Think about it. So you’re sitting there reading, right? And then you decide you need a snack. Most likely you’re not going to prepare a full course meal for this craving you have. So you grab some cookies or a bag of chips or frosted donuts. You grab a snack. But you’re eating with your hands. And then turning pages and holding your book (or eReader) with those same hands. See what I’m talking about?
I may not have the most books of any person, but I do take care of them. The spines are minimally worn. The pages are never dog-eared. The covers are not folded back. And food is never near any of them. So it’s crazy to read another blog post discussing the perfect reading snacks. The perfect reading snack is the snack that is consumed once you’re finished reading. This is a bit like people who eat and stay on their phone. Never mind the fact that that meaningless text conversation or Twitter mention is so important that it absolutely CANNOT wait until you’re finished eating, but what is appealing about transferring food from your fingers to your phone or book? I’m don’t see it.
On this day in 2014 I published Books I Will NEVER Read.
Once I got a book from the thrift store, started reading and about halfway through found a cheesy finger print! It was SICK!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! That could be the basis for a story. Girl gets book from thrift store. Reads book. Finds cheesy fingerprint. Sets off to find owner of the fingerprint. I’m so lame. 😂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well, glad to be apart of the creation your next book…it’s going to be a hit, I can feel it. 😉
LikeLike
And your name will be in the Acknowledgements. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My mother loves to eat ice cream while reading…I don’t get it. If I’m reading, I’m reading, nothing else. I do drink wine while reading but no spilling 🙂
LikeLike
Ice cream? I’m thinking of all the times I used to drop some on the front of my shirt. Not good. I can’t even drink water while reading. Lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I couldn’t agree more!
LikeLike
Woo! And here I thought I might be the only one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s actually really bad for your body to eat while reading/watching TV/surfing the internet/etc. You tend to ignore your body’s signals to tell you that you’re full, and you end up over-indulging in snacks. So, beyond the sticky factor, there are health reasons to avoid eating while reading, too. Now if only I could convince my son of this idea… 9-year-old boy + food + thing = food all over said thing. *facepalm*
LikeLike
I think I knew that. But it’s not something I’m actively thinking about. I can’t really eat and watch anything important, anyway. Just make sure that thing isn’t the dog and that food isn’t peanut butter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh, I hate touching my e-reader unless my hands/fingers are clean, and I look after my paperbacks too.
BUT!
As an author (who at this stage sells very little but still dreams big), if I found one of MY paperbacks in a thrift store, and it’s a battered, abused copy with food smudges on the pages, dog-ears and bent back so much it doesn’t properly close any more… that would totally make my day.
(And I’d probably look at all the dog-ear pages to see where it was they stopped reading to take a break, and be thrilled that they couldn’t even stop reading to eat–I would however, be appalled by strange yellow stains). 😀
LikeLike
Hmmm. I don’t think my book would ever end up in a thrift store. I also don’t think I’ve ever been in one. So I can’t say if I’d react the same as you would seeing your book all worn.
LikeLike
My manservant Gerard spoon feeds me while I am reading. So, really, not problem.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha! Gerard. He needs a better name. Tell him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I address him with the snap of my finger. I hardly ever use his name.
LikeLike
Big shot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s Mister Big Shot.
LikeLike
Oh. Excuse me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gerard is giving me a foot rub so I’m in a forgiving mood.
LikeLike
I hope you were nice enough to wash your feet beforehand.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rubbing my feet, even dirty, is a privilege.
LikeLike
That’s just nasty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha. Yeah. I gotta agree with you. NASTY.
LikeLike
Now can you get your feet away from Gerard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Gerard.
LikeLike
I’m calling the Canadian police. I think he may be held against his will.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You mind your business Guillen. Gerard is happy here. Mostly.
LikeLike
No. Let him tell me. I need visual proof. I have the number here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uh, he’s in the bathroom.
LikeLike
How convenient.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll have him call you when he’s done pooping.
LikeLike
Don’t rush him. That could be bad. And embarrassing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s still pooping.
LikeLike
Check on him. He could have become dehydrated after so long.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll squirt some water under the door with a water pistol.
LikeLike
Hahaha! He could slip and fall. Not a good idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Ohhhh. That’s what you want!? Noooooo. Gerard!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha. Well, I’m off to bed. Gerard will tuck me in.
LikeLike
I’m smuggling him out of the country during the night.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel the exact same way bout talking care of books.. I give this warning to ppl before I lend them my books. But still I will have dog eared pages, n almost broken spine.. I don’t like it at all !
LikeLike
Tell me the next time it happens. We’ll teach them a lesson. 👊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha.. sure thing John! 😁
LikeLike
I’ll have my brass knuckles ready. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
People do that? Why…? Just the thought of eating food while holding a book gave me a heart attack. Why would people eat and read at the same time? Wouldn’t they mess up their books? *shudders*
LikeLike
No one cares about their books. Some people actually like them all worn and damaged. So stupid.
LikeLike
😮 I guess you’re right. My cousin reads more than I do, and all his books are totally worn out. The ends are frayed, the pages are dog-eared. The spine of his books are extremely lined and he isn’t at all bothered by it. *internally screaming*
LikeLike
I’d just steal steal them away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So would I. I actually have his battered copy of The Order of the Phoenix with me, AND one of his Stephen King books.
LikeLike
Keep them safe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One reason why I don’t like renting a lot of library books is because of that. Usually the ones I’ve come across have crumbs, stains, and spots all over. It kind of grosses me out.
LikeLike
Haha really? In my minimal experience with library books I haven’t had that issue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re lucky, but to be honest, I haven’t really checked out books in the library since I was a child. But even renting textbooks, I’ve come across some really bad ones.
LikeLike
Same. Maybe eighth or ninth grade. I don’t remember any books in poor condition.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess devouring your book doesn’t count?
LikeLike
Nice one. Hadn’t thought of that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to eat while I read, but I couldn’t even tell you what it was that I ate. Hmm… Obviously I paid so little attention to the food and so much attention to the story. As it should be.
I haven’t eaten and read in a while. I have water with me everywhere I go. I’m a wateraholic, and I can’t go more than an hour without water, and since I read for hours at a time, it’s always there at my side. Other than that, food is banned from my reading time.
LikeLike
If you were eating but not paying attention to your food, then I bet you ended up with a number of stained shirts. 😂 Probably didn’t even notice. I always have a bottle of water around somewhere. Sometimes it’s empty, sometimes not. But usually not reading while drinking it.
LikeLike
[…] Stop Eating While Reading […]
LikeLike