Breaking bread. Could there possibly be Table Etiquette rules about eating a piece of bread? Yes.

It is not good table manners to pick up a piece of bread and use it as a baton. The etiquette rule being, don’t talk and wave your bread around in the air to emphasize your point.

Take one piece of bread or break off one piece of bread, at a time, from the serving dish or basket.

Break your bread into reasonably sized pieces, one piece at a time. Not too small, but not too big either.

To butter your bread, rest the piece of bread against your plate. It is not good table manners to hold the slice of bread in the palm of your hand and butter it.

Butter one piece of bread at a time. Finish eating that piece before helping yourself to another piece of bread.

Place the butter knife on the side plate, after it has been used.

Butter is served in several different ways. It may be served as a stick of butter on a little serving plate, in a small dish filled with whipped butter or small balls of butter, or little individually wrapped pats of butter.

Eat with your mouth closed. Chew each bite and swallow before putting more food into your mouth.

Do not reach across the table. Politely ask someone to pass you the bread basket; remember those magic words, “Please” and “Thank you.”

If your child is in need of Dinner Manners Review , I have prepared a fun dot-to-dot practice table setting activity for children. This activity comes with a full page of Manners Review for you and your child.

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Other guides you may like:

Printable Table Manners for all ages
Children’s Table Fun Learning Activity
Afternoon Tea & High Tea Etiquette Guide