You May Think You Know How To Eat These Foreign Foods — But You Don’t [Video]

Did anyone every tell you “Hey! You eat like an American?” Well, if so, whoever said it probably didn’t mean it as a compliment. Because as our worldly pals at BuzzFeed demonstrate in this informative — and, frankly, appetizing — video, if you’re eating anything besides traditional American fare such as steak and potatoes, burgers or fried eggs, you are most likely eating incorrectly.

Now, in all seriousness, eating is a personal thing, and as long as you’re not grossing anyone out or making a mess you can’t clean up, you should eat using any method that makes you feel comfortable.

But having said that…

Do you dip your sushi in soy sauce? Do you cover your tacos in lettuce, tomato and cheese. Do you cut your pasta with a knife? (Wait — people cut pasta with a knife?) Well, if you do — you are definitely eating wrong.

It’s understandable why Americans often have trouble adapting to the traditions of foreign dining. Chopsticks, for example, are definitely a learned skill. It’s just a lot easier to eat kung pao chicken with a fork. But when it comes to one Asian food favorite, there’s good news. You are actually not supposed to use chopsticks.

Of course, you’re definitely not supposed to use a fork. What then? Your fingers, silly. This BuzzFeed video will teach you how.

Indian cuisine comes with a higher degree of difficulty. While most Americans prefer to eat their chicken vindaloo with traditional silverware, the true Indian way is to eat without utensils. That’s right. Those tasty but sloppy curries and even the big plates of rice — you eat those with your fingers.

Note that we didn’t say, “eat with your hands.” No, contact between food and palm is a strict no-no in Indian dining culture.

But eating Indian food is even more complicated than that — because you’re allowed to use only one hand. Specifically, your right hand, even if you’re a lefty. In Indian tradition, the left hand is used for — um, let’s just say it’s used for activities you wouldn’t want to combine with eating.

So go international — watch this BuzzFeed video an learn not to eat like an American.