How to eat greasy snacks without soiling your beloved board

[Britney Spears]

I sometimes like to snack in front of my computer, as many others too, I guess. But I do not want to get my beloved Ducky dirty. So usually I stop doing whatever I do and snack a bit without touching my board at all and then go and wash my hands and continue to browse, code or whatever I was doing.
Frankly this is annoying. Do I really want to stop coding and eat some chips? Actually I want to do both at the same time. My first thought was to use a spoon or fork. While eating peanuts and the like is perfectly possible with a spoon, neither fork nor spoon work for chips.

But today while coding some node.js and lusting for some peanuts, I remembered a particular detail from my short stay in China and I finally found the ultimate solution which I want to share with you.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present you:

Chopsticks!

Eating:


Typing away (with clean fingers):


 

[lightsout714]

Not a bad idea.

[Belfong]

If eating peanuts, I would just pour them into my palm and cup them into my mouth. No fingers got dirty.

[Defect]

Blender works, too.

[Kliee]

Great idea ! Still curious to know how safely you can eat crispy chips or big greasy things with that

I usualy use the opportunity of me wanting to eat something to take a break from my work. I almost never eat and work at the same time.
And I always wash my hands before typing on my KB again.
So, this dilemna never happened to me XD.

[Britney Spears]

Blender works, too.

A peanut smoothie? Yummy!

[Frenir]

I've been doing this for some time now, It's the only way I can still enjoy Ostepops(Cheetos) without feeling guilty.

[Britney Spears]

Great idea ! Still curious to know how safely you can eat crispy chips or big greasy things with that

I have to admit that I not tried chips yet, but the peanut chips I prefer should not present any difficulties.

[SpAmRaY]

Just shake them right out of the bag into your mouth.

[Candyflip]

Show Image

Just shake them right out of the bag into your mouth.

Guilty of doing this  ^-^

[Britney Spears]

Just shake them right out of the bag into your mouth.

This never really worked for me. For some reason I prefer my snacks to end up in my mouth and not on my shirt. But maybe it is just a matter of practice.

[Noko]

Yup, I always like to eat popcorn this way.

[Defect]

I actually was given one of these at work as a sample.  Just remembered it.

It's terrible, doesn't really work but it DOES make you eat slower, so your stash lasts longer.

[mougrim]

Pack of toilet paper. Cheap and long-lasting solution

[da20valve]

I never eat while gaming or typing, if I have to eat I do something on my machine that doesn't involve getting **** all over my keyboard (movies, or reading this forum), I always have baby wipes on my desk anyway, that and I turn my keyboard upside down once a week and shake **** out of it, its kind of my Sunday ritual, clean keyboard, desk and bottom of mouse with a baby wipes.....,take me like 2 mins.\, there is nothing more frustrating while gaming and having your mouse not move smoothly (or not at all) thats why I try to keep it clean.... If only I could be this clean with the rest of my life......,especially my car

[absyrd]

I just put stuff like that on a paper plate and bury my face in it. I have zero problem eating like my dog.

[metalliqaz]

I just put stuff like that on a paper plate and bury my face in it. I have zero problem eating like my dog.

This.  Or just pour treats out of bag directly into face. 

[fohat.digs]

Yup, I always like to eat popcorn this way.

I always eat popcorn with my tongue. I keep small shallow bowls around for the final transfer.

[Puddsy]

What's wrong with wiping your fingers on a rag? It's easier for some and a lot faster to use your hands.

That's what I do, anyway.

[Britney Spears]

What's wrong with wiping your fingers on a rag? It's easier for some and a lot faster to use your hands.

That's what I do, anyway.

There is nothing wrong with it. My post is only half-serious.

[hwood34]

What's wrong with wiping your fingers on a rag? It's easier for some and a lot faster to use your hands.

That's what I do, anyway.

This. I actually have a habit of wiping my hands on a towel while eating and then carrying it around with me

[davkol]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57470

[osi]

Fork and butter knife work well for a lot of things. Sometimes it garners wierds looks but I use utensils if I have to for things like fried chicken and pizza.

When possible, I try to avoid eating around the board

[Blackehart]

Two words: Wet Napkins. (Moist towelette for you fancy folk).
Place it in a small dish.
wipe fingertips before touching keyboard.

One hand on the wasd, the other on the chips/cleanup.

[osi]

Good call on the wep naps. That reminds me--In a pinch, hand sanitizer works as a decent cleaner

[tbc]

this topic has been on the internet for at least 14 yearslol  (when i first started using the internet).

but reallly, chopsticks.  if you're from a nonasian culture and not comfortable using them, then just practice, they are DEFINITELY usable with chips.

[fohat.digs]

but really, chopsticks.

But really, don't eat at the keyboard.

It will stay clean, and you need the break.

[Zeal]

this topic has been on the internet for at least 14 yearslol  (when i first started using the internet).

but reallly, chopsticks.  if you're from a nonasian culture and not comfortable using them, then just practice, they are DEFINITELY usable with chips.

Chopsticks = solution for everything  )

They can cut like a knife by poking, and pick up virtually everything (depending on your fine motor skills)

Only problem I found eating at the desk is that crumbs/seasoning still sometimes fall off 

[eth0s]

I just let one of my maids feed me.  Why do you guys do it yourselves?  What are you paying them for?

[minho]

I just let one of my maids feed me.  Why do you guys do it yourselves?  What are you paying them for?

To do dirty things.

Like literally.

[1391406]

Tongs?

[smknjoe]

Just shake them right out of the bag into your mouth.

This never really worked for me. For some reason I prefer my snacks to end up in my mouth and not on my shirt. But maybe it is just a matter of practice.

Britney Spears must have a drinking and eating problem.

[okwchin]

haha, i've been using chopsticks for years, for that exact purpose. Eating chips/crisps especially. Works well. Good training for ambidexterity too.

[rowdy]

I eat chips with one hand and type with the other.  When chips are finished I thoroughly wash both hands.

Might have to try the chopsticks ...

[davkol]

Actually, I'd be worried about stuff getting in the opposite direction, because keyboards are said to be the dirtiest thing around, right after the toilet.

[Kagusaki Wolf]

For chips, popcorn, peanuts, pretzles, cheetos, etc., i just shake them into my mouth from the bag.  Pizza i use knice and fork.  Hot pockets, I wrap that heating shell thing with paper towels.  Hell I sometimes use latex gloves when I eat chicken lol 

[sth]

omg how many replies and nobody has said the obvious

chipsticks

[absyrd]

omg how many replies and nobody has said the obvious

chipsticks

You'd better get a patent on that ****!

[Coreda]

[maatmouse]

I eat away from the desk, usually in Starbucks over the road.

Eating and a good keyboard don't really mix, as the last person who used my keyboard ended up dumping bread crumbs in it. 

Mind you, it IS only a cheap, rubber domed thing which may be being replaced over the next week with something better.

[Lanx]

as an asian, this is something i cannot do, b/c it's way too asiany, if someone saw me doing this, eating nuts with chopsticks, they'll just assume i have a scientific calculator in my pocket, i can whip up general taos in 4 minutes and i can paint nails with precision (this is what white girls think, since they mainly see asians in nail salons, cuz you know they're dumb).

the best solution i found, is to, not eat at my desk, at most i'll have my espressos really.

i mean keyboards are nasty in general, i hope you guys have a bottle of cleanex wipes next to it, i have a bottle of cleanex wipes in every room, just to wipe stuff down.

[zeroni13]

I have used chopsticks to eat snacks in front of my computer for a couple of years now. It's really awesome and keeps your keyboard clean!

[russm]

Haveing the right Snap-On tool and tecnique matters!

[osi]

Haven't done this in a while but for the snacky items (chips, etc) -- put them in a plate and use your tongue to pick things up.

It's more of a stick it to your tongue technique, not a prehensile motion unless your akin to gene simmons

[minho]

Haven't done this in a while but for the snacky items (chips, etc) -- put them in a plate and use your tongue to pick things up.

It's more of a stick it to your tongue technique, not a prehensile motion unless your akin to gene simmons

This method seems awfully involved for a casual snacking while browsing the internet.

[nobee]

Haven't done this in a while but for the snacky items (chips, etc) -- put them in a plate and use your tongue to pick things up.

It's more of a stick it to your tongue technique, not a prehensile motion unless your akin to gene simmons

Use your tongue? This is such a weird thread.

[rowdy]

Haven't done this in a while but for the snacky items (chips, etc) -- put them in a plate and use your tongue to pick things up.

It's more of a stick it to your tongue technique, not a prehensile motion unless your akin to gene simmons

Use your tongue? This is such a weird thread.

I'm learning a lot about GHers' eating habits

[user 18]

I have 4 boards on my desk.

Only ever used one of them when I was eating. I tell people it's by design (it's got my cheapest thin ABS caps), but that's only partially true.

[Latin00032]

I try not to eat or drink near my keyboard too often.

Still, my keyboard is placed near the rear of my desk close to the monitors.

I usually gives me room to put prints in front of me for work.

I can also eat in front of it with less fear of having liquids our good crumbs entering the keyboard.

[rowdy]

I tried the chopstick trick today.

Less than half ended up on the floor, so I consider it a success!