Woman eating with her hands on train gets internet talking
What are your thoughts on eating with your hands in public?
In many cultures, eating food with your hands is considered normal. It is not something that opens up criticism or is frowned upon.
Some believe it adds a different element to the eating experience.
An article in The UK Independent saw a journalist reveal why people should be eating with their hands. "Eating with one’s hands is an immensely pleasurable experience. While in the West, the act is usually confined to foods encased in bread or pastry, Indian, African, and some other Asian cultures are more adept at using their fingers for dishes that might seem too “messy” or “sticky” on this side of the world."
She went on to speak about the varied cultures and foodies who advocate for eating with your hands. But while all these chefs and cooks abide by this once unruly or vulgar practice, Charles Spence, professor of experimental psychology at the University of Oxford, "believes the pleasure lies in our perception of food".
Read more: Call for food waste to be made illegal
A video of a woman eating with her hands in the London tube (train) has generated much online chat and sparked an online debate about whether this is acceptable.
Some focused more on hygiene when eating on the train and less on the cultural practice of using one's hands to eat. The woman was unfazed by her fellow passengers and happily ate her food with one hand while holding her phone in the other.
Watch the video from X below.
A Jubilee Line train stops in the heart of London Docklands, the home of hi-tech & sophisticated banking.
— David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) May 28, 2025
An Indian woman is on the phone, eating her dinner with her hands. pic.twitter.com/ukMDD8uo9Z
While many still consider it unhygienic, eating with your hands (in public or not) can offer a multidimensional experience. One that allows you to eat mindfully and purposefully, enjoying the food experience.
We cannot say we disagree with the notion, as many South Africans are brought up using their hands to eat. And we must agree that eating with your hands might not be the best etiquette in other parts of the world, but it is normal for South Africans and encouraged in many settings.
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Image Courtesy of X