Pizza Manners…is there such a thing?

Did you know that pizza has its own day? National Pizza Day is February 9th! ?
My family loves pizza!

How do you eat pizza with good manners?
Is it even possible?
YES!
You just do the best you can depending upon where you are and what you have to work with.

Most pizza nights, my family is gathered around the kitchen island, eating pizza on paper plates. Pizza night is a “we’re too busy to cook and do dishes night” or “we’re starving and craving pizza night”.

Every meal is a manners teaching opportunity!

Next time your family has pizza, teach these pizza manners:

• If you have a knife available, cut the slice lengthwise to make it narrower and more manageable to pick up.
• If you don’t have a knife and it’s a wide pizza slice, then you can fold the slice lengthwise to make it neater to eat.
• Wait until the pizza has cooled a bit before taking a bite. Patience is required or you’ll have greasy cheese all over your shirt and third-degree burns on your chin. ?
• If you have a knife and fork available then do use them, but often you will not have utensils in the casual settings where pizza is served. Pizza is usually served as a “finger food”.
• Be sure to have a napkin and use it!
• Take small bites- about the size of a quarter. 

I’ve taught an hour-long manners class for elementary ages around the theme of pizza by including phone manners (role-playing in pairs ordering the pizza), tipping and politely dealing with service people (when the pizza arrived), and of course, basic table manners. Learning is more fun when you incorporate a fun theme (and delicious pizza)!

How are your children’s table manners? Need help? Get a free copy of The Family Table Manners Checklist plus helpful how-to tips to help you teach your children table manners in a fun and stress-free way.
Remember, good manners and social confidence begin at the family table!