Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Coughing and Sneezing 101

There’s been a lot of sneezing and coughing going around and it’s not all undercover. Just think, a cough travels 60 mph! If a tissue isn’t at hand, go for the elbow.  And if your elbow isn't convenient or if you're worried that you're going to make your cashmere or cotton sick, go for a cupped hand. (If you're going to do it, do it right.)  But, sanitize after this germy act as soon as possible. And, please, whatever you do, don't shake hands or dig into a bowl of nuts.

Here Kathleen Sebelius demonstrates how to cough/sneeze correctly in a chic white jacket. She should know, she's the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
So, why don’t we make this National Sneeze and Cough Right Day or Week? Or just introduce yourself to your inner elbow. 

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

SPIT IT OUT BUT NOT ON SOMEONE’S FOOD

“I just stop eating and drinking,” Yvette answered when I asked what does she do when sitting in between two people who talk over her food and spit – not intentionally, of course.

The other night, I did the same thing. I met a friend for a pizza at a neighborhood bar. We sat at the bar, it’s a fun place and everybody knows our names. I sat in the middle of my friend and another acquaintance who was especially talkative. Unfortunately, she might as well have repeated ten times, “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers….”. I stopped eating; fortunately, my glass of wine was out of range. This is not the way to cut down on calories or enjoy a meal between friends.

It's not just a bar thing. It happens even at fancy galas and dinner parties where people want to engage in conversation with you or the person to the other side of you as they emit delicate sprays of saliva.

Speak behind the diner in the middle or wait until the end of the meal. Or speak to the person to your immediate right or left but rather than talk to their plate or the hand, keep your head up and way from their food. Do everything you can to not spray when you have something to say.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Oil Crisis At The Table

Recently, Yvette had the pleasure of dining with some friends. At least she thought they were friends until one of them tried to raise the collective blood pressure of the table.

The waiter had poured olive oil onto a plate and placed a basket of bread on the table. Each person took a piece, tore it into a smaller piece and then dipped it into the oil. Yum. One friend chose to put salt on her bread after she dipped it. We don’t have an issue with that. But, when the salt lover noticed she was the only dipper left or assumed she was, the olive oil plate received a generous donation of sodium.

All is not lost. Yvette was at Harlem’s Red Rooster (We like it a lot.) and sitting at a nearby table, a diner asked her table mates if it was all right for her to add salt to the oil. Yvette still thinks this is tacky. But I’ll cut Mademoiselle Sel some slack, at least she asked.

Friends don’t let friends get high blood pressure. Ask before you sprinkle.