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A viral video claiming there’s a right way to eat cereal is sparking debate online — and it covers more dishes than most breakfast eaters would expect.
British etiquette instructor William Hanson shared a video on social media at the end of February showing what he says is the proper way to eat cereal: using a spoon in one hand and a fork in the other.
The video, filmed in the hotel’s breakfast room, has garnered more than five million views on social media and left many scratching their heads.
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“First, add your favorite milk,” Hanson says in the video. Then, with the spoon held in your dominant hand and the fork in your non-dominant hand, you will eat.
A viral video showing cereal being eaten with a spoon and fork has garnered millions of views. (Stock)
The fork is used to push the grain over the spoon, he explains in the short clip, adding that, unlike soup, you don’t need to take it away from you.
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Although the technique is “very elegant,” the fork helps “keep things tidy” and directs the flakes to the spoon, explains Australian ethicist Jo Hayes.
An extra bowl might make sense with a wider, lower-sided bowl, as regular cereal bowls help push the grain over the spoon, he added.
Hayes told Fox News Digital that while he generally agrees with Hanson’s approach, he has never seen anyone use a fork to make cereal and noted that it can be eaten in a civilized way with just a spoon.
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The most important rule, he said, is that diners don’t use their fingers to push the grain over the spoon or lean against the bowl.
Most nutritionists say that cereal can be eaten neatly with just a spoon. (Stock)
Some of the old dining traditions involved elaborate methods of certain dishes, according to Laura Windsor, a British author and etiquette expert who worked on the set of the Netflix series “Bridgerton.”
“Traditionally, the spoon was held in the hand holding the cereal, while a second utensil — sometimes another spoon, sometimes a fork — was used to scoop or hold the cereal and milk together to prevent spillage,” Windsor told Fox News Digital.
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In some cases, dry cereal may have been soaked in a separate bowl of milk before being eaten, she said.
But Windsor admitted that such methods can feel excessive in many modern breakfasts. “This all seems complicated, especially first thing in the morning,” she said.
This process alienated social media users.
A fork can help push the grain from the spoon if you are using a bowl with low sides. (Stock)
“I can’t tell if this is a rant or not,” wrote one Instagram user. “I think you’re freaking us out,” said another.
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Another person chimed in, “Using a fork to eat cereal is a luxury.”
However, others were open to the idea.
“I would definitely eat my cereal with a fork just to add a whole lot of class to my meal,” wrote one commenter.
Across the pond, ethics experts told Fox News Digital that the fork law is news to them.
Etiquette experts agree that diners should avoid using their fingers on cereal. (Stock)
“The rules of the table are not always the same on both sides of the Atlantic,” says California ethics expert Lisa Mirza Grotts.
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“As far as I know, there is no etiquette to use two bowls when you eat grains,” he added. “On the Western table, cereal has always been a one-tablespoon container. The spoon was designed for food served in a bowl – nothing else is needed.”
Nikki Sawhney, founder of the New England School of Protocol, agreed.
While using a fork to eat cereal may be a personal practice for convenience, he says the practice may be better in informal settings.
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“For example, a person might use a fork to break up a large batch of granola,” Sawhney said.
The unusual way of eating cereal has sparked debate online, with some calling it unnecessary. (Stock)
He recommends reading the room and avoiding unnecessary problems.
“Adding extra dishes or steps can sometimes make simple meals feel awkward or difficult,” he said, adding, “Modern habits should try to simplify dining procedures.”
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As one TikTok user put it, “Being classy is great, but there are limits.”
Hanson, author of “Just Good Manners: The Essential Guide to Politeness, Charm, Grace and Decorum,” has sparked an online debate about good manners before.
Ethical experts say that cereal was considered a bowl with one spoon. (Stock)
Last year, he went viral after saying the “only way” was to eat a banana with a knife and fork.
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This year, his cereal tip even made it onto “Saturday Night Live.” Afterward, he posted a poll on Facebook asking, “Have I gone too far?” Eighty-three percent of the nearly 5,000 voters said “Yes, yes,” while 15% said “Not at all.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Hanson for comment.
