Silencing Your Chew: The Art of Eating Quietly

Are you tired of getting dirty looks from your fellow diners just because you have the audacity to eat? It’s not fair, is it? You need to eat to survive. But what can you do when every time you take a bite, the whole room goes quiet and all eyes turn towards you?

Fear not my friend! There is a way out of this sticky (and noisy) situation. In this article we will be discussing The Art Of Eating Quietly, so sit back, relax, and don’t chew too loudly.

Is Loud Chewing Really That Big A Deal?

Loud chewing might seem like a trivial thing to some people. But for others, it can cause frustration and even disgust. Some cultures see loud chewing as disrespectful or impolite behavior that must be avoided at all costs.

Let’s put it in perspective- imagine being on an important business dinner with potential clients or partners; would loud chewing really give them the best impression of yourself? I think we both know the answer there.

However; some sounds happen involuntarily during eating such as clinking cutlery against plate which are understandable but avoidable when paying attention.

Diagnosing The Problem

Have you ever wondered why some people’s chewing seems quieter than others’? Well my dear reader – turns out there could be many reasons why your munching habits appear louder than other individuals next door!

First up – Biology! According to scientists,the way your mouth is shaped could have effects on how much sound your food makes at mealtimes (1) .

Another factor that affects sound levels is how dry or wet our mouths are. When salivary glands become active they help moisten food before swallowing – if there isn’t enough saliva produced then crunches become more pronounced (2) .

But these theories apart, it’s important to understand the cultural sensitivity towards noisy eating, and thus take actions to mitigate things.

Silence Is Golden

Now here comes the million dollar question – How do you silence your chew?

First off, silence isn’t something that just magically happens. You need to have a game plan in place. Here are some of the tactics that you can use:

Mind What You Eat

A loud crunch or slurp could ruin an entire mealtime experience . Chomping on crunchy chips or crisps is never going to be quiet so avoid those. Instead aim for softer foods which may reduce sounds produced during consumption as compared to harder objects.

Pro Tip: Mushy peas provide a tasty alternative and significantly decrease audible food events for those who prioritize quieter dining experiences (3).

Use Utensils More Efficiently To Your Advantage

The utensils at your table aren’t only there just for show! There are certain ways you could efficiently utilize them without making noise easily.

  • Don’t scrape cutlery against teeth when taking bites; instead attempt using flat tongues while speaking (Your guests will thank you)

  • Slow down your pace of chewing noting your movements carefully

  • Close mouth around cutlery completely while eating (no one wants bad manners displayed)

Time & Place Consideration

Timing is key when trying not to draw undue attention with intrusive munching sound effects lingering about the airwaves!

Sticking close attention to volumes arising from our masticatory habits this can be achieved by avoiding meals whilst deeply engrossed in conversational exchanges or/and group activity situations where common courtesy matters most (5).

Etiquette Matters But So Does Noise Cancelling Technology!

While it’s always good etiquette rules are followed, sometimes things really spiral out of control not because we’re too greedy but our ability suppress food noises fade!!

As per(6) “White noise” applications may drown out nearby conversations and thus mute the noise of eaters around you. Ear plugins which minimize annoying sounds could come in handy too for situations where absolute silence is desirable such as eat-ins where background conversation becomes a nuisance.

In conclusion – next time you sit down to dine, remember these tips! With just a little extra effort on your part, it’s possible to make eating a quieter experience not only for yourself but others around.

References

  1. McAlpine, H., & Plack Christopher (2004). ‘It Sounds To Me Like…’: The Interpretation of Non-speech Sounds by Adults with Asperger Syndrome or High-functioning Autism’. Journal Of Autism Development Disorder, pp53-75.
  2. Bush, E.C,. Kim M.S., Jeon I.H.(2016) ‘Sensitivity and Specificity of Human Chewing Sounds in Detection of Different Food Textures”. Applied Acoustics,(245),pp87-95 .
    3.Jardine D.A;Pliner P .(1988) “Effects of Visual Exposure on Texture Preferences Involving Foods”. Appetite ,10.pp205–211.
  3. Ooi Koon Ghee,Ardi Arisandi,Zainal Abidin Mohamed,Mohamed Suffian Ibrahim,Koh Gim Hong;”Keep Quiet Please : A Concept Paper On Noise Pollution Issues Within Malay Household Environment” ;Journal Of Advances And Scholarly Researches In Allied Education Volume:14 Issue:06 June 2017;
    6.White,R.W.;Dumais,S.T.; Teevan,J.&Liebling,D.J.(2007)“Burstiness in Interactive Search.”Proceedings CHI’07,HCI Symposium Workshop on Modeling People:Theory Methods,and Applications(619–624).

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