, pushing traffic light buttons, and using the (ahem) facilities, we pick up plenty of nasty germs throughout the day. Who really wants to ingest them?
Eating With Your Mouth Open. Didn't our parents always tell us to eat with our mouths closed? A little annoying maybe, but they knew what they were talking about. These days, it seems like everyone's always eating in a rush, or noshing while talking (on their cell phones, no less). But really, no one needs to be up close and personal with a mangled chunk of broccoli or gory wad of cheesy lasagna being masticated. And talking while eating is even more sketchy - worst case scenario is you may accidentally blast someone in the face with a spray of spit-infused - no fun!
Shoveling Food. Eating too fast is not only hard on the eyes, it's not good for digestion either. Unless you're looking to attract some dirty looks and unwanted attention, eat slowly. You'll also find that your food actually tastes better - you tend to enjoy it more and eat less (bonus!).
Overdosing On Condiments. It's one thing to adorn your deli delight with a thin layer of mayo or squeeze a little ketchup onto your fries. But overloading on these extras quickly turns into a goopy and unsightly mess. Plus, you're killing the flavor of your food by dousing it in a sea of ranch dressing or a ton of sour cream. Dress it up, but do it with restraint.
