Put a Fork in It

With election season in full swing, candidates are eager to show voters they’re just your everyday Joe or Jane. Expect hobbies (real or manufactured), baby kissing, and state fair visits to be on full display. But authenticity can’t be faked, and some attempts inevitably fall flat — or worse, become a meme.

Enter Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, who took a big bite out of a turkey leg at the state fair to push back against claims that he’s vegan.

While he may have succeeded in proving he eats meat, the moment looked awkward and predictably sparked all sorts of inappropriate commentary. And because still photos can distort reality, here’s what candidates should keep in mind before eating in public:

#1 — Use utensils.
The best way to avoid an awkward still shot is simple: stick to foods you can eat with a fork, knife, or spoon. Get the ice cream in a cup and use a spoon. Eat the pulled pork, brisket, or loaded fries with a fork. Doing so dramatically lowers the odds of becoming an unfortunate freeze-frame online.

#2 — Don’t use utensils on foods that don’t require them.
Of course, you can swing too far in the other direction. Eating a churro, corndog, or hamburger with a fork and knife will also make people stop and think, “What is happening here?” Trying too hard to avoid looking awkward usually creates a different kind of awkward.

Yes, this may mean some favorite fair foods are off-limits in public. But if you don’t want to become a meme, practice a little self-discipline…or get a to-go bag.