In the old days, the Thai people ate with fingers, using the right hand. If this is done expertly, it can be a neat and graceful way of eating too. A little over a hundred years ago, with western influence, people began to eat with a spoon and a fork, holding the spoon in the right hand and the fork in the left heft hand. The fork is used to help put the rice and its accompaniment into the spoon and the food is placed in the mouth by the spoon.