Why Americans Eat So Strangely

When Mr. Bowen was a wee lad, his mother attempted to show him how to eat properly.  The American style of eating did not suit the young Mr. Bowen at all.  It was a lot of work.  The traditional American eating style is rather cumbersome.

The traditional American style of eating demands that the fork be held in the right hand at all times except when cutting.  Food is eaten with the fork tines facing upward.  When cutting, the fork is transferred to the left hand with tines down.  The index finger is extended down the back of the fork with the remaining three fingers and thumb are curled around the handle.   

The knife when cutting is held in the right hand with the index finger extended down the back of the knife.  The remaining three fingers and thumb are curled around the handle. 

After cutting one bite only, the knife is set down on the plate, with the sharp edge facing the center of the plate.  The fork is then transferred to the right hand.  Food is speared with the fork and carried to the mouth with the fork tines facing upward.  This process is repeated over and over again in a zig-zag pattern.

The American style of eating had its' roots in the 17th century.  Forks for personal eating purposes were a relative rarity in British Colonial America until the mid 18th century.  Meat, a mainstay of meals, was cut by a knife, then conveyed to the mouth on the tip of the knife.  In the latter part of the 17th century, the king of France banned pointed knives at the table. The blunted knives imported from Europe were not as easy to eat with as pointed ones.  As a result, Americans started using their spoons to steady food as they cut and then switched the spoon to the opposite hand in order to scoop up food to eat.  The rest is history.