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Contents of ESL

Yu Zhen Cha
n
David Che
n
Ofelio Chen
Wah You Lee

Lisa Le
e
Pak Ping Ng
Elena Tan
g
Winnie Leung

Marisa Leung
Wen Fei Liang
Sau Mei To
Man Ying Wong

Pauline Yau
Muhammed
Gunsel Yildirim Faraguna
                My Eating Habits
                                                 By Wah You Lee                                  Contents
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When I was a child, my mother taught me something about eating that has a big effect on me. My mother often said, “Children don’t need to eat well, but they must eat enough.” So. I used to eat a lot. My aunt said to me once, “Watching your eating, it can make a sick person have a good appetite.”
When I was a student at the university, there were thirty five people in my class. I was the third who ate a lot. After I had children, I told them that they should eat this way. I never let them feel hungry and never brought the expensive food for them. Now, I am an old man. They say that the old man should not eat too much. Usually, I only eat 80% of my necessary intake, but sometimes I can’t control myself. I eat a little bit more and overload.
Although I can taste good or bad food, I usually don’t mind it. I can’t explain how it is good or how it is bad. When my wife, my son or daughter cooks something new, they never let me try to taste it. They say, “He can’t give you any opinion about food.” I don’t like to eat out. I think that we can’t just taste the food but can’t enjoy the pleasant conversation in restaurants. If some friends visit, I like to eat at home, but my song and daughter would say, “Eating out is more convenient.” I disagree, but as an old man, I can do anything but follow them.
My mother taught me to divide the food and to give food to my cousins or friends. If I saw my friend eating alone, I felt it was unfriendly and left. But it was not because I wised to eat. I didn’t know why.
My mother always taught me eating etiquette. For example, “Don’t eat on the streets,” “When eating with other people, you should five considerations to others,” “Don’t seize the table with our elbows,” and “Don’t bite your chopsticks.” Usually, I must follow these rules of eating, but when I see someone eating on the streets, I think they must be very hungry because I have eaten on the streets for hunger.
My entire mother’s teaching about eating sixty years ago is very different from today’s idea. My mother said, “You don’t need to eat well, but must eat enough.” Now, people emphasize “the food’s nutrition.” I think today’s idea is more reasonable.
My mother said, “You shouldn’t waste food.” Today’s idea is “Waste can develop the society.” I’m not sure which is wrong or which is right. I think it is because I cannot understand exactly what “waste” is.
Today’s idea is, “Yours is yours, mine is mine,” so we don’t need to divide food and share with others; there is nothing wrong. But I think my mother’s teacher, “Share with each other,” is more friendly.
As for eating etiquette, although it does not belong to the law, there is nothing prohibiting or allowing certain behaviors, and the standard of eating etiquette is different because of the different people and traditions. But people should have civilized action. I think the most important etiquette in eating is, “Don’t be greedy.”