Do’s & don’ts: eating on public transport
Eating and drinking is a must. And if you ask me, preferably as much and as often as possible. But in some places, preferably not. Or at least in moderation and with precautions. Here’s our guide: how do I survive eating on public transport?
Do’s & don’ts: eating on public transport
Delays, almost sitting on each other’s laps, crying babies: life on public transport can be tough. And if the person behind you also opens a kapsalon at ten in the morning… Send help! Don’t be that person and follow these tips.
Smelly cat
Public transport vehicles are enclosed spaces on wheels. You share the same air with everyone, so food with a strong smell isn’t the best choice for your public-transport food pyramid. Go for food with a neutral or fresh smell. And no, patatje joppie doesn’t count.
Throw it away
Before you get on, take a quick look in your bag to make sure there aren’t any neglected food items in there. For example, that tuna salad sandwich from yesterday that accidentally ended up in the side pocket. And since we’re talking about tuna salad: even if it’s fresh, save it for another place. The only public transport where it’s okay to eat tuna salad? The OV-fiets.
Cutlery
Keep it simple when you eat on public transport. Do you need a complete dinnerware set to eat? Then it’s probably better not to do it in a moving vehicle. Just a spoon? Slurping hazard! So we don’t recommend that either. Remember this: if it’s already difficult to eat at the table, it’s completely impossible on public transport.
Keep it clean
If you’re going to eat anyway: have napkins at the ready, please. Nobody likes having to zigzag through your crumbs as if they were navigating an obstacle course. And perhaps most importantly: if you eat on public transport, you officially lose the right to touch things. The food you’ve touched is on your hands. Don’t touch handrails. No poles. No stop buttons. We’d rather use hand cream than the residue from your greasy fingers. Thank you very much.
Ssshh
Eating sunflower seeds in their shells or a bag of crinkly crisps isn’t exactly appreciated by your fellow passengers. Least of all by the people who fall asleep before the conductor has blown the whistle or the plane has taken off (guilty!). And perhaps even more important is how you eat. Keep your mouth closed; don’t smack or slurp. Your fellow passengers will be eternally grateful. Or at least until their next transfer.
But are you really hungry?
Above all, think logically. Haven’t you eaten for a few hours and do you really need to get something down? Okay. But are you simply eating out of boredom? Then you really can wait until you’ve got off. Have a chat, read a newspaper, do a crossword puzzle. I don’t say this often, but there’s more to life than just food.
And while you’re at it, turn those earbuds down a little too. Cheers!
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