Someone told me that Americans, when having a meal, cut all their food up before they start eating it?
Is this true? If so, why? Is it just considered more polite? Also, doesn't the food get cold?
Thanks. 
Chris: I know it's a generalisation, but I meant it more in a "is it a cultural thing" kind of way. And almost all cultural things are generalisations.
James, ThumbWarDestroyer, and THEAmericanPatriot:
You don't have to be so defensive. My friend told me it was just a cultural thing, like for example the French eating frog's legs. I didn't mean that EVERYONE did it, I just meant was it one of those cultural things?
There are cultural differences in every country, and I wondered if this was one of those cultural differences. I in no way meant the question to be offensive.
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36 responses so far ↓
1 Joel R // Jul 9, 2008
That is not true. The correct way to eat is to cut as you go.
Greenshark19 has apparently smoked some good Canadian weed. She is totally wrong in saying that we all do that, but even more appalling is the lie about someone being able to tell that she's Canadian because she didn't cut up all her steak.
2 ravenwrestler // Jul 9, 2008
damn americans
3 JESS // Jul 9, 2008
uhhh i don't. haha i just eat whatever i want when i feel like it.
4 danette // Jul 9, 2008
yea they cut it all up for babies and toddlers and as foe adults everyone is different! god bless you
5 robgently // Jul 9, 2008
They do?
Ah man, that means for 40+ years I've been doing it wrong.
6 $andman // Jul 9, 2008
I don't know that's true,but eating together as a social or family event is dying…
7 Andrew S // Jul 9, 2008
not true…in fact, it's more proper and polite to cut off a piece and eat it instead of cutting them all up and then going to town on your meal…and you're right it stays hotter that way too.
8 Greenshark19 // Jul 9, 2008
yes they do. I don't know why, I'm Canadian but i was in the states once and somebody picked out i was Canadian because i didn't cut all my meat first.
9 James // Jul 9, 2008
Someone told me you're an idiot.
Americans also all drive Fords, right?
10 robbin // Jul 9, 2008
because they are unsure what in thinking the most liberal or conservative well it must be soo hard to make that dissuasion when you live in th great USA no offense but you trying to hard ?
11 Laurel R. // Jul 9, 2008
With somthings, yes. But with others, no. Because people here just think that its polite with somethings and not with others. I would think so. Your welcome!
12 pinky // Jul 9, 2008
i never cut up all my food before i eat
……and the last time i checked i was an american!!
13 lilmegz // Jul 9, 2008
No way we cut it up as we go but dah who doesn't Where did u hear that any way
14 Cyndi // Jul 9, 2008
no thats just personal preforance, do what ever you prefer,we are very casual eaters.
15 Chris // Jul 9, 2008
Lol its safe to say that wild generalizations like that should be ignored. I'd assume some might, but certainly not all. I'd also assume people do that other places too, not just in the USA.
16 Sunny // Jul 9, 2008
no i've never seen an american do that. and in fact it is considered rude. it is proper etiquette to only cut one piece at a time, and eat that piece before cutting another piece.
17 teacher4ever // Jul 9, 2008
i cut as i eat everyone have their own way of eatting
18 I Love Howie Carr // Jul 9, 2008
Cutting it up doesn't make it cold unless you're cutting up a forest, jeez. I've never seen anyone cut up all their food before eating it, though.
19 jacob s // Jul 9, 2008
it really depends on the food and where did u here the "?" from how did that get started are u an American if u r u should know if u cut ur food up or not and yes its true for some foods, because its so hard to eat it, yes i would think its more polite to cut it and not shove it in ur mouth, food does get cold but how long would u be waiting for to eat it any ways why would u and not just eat it right away ( i understand some foods are hot).
20 ☺ Sheepie // Jul 9, 2008
If I cut up my food it's because I want to use chopsticks, and that's just me being unamerican.
21 Hawk // Jul 9, 2008
I don't, when i eat my steak, I grab it with both hands and attack it like a Bull Dog. Everybody in the Res truant watches to see if I bite my fingers, so far I haven't.
22 ThumbWarDestroyer // Jul 9, 2008
…we cut our food if necessary, but not before we eat…maybe for little kids who don't like cutting food, you might cut up their breakfast…but really…do all Europeans ask such stupid questions?
23 Mel // Jul 9, 2008
I've never cut up my food. I pretty much just eat it however it is. I don't think it's rude to not cut your food up. However, I do have to say that it is pretty common to cutting off one piece of food, eating it and cutting off another.
24 THEAmericanPatriot // Jul 9, 2008
Some folks do. My wife does. Personally, I cut a piece of meat, then eat it. However, I do it the European way. I saw a war movie when I was a kid. The American was a spy in Germany. He was in a restaurant with some Nazi officers nearby. He cut his meat, laid down his knife, transferred his fork to his right hand and put the piece of meat in his mouth. Americans do that, not European. One Nazi officer noticed that and a chase ensued. So, from the time I was in 4th grade, I cut the meat and put it into my mouth with the same hand (left).
The food will get cold whether you cut it or not.
Is it true in your country you cut your bananas in pieces before eating them with a fork? I saw that on a European movie once. So, I guess ALL Europeans do that.
25 tehabwa // Jul 9, 2008
They were either having you on or were misinformed.
Mothers cut up their young children's food, beofre their children have learned how to use knives, I know no adults who cut up all their food. I've lived in the US almost all my life (except a few month, years ago); nearly 50 years, I've never seen anyone do this.
26 kerriiskk // Jul 9, 2008
I do occasionally… like when I am eating meat and going to be sitting somewhere that there is no table… picnic, couch, bbq… other than that no I cut as I go or don't cut at all if it isn't meat.
It doesn't make the food get colder faster and I don't see why some people are getting so offended over it. I wouldn't think anything of it if someone did it or didn't… it's like some people don't want one part of thier meal touching another or people who mix it all together… it's none of my business.
27 juniejuly // Jul 9, 2008
That is false. Source: Me from the USA.
28 Alyssas mommy // Jul 9, 2008
Hm, it is customary for a parent to cut up their child's entire meal before they start eating. Adults should cut as they go.
29 Rollie H // Jul 9, 2008
I've never done that in my life, and don't know anyone who does!
30 Jimmy C // Jul 9, 2008
I have seen it done. It may be because they eat with the fork upwards in the right hand and only use the knife to cut. Then they put the knife in theri left hand.
Americans and Canadians do not have the same etiquette as the British when it comes to eating. They are far more casual about cutlery.
31 Shinigami Kiyoshi // Jul 9, 2008
well some people do this so they dont have to keep picking the knife, and just keep the fork in their hand…[ in short we're lazy] personally I don't do it but my brother and mother do it.
the food doesn't really get cold since from there on you eat it as meals are generally quick…
though if you want to make a good impression these days all you need is the not chew with your mouth open, not burp loudly or in someones face, don't fart [ go to the restroom if you have to] , and at least taste the food you may dislike.
32 carriehas5 // Jul 9, 2008
Some people do and some people don't. Why does it matter anyway?
33 Bluebird // Jul 9, 2008
I think it is so funny that all the Americans who answered this too offence when your question was just an honest questions. You should see some of the questions Americans ask about Australians with deliberate offence intended. It is good to see them getting back some of their own.
Anyway, I haven't heard about the food thing but I would be grosses out if someone did that at the table with me, it implies that they are so greedy.
34 kim h // Jul 9, 2008
I cut as I go also. The food does get cold if you cut it all up.
35 earthelement949 // Jul 9, 2008
i only cut food like that if im attempting to eat with chopsticks. I dont think Americans do that though. Some maybe.
36 Cheryl M // Jul 9, 2008
My mother told me something like that once, she probably saw one person do it in a movie or something.
It's a bit like saying that all Australians spend Christmas Day on the beach. I have never been to the beach on Christmas Day and I don't know anyone who says they do it.