My Grandmother's Etiquette

Of course, not all of this stuff is crazy and outdated. Much of it is still very sound advice. Take this bit on dieting, for instance. I have been guilty of thoughtlessly elaborating on my latest diet strategies to people who probably did not appreciate it. Original post is here.

Dieting, while not exactly a habit, is included for convenience in this chapter because, like smoking, drinking, and gum chewing, it requires consideration on the part of the dieter to keep his diet from being a nuisance or a bore to others. The same etiquette might well be applied to people who have allergies.

The points are very simple. Few of your friends want a blow-by-blow description of what you should and shouldn't eat, or how many pounds you have lost or gained. Certainly none of your acquaintances wants the details. So just let your appearance speak for itself, and be satisfied with your own feeling of virtue.

When you are being entertained, feel perfectly free to refuse a dish you can't eat, with a simple, "No, thank you." There's no need for an explanation...