A little while ago I watched some parents struggling with their child. It was in a hospital canteen and it was busy. Basically they were trying to get what looked like a 10 year old boy to use cutlery to eat fish fingers and chips. To say they were losing the battle would be an understatement. The dad was getting frustrated and the mam was frustrated at the dad. The boy was trying to eat with his fingers and was being stopped. The worst of it was that the kid just wanted to eat. The second worst part was that the parent were having a hushed but aggravated conversation about people watching.
In reality if they thought about it for a moment they would have realised that people were looking at their conversation and aggravation they were causing each other. They however thought that people were looking at their child eating with his fingers. I know this because I was once sitting having that argument with Bev about Tam eating with his fingers. We had that hushed conversation. We also had less hushed conversations with people who actively tutted or even commented on the mess a 10 year old can get into eating a cream cake with his fingers.
I got over it. I don’t see a problem with Tam eating with his fingers. He knows how to use a spoon if he wants one, which he will use for eating ice cream. I know what is most important, and that is that Tam eats well, is chilled when he eats and that he gets food he likes. The location and method of him eating does not matter.
If you want a good excuse to give to people then read the information below. Eating with cutlery is not the norm in this crazy world. Eating with fingers is, followed by chopsticks. So the next time people complain your child wont use cutlery for what ever reason, tell them that they are the minority (or weird ones) for using a knife and fork.
Eating with fingers #
Estimating the exact percentage of the world population that eats with their fingers can be challenging due to cultural diversity and the lack of comprehensive global surveys on eating habits. However, it’s well-documented that finger-eating is a common practice in many parts of the world, especially in regions where traditional and cultural practices are strong.
General Observations: #
- South Asia: In countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, eating with fingers is a deeply ingrained tradition. The majority of the population in these countries, which together account for over 1.7 billion people, often eat with their hands.
- Middle East and North Africa: In many Arab countries, as well as in Ethiopia and Eritrea (where the traditional injera is eaten with fingers), eating with hands is customary.
- Southeast Asia: In countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, eating with fingers is also common, especially in rural areas and during traditional meals.
- Sub-Saharan Africa: Many regions in Africa, including West Africa, practice eating with their hands, particularly with foods like fufu, ugali, and injera.
Rough Estimation: #
Considering the population of these regions:
- South Asia: ~1.7 billion
- Middle East and North Africa: ~0.5 billion
- Southeast Asia: ~0.6 billion
- Sub-Saharan Africa: ~1.1 billion
Total: #
Adding these regions, we get an estimated population of around 3.9 billion people who are from cultures where eating with fingers is common.
Global Population Context: #
Given that the current world population is approximately 8 billion, the rough estimation suggests that nearly half of the world’s population comes from regions where eating with fingers is prevalent. Therefore, it is reasonable to estimate that around 40-50% of the world’s population may practice eating with their fingers regularly, depending on cultural context and personal habits.
This is a broad estimate and individual habits can vary widely even within these regions, but it provides a general sense of the global prevalence of eating with fingers.
As an argument about silverware is more civilised: #
Estimating the number of people who use chopsticks regularly involves considering the populations of countries where chopstick use is a significant part of the culture. The primary regions include East Asia and parts of Southeast Asia.
Key Countries and Regions: #
- China: The largest population using chopsticks, with over 1.4 billion people.
- Japan: Approximately 125 million people.
- South Korea: About 52 million people.
- Taiwan: Around 23 million people.
- Vietnam: Roughly 98 million people.
Chopsticks are also used in other parts of Asia and among Asian communities worldwide, but these countries represent the primary users.
Calculation: #
Adding up the populations of these key countries:
- China: 1.4 billion
- Japan: 125 million
- South Korea: 52 million
- Taiwan: 23 million
- Vietnam: 98 million
Total: #
The total population in these regions is approximately 1.698 billion people.
Global Context: #
Given the world population is around 8 billion, this means approximately 21% of the global population regularly uses chopsticks.
Additional Considerations: #
- Minority Populations: There are also significant minority populations using chopsticks in other countries, but their impact on the overall percentage is relatively small.
- Diaspora Communities: The Asian diaspora in various countries may also use chopsticks regularly, but quantifying this precisely is challenging.
Considering these factors, it’s reasonable to estimate that around 20-25% of the world’s population uses chopsticks regularly.
So if your child only eats with fingers realise they are in the majority of world eaters. Also realise that they are getting the nutrition that they need and getting it without stressing about what other people are thinking. For you, just ignore what people are thinking. Let them be who they need to be. If someone is foolish enough to voice their stupidity to you use the information above to correct them but don’t forget to tell them in the nicest way possible to mind their own business. Your child is your responsibility and village idiots are not your problem.
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