n former times, people in the central part regularly sat on the floor when eating. Trays of food would be placed on a mat, carpet or low table according to the status of each family. People used their hands to pick up rice and put it into their mouths (this manner of eating is called in Thai poep khao), instead of using spoons as at present. Only when there was a bowl of curry or other liquid food, was a spoon laid for use jointly by people eating at the same table.