Many of us have experienced the embarrassment of having a friend or family member who chews with their mouth open – it can be uncomfortable and downright unpleasant. Fortunately, there are polite and effective ways to ask someone to chew with their mouth closed. With the right phrase and approach, you can help the person in question develop better eating habits without making them feel humiliated or uncomfortable.
Phrases to Ask Someone to Chew With Their Mouth Closed
When asking someone to chew with their mouth closed, using a gentle, soft-spoken phrase can make all the difference. Try using a polite phrase such as:
- “Would you mind if we chew with our mouths closed today?”
- “I would appreciate it if you eat with your mouth closed.”
- “Let’s keep it polite by eating with our mouths closed.”
The key is to lay down the polite rules for dining or mealtime without making anyone feel personally attacked.
Politely Asking Someone to Remember Table Manners
Dining etiquette is a skill that some kids and adults may need to be reminded of. Politely mentioning table manners and the basics of chewing with one’s mouth closed may be all that is needed for most people to start practicing the right behavior. Try phrases like:
- “Can we remember to keep the noise to a minimum when eating?”
- “Can everyone please remember to chew with their mouths closed?”
- “Let’s all be respectful and keep the volume down while eating.”
Reminding someone in a friendly manner of the basic rules that apply to table manners may be enough to help them remember to keep their mouth closed while chewing.
How to Approach Someone About Chewing With Their Mouth Closed
When dealing with an individual who is a habitual mouth opener, the approach can be a bit more challenging. It is important to stick to a polite but firm tone and do your best not to make the person feel embarrassed. Try saying:
- “I’m sure you know the proper way to eat but could you please keep your mouth shut while you chew?”
- “I think you’re aware of the proper way to eat so maybe you could try to remember that when you’re at the table.”
- “I’m sure you don’t want to embarrass yourself, so please make an effort to keep your mouth closed while you chew.”
There are many ways to ask someone politely and respectfully to chew with their mouth closed without making them feel bad in the process.
Tips to Encourage Better Eating Habits
If you’re looking for ways to help certain individuals develop better eating habits, there are some simple yet effective tips you can use. First, try to make mealtime a more pleasant, enriching experience. Perhaps you can plan activities to enjoy as a family like playing games or discussing topics that everyone can contribute to.
Making sure that everyone has enough to eat, and serving dinner at a reasonable time each night can also be a great way to create healthy eating habits. Being aware of the foods you serve, and providing healthy options at mealtime can also be effective in encouraging better eating habits.
Dealing With Noise: Gracious Ways to Ask for Courtesy
When it comes to dealing with noise from people chewing with their mouths open, there are some polite and gracious ways to ask for a little more courtesy. Try saying:
- “We want this to be a peaceful dining environment, so could everyone please try to keep the volume low?”
- “We want to keep this to a polite, respectable level, so please remember to be quiet when you eat.”
- “Let’s be considerate of everyone while we eat and try to keep the noise level to a minimum.”
Asking people politely to keep the volume down during mealtime with such phrases can be a great way to help people understand the expected level of courtesy at the dinner table.
Conclusion
The key to effectively asking someone to chew with their mouth closed politely is to enforce the rules well in advance and to use a gentle yet firm approach. With the right phrase and a few helpful tips, you can help ensure that everyone remembers to keep their mouths shut during mealtime.