# Slightly unusual eating habits you (or someone you know) has **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 17, 2026, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370 "2026-08-17T01:07:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/161 "2026-08-20T11:50:03Z")
I’m left handed. But tables are set with the fork on the left and the knife on the right. So that’s how i hold my cutlery. Fork in the left hand, knife in the right. The spoon is usually placed on the right, too, but i often hold my spoon with my left hand, and, if it’s a soup-forward meal, sometimes I’ll set the table with the spoon on the left. (My husband is also left handed.) I don’t usually notice which hand people hold what with, except my daughter is extremely right handed, and it used to surprise me to see her switch around to always favor her right hand. She surely didn’t learn that from her parents, it was just an accommodation she made to having a clumsy left hand. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/162 "2026-08-20T11:53:29Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > The spoon is usually placed on the right, too, … Spoons are always right. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/163 "2026-08-20T12:13:57Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > I’m right handed, and the fork is in the right hand and the knife in the left hand. This is exactly how I do it. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > But tables are set with the fork on the left and the knife on the right. When I set the table for myself, I reverse them at my place. My wife sometimes also does it for me, if she remembers. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/164 "2026-08-20T13:29:17Z")
[quote=“wolfpup, post:117, topic:1032370, full:true”] > [@pkbites](#): > > My own peculiarity is one that seems natural and maybe even healthful, namely that while I often have a traditional full dinner, it’s also common for me to just snack throughout the day and get my nutrition in small amounts throughout the day rather than one huge sit-down meal. Of course the key to this sort of eating is to make sure you’re eating relatively healthy foods and not just nibbling on junk food. When chemo ended I ended up in Permanent Snack Mode. I snack throughout the day - you should see my snack drawer at work. My boss thinks it’s really weird that I have different crackers for different cheese. Wheat Thins for port wine and cheese spread. Triscuits for colby. Either Ritz or Townhouse for fresh mozzarella. I fail to see what is weird. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/165 "2026-08-20T14:37:00Z")
That made me laugh what a visual I only buy natural pb, but I actually prefer the taste texture of adulterated pb. But I’d eat it by the spoonful. Not good. Natural pb takes a lot of effort to blend and I can’t be bothered with that so I use it mostly to bake cookies. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/166 "2026-08-20T14:40:11Z")
I’d make a sandwich with cold spaghetti. Buttered bread slice loaded with spaghetti salted of course then squeezed shut and eaten. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/167 "2026-08-20T15:26:30Z")
Hah! Reminds me of a time in college when my friends and I challenged each other to eat a “Super Monster” burrito at the local burrito place ( [Freebirds World Burrito](https://freebirds.com/), back when it was a single location in College Station). Said burrito was the size of a Stanley thermos, and I was doing well until I got to the end and found out that’s where all the guacamole was. Nothing like trying to choke down 1/3 cup of guacamole and tortilla to try and win a bet after you’ve just eaten like 2 lbs of burrito. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/168 "2026-08-20T15:55:07Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > > [@bordelond](#): > > > > My slightly unusual one is that I can and will use plain old canned tuna fish as a substitute for lots of other proteins in unexpected dishes. > > I don’t see anything wrong with this. I know, right? My wife can’t abide me eating tuna on grits 😅 Or even on a green salad, which is in the neighborhood of an established dish (**[Salade niçoise](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salade_ni%C3%A7oise)**). ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/169 "2026-08-20T16:06:25Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > I’m right handed, and the fork is in the right hand and the knife in the left hand. I understand that European style the fork is in the left hand and the knife in the right hand, if the person is right handed. So, then a right-handed European conveys the food to his mouth with the fork in his left hand? I can’t say I’ve paid particular attention but that seems counter intuitive. All I know is that rather than the American habit of (assuming right handed) - put the fork in their right hand down - pick up the knife with their right hand - pick up the fork with their left hand - cut off a piece - put the knife in their right hand down - switch the fork from the left hand to the right hand - (Finally!) convey the piece with the fork in their right hand - repeat steps 1 through 6 ad nauseum I, being left handed, simply - pick up the knife in my right hand - cut off a piece - convey the piece with the fork in my left hand - put down the knife if I’m going to attack the vegetables for a while, otherwise repeat 2 and 3. Reverse hands I suppose for someone right handed. Despite being left handed it is the weaker, finesse hand while the right is the brute strength hand. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/170 "2026-08-20T17:43:13Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > > > > [@bordelond](#): > > > > > > My slightly unusual one is that I can and will use plain old canned tuna fish as a substitute for lots of other proteins in unexpected dishes. > > > > I don’t see anything wrong with this. > > I know, right? My wife can’t abide me eating tuna on grits 😅 Or even on a green salad, which is in the neighborhood of an established dish (**[Salade niçoise](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salade_ni%C3%A7oise)**). Salade niçoise is in fact a really nice\* salad that features tuna, tomatoes, hardboiled eggs, and olives in (usually) a vinaigrette dressing. One of my favourite delis almost always has a prepared version of it. In general, though, I’m not a fan of mixing canned tuna with anything except to make tuna salad for sandwiches. \* No pun intended, but it supposedly originated in the French city of Nice. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/171 "2026-08-20T17:46:18Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > My slightly unusual one is that I can and will use plain old canned tuna fish as a substitute for lots of other proteins in unexpected dishes. Usually to stretch leftovers and only for the plate of food I myself am eating — I don’t cook actual meals with tuna. I’ve done the reverse. I’ve used shredded wheat instead of the rice or bread or whatever starch that is “supposed to go” with the leftover Chinese food or the tuna salad. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/172 "2026-08-20T17:51:55Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’ve done the reverse. I’ve used shredded wheat instead of the rice or bread or whatever starch that is “supposed to go” with the leftover Chinese food That’s one thing that I’m quite picky about. When I make rice as a side dish, to go with something like steak, I always make a version of vegetable rice with vegetable broth concentrate and dried porcini mushrooms, but for something like General Tao chicken or any kind of curry, absolutely nothing will do as the substrate except plain white rice. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/173 "2026-08-20T17:53:44Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’ve done the reverse. I’ve used shredded wheat instead of the rice or bread or whatever starch that is “supposed to go” with the leftover Chinese food or the tuna salad. That’s a good hack if you’re still allowing yourself carbs in general, but cutting out simple starches in favor of low-glycemic-index carbs. I’m assuming shredded wheat is whole grain – I’ve heard of it, of course, but have never eaten it except a handful of times as Frosted Mini Wheats breakfast cereal. Another carb substitution I’m working on adopting is course-chopped cauliflower florets in place of white rice. I haven’t done it enough to call it an “unusual eating habit” yet, but give it time. Oh … why not cauliflower rice, you ask? I dunno … the texture is disappointing, I guess. Chunkier cauliflower holds up better to the usual serve-over-rice entrees. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/174 "2026-08-20T18:07:04Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > I’m assuming shredded wheat is whole grain The stuff on my shelf has an ingredient list of “whole grain wheat, wheat bran, BHT added to preserve freshness”. But i did it because i was lazy. I didn’t have enough leftover rice to accompany my leftover Chinese, and… It’s different, of course, but i really liked it. The crunchy cereal has a nice mouth feel, and the little “biscuits” soaked up the tasty sauce well. So i branched out and tried it with other leftovers. I’m not a fan of cauliflower instead of a starch. I find it very unsatisfying in flavor and texture. But chunks sounds a lot better than riced ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/175 "2026-08-20T18:54:16Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Me too. But don’t get syrup on the meat. Don’t make a forkful of meat and pancakes w syrup. Alternating bites is fine. Together is bad …very bad. It’s great. In fact you can buy syrup flavored sausage. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/176 "2026-08-20T19:02:22Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > But I will still eat the crunchy taco before all of the other items on my plate, because I’m not waiting around for the juicy picadillo to make the bottom of the taco soggy. Especially with thin, crispy taco shells like Chipotle. I tip them up in the platter to help the liquid drain. Never heard of picadillo… ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/177 "2026-08-20T19:11:02Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > > Me too. But don’t get syrup on the meat. Don’t make a forkful of meat and pancakes w syrup. Alternating bites is fine. Together is bad …very bad. > > It’s great. In fact you can buy syrup flavored sausage. I agree. While I would not normally consider anything sweet to be compatible with generic “meat”, there are exceptions, and sausage is a notable one. Sausages are often flavoured with things like maple syrup and honey, and breakfast sausages with pancakes are just fine with butter and syrup over both. And of course we also have the classic combos of ham and pineapple, and roast pork with apple sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/178 "2026-08-20T19:20:31Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > All I know is that rather than the American habit of (assuming right handed) > > - put the fork in their right hand down > - pick up the knife with their right hand > - pick up the fork with their left hand > - cut off a piece > - put the knife in their right hand down > - switch the fork from the left hand to the right hand > - (Finally!) convey the piece with the fork in their right hand > - repeat steps 1 through 6 ad nauseum As a rightie who eats this way, I’m guessing most of us don’t even think of it as a matter of “switching hands.” Instead, we instinctively alternate betweeen “use the dominant (i.e., right) hand to hold the knife and cut off a piece while the left hand holds the fork” and “use the dominant (i.e., right) hand to hold the fork and convey the piece to my mouth (because why should I use the non-dominant hand to hold the fork when I’m not also holding the knife?).” ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/179 "2026-08-20T19:29:56Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Never heard of picadillo… It’s a Mexican dish of ground meat and cubed potatoes. It’s pretty delicious, and a popular taco filling. This looks like a pretty good recipe (though, I would probably add another pepper). > **[How to make Picadillo recipe | Ground beef and Potatoes](https://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/mexican-picadillo-recipe/)** > > Picadillo Recipe - Ground beef and potatoes cooked in a tomato sauce is a dish known as picadillo sencillo, or carne molida con papas. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/180 "2026-08-20T19:31:34Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > - put the fork in their right hand down > - pick up the knife with their right hand > - pick up the fork with their left hand > - cut off a piece > - put the knife in their right hand down > - switch the fork from the left hand to the right hand > - (Finally!) convey the piece with the fork in their right hand > - repeat steps 1 through 6 ad nauseum JFC, this is what I’m talking about – it sounds like the secret instructions to a juggling or magic act rather than how people {should} eat! I fail to see the problem with the way I’ve always used a knife and fork. The fork is always in my right (dominant) hand. For solid foods, it’s the primary utensil. The knife, always in the left hand, is either a “helper” utensil to help heap loose things onto the fork, or a cutting utensil. I cannot imagine any problem with this arrangement, but maybe it’s because I’m so accustomed to it. But how on earth, even if cutting steak or roast beef or whatever, could someone have such difficulty doing it with the knife in their non-dominant hand that they have to engage in this juggling act? I’m genuinely mystified. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370.md?page=10)