Many of us suffer from feelings of guilt when they don't finish eating all the food on their plate. While changing one's relationship with food can be a lengthy journey, understanding some basic dining etiquette rules could make things easier. An obvious restaurant faux pas is stacking plates when finished eating, as is talking with hands raised or resting elbows on table while conversing. Place the Napkin on Your Lap As soon as you sit at a table, it's customary to place your napkin immediately in your lap - preventing food debris and spills from damaging it and also discreetly wiping your mouth while helping prevent food from falling onto your shirt. At meals, it's essential that your napkin stays on your lap - this would be considered rude! Readjusting it as necessary throughout your meal should do just the trick; if necessary, place it on the seat of your chair (not on the table cloth) when leaving and back onto your lap once back at your seat. Your napkin should be folded loosely into loose folds that conceal any soiling from food particles, then left on your lap or placed to the left of your plate (rather than on it) once finished using. If dining buffet-style, place it to the side instead. Even if it seems tempting, never use your napkin as a tissue to blow your nose; this is unsanitary and could make those around you uncomfortable. Instead, opt for using something more appropriate such as handkerchief or Kleenex instead. Napkins made of linen can quickly become stained by food and drink, leading to musty odors if left neglected for too long. Launder them regularly as this will keep the germs at bay; according to one study restaurant chairs contain seventy percent more bacteria than toilet seats! Therefore it's crucial that always use clean linen napkins at your table - paper ones may do if no linen option exists yet! Place Your Utensils on Your Plate No matter where you eat, your plate should always contain all necessary utensils. A napkin should be loosely folded on the left side, along with fork, knife and spoon (if applicable). Your water glass (and wine glasses if applicable) should then be placed above or to the right of your plate. As soon as your meal begins, use the salad fork first before moving on to dinner fork. If your dinner includes soup as part of its course, your server should provide and pour a bowl for you. Your host is responsible for paying the bill so it is impolite or inappropriate to ask for second helpings without first waiting until a server offers more food or beverage before asking. American dining practices allow diners to indicate when they have finished eating by resting their fork and knife across their plate in an "V" configuration, signaling servers not to take your plate away until you give the signal yourself. This practice helps avoid having your food taken away prematurely by servers. European diners can indicate when they have finished eating by positioning their fork and knife into an "X" over their plate with tines facing one another - this helps the server read your plate accurately without taking action prematurely to take your plate away until you give them permission to do so. They may even offer dessert in response to this reading of your plate! Pass the Food to the Right How you serve food and beverages at the table is integral to creating an enjoyable dining experience for all guests, whether hosting a large gathering or stopping in at a favorite eatery. Following certain etiquette rules will prevent small table incidents from becoming major annoyances. When it comes to passing dishes and condiments at the table, the general rule should always be to pass them to the right. Doing this helps avoid reaching across to interact with other guests while also avoiding accidental bumps of silverware between diners' plates. It also makes retrieving your own condiments after finishing each course simpler since no need will arise to reach across the table in search of them! Additionally, when passing food to your right, make sure that when handed your own utensils, it is imperative to pick them up immediately and collect your own utensils upon being passed to you. Hold your soup spoon with its tines facing toward yourself or slurp from it in an inappropriate way; hold its tines down so as to scoop onto the back of a fork without directly overthrowing other guests' plates with mouthfuls of food! Salt and pepper should also be passed together rather than individually, to avoid any mishaps and ensure everyone receives their preferred spice shaker. Furthermore, remember not to talk with your mouth full or rock your chair during dinner as these are considered rude behavior that could annoy other diners. Pass the Salt and Pepper Reaching over your plate to grab salt and pepper is not polite, so wait for your hostess to offer these items to you instead. Additionally, intercepting an item offered to someone else at the table - like taking one out of the bread basket or accepting something offered by another diner - would also not be considered appropriate behavior. When someone requests salt or pepper, be sure to present both on either side of their plate with pepper on one side and salt on the other for proper table etiquette and so that your guests may season their meals without interruption from you. This way, all guests can use these seasoning options while you continue with other guests' needs. When leaving the table, place your napkin loosely on the table without crumpling or twisting, rather than placing it on your chair - this shows respect to those present and shows gratitude towards those who welcomed you into their home. Remember the most important rule when dining out: to enjoy yourself and be polite. If the food doesn't suit your palate, remain gracious and remain quiet about it. If there's any leftover food on your plate that you cannot finish eating right away, feel free to take it home with you - just be careful not to overfill your leftover container! When cleaning your plate prior to leaving the table it is also wise to leave some remnants behind so as to prevent bacteria spreading onto it further reducing its chance of spreading to other plates at the table before standing up, gathering up all belongings before thanking hostess before exiting table Don’t Clean Your Plate Since many of us were taught as children to clear our plates after every meal, this habit may actually be harmful to our health. By not paying attention to your body's cues for fullness or satiety, this practice encourages overeating that might otherwise contribute to overall wellness. The Clean Plate Campaign became widespread during World War I as an effort by government agencies to ensure food did not go to waste during rationing and shortage periods, but modern society no longer needs such strictures on plate cleanup at meals; indeed, they may even indicate disordered relationship with food when you feel pressured to do so at every meal. This rule can lead to overeating and weight gain. A key aspect of Intuitive Eating is learning to respect your hunger and eat in harmony with it - although this can be challenging for some who are used to being told they must complete everything on their plate. If you find yourself as part of the Clean Plate Club, make a conscious effort to recognize any messages contributing to it and consider ways of countering them. Perhaps making small adjustments in your habits can help break this pattern and foster healthy, balanced relationship with food. Changing habits might just allow for healthier meals without guilt-induced overeating; an ideal start to Intuitive Eating!