Food consumption tradition is one among the unique ways throughout the length and breadth of the country. Indian way of consuming food using fingers have mesmerised many foreign travelers. Their struggle in trying to follow our way of consumption have for sure pushed us into an amusing state of sight.
If we think it is only Indians who are into hand and finger method for the consumption of food, then Nay. Ethiopian cuisine, Oaxacan cuisine, and many other regions of the Middle East, Africa, and South America including south Asia follow this type. Wondering on where the system of used Cutlery’s arrives, we end up into a different world of cultural evolution.
Few sources state, it is the weather condition of the place which led people in colder region go for spoon/fork. As per the view, the cooked food would be very hot due to which holding them in hand became difficult. As it was cold region, they had no choice to wait until the food gets warmer as it may frost the food too. And so only option available to the people was depending on equipment which will support stove to mouth practice, so that hot and fresh food be eaten as prepared. In spite of the narration seeming close to reality, the actual truth is unknown.
Where as among the usage of Chopsticks and Spoon, Spoon system came in first. The area’s where millet production was high, the porridge of millet was consumed. The spoon made the life easy for the people to have millet porridge.
In later period when wheat gained an upper hand foods like noodles and dumplings were prepared. And came the chopsticks aiding the consumption of food made out of wheat flour.
In spite of all these forms of practices, food consumed using hand is considered healthier.
There was also an era which saw people looking down upon the people who consumed food using their hands. It was also regarded unhygienic. Regardless of all the criticism, the Science now is proving that hand eaten food to be the best choice among all forms.