Before I tell you this week’s question, I just have to say that I am overwhelmed at the response to these weekly reading questions. I love it! I love that everyone enjoys sharing their reading preferences and experiences. It’s so much fun to read through all the comments and blog posts. Keep it up!
Okay, now for this week’s question:
Do you eat/drink while reading? If so, do you have some favorite reading snacks?
I have to admit, I do enjoy indulging in something munchy when I’m reading — especially if I’m reading a tense mystery or thriller. In fact, if you were to come to my house and glance through some of the more intense page-turners, you would find more than a few chocolate smudges.
My favorite snacks to keep on hand while I’m reading? Well, I don’t like to have anything greasy. (Don’t ask me why. You’d think that if I have chocolate smudges in my books, a little grease wouldn’t bother me, but apparently it does.) So no chips or popcorn. In my opinion, M&M’s are pretty much the perfect reading snack. But Dove Dark Chocolate Squares are also excellent to have on hand. I try to set up a pre-determined amount of snackage and not just eat right out of the bag. Otherwise, I keep munching and turning pages and munching and turning pages and before you know it, well…there’s been too much munching.
As far as beverages go, I love to have a mug of hot coffee (complete with cream and sugar, thank you) by my side while I’m reading. And if at all possible, I use my purple Eeyore coffee mug. Just because it’s my favorite.
Now it’s your turn: Do you eat and/or drink while you’re reading? Or do you keep food and liquids far away from your books?
I had to think for a moment, but then realized I no longer eat when I am reading. Seeing as I am either reading in the bathroom, in bed or feeding the baby more than likely I am not eating. Even in the car I have just been reading. Though I guess I did read during lunch today for the first time in ages, because I just couldn’t put my book down. So to answer the question, I guess, no. Which I guess is good because I would just sit there eating mindlessly.
Karen´s last post ..M&M sorting
Ha, fun question! And yes, I almost always enjoy a little snack while I’m reading. I’m not as good as you about clean fingers, I guess – I do enjoy popcorn while reading – one hand for snacking, the other for page-turning. Oreos are my favorite but they’re too messy to eat while reading. I just bought a bag of the Dove squares (dark, of course) – mmmm!
Very fun question!
I agree with you on the grease. I have lately been eating Pita chips and hummus (not just when I’m reading but all. the. time.), and they are okay, but popcorn or other chips don’t really cut it.
I do usually fix myself a drink before I curl up with a book — either tea or coffee or iced tea or a diet soda.
I agree, M&Ms seem to fit all the snack criteria.
Jennifer, Snapshot´s last post ..The First Dance
Don’t usually eat while I read — too messy — unless I’m eating a meal. A drink is vital though. Winter — hot tea. Summer — diet soda or iced tea.
Great question!
I don’t usually eat while reading {which is odd for me since I am usually always munching on something!} but I do enjoy sipping on something to help me relax. Usually it is coffee {with cream and sugar also 
} or hot tea, preferrably English Breakfast Tea, my favorite!
I love M&Ms too! Perfect reading snack.
Otherwise, I’ll usually eat semi-sweet chocolate chips, or popcorn. But sometimes I read while I’m eating breakfast, so then it is cereal or something. On the beverage front, I usually drink milk (of course, with chocolate) or something hot like cocoa or tea. I’m not a coffee fan.
I posted my answer here: http://nurseatkins.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-into-reading-questions-2.html
But the long and short of it is: absolutely – I eat and drink while doing everything!
What a fun question. The short answer for me is yes to a drink and sometimes to a snack.
My full answer can be found here.
My answer wasn’t quite so simple… Visit me to see my response to the FIR Challenge Question
I don’t like to mess my books up so I usually don’t eat while reading.
I do get thirsty so if I’m reading after breakfast it will be chocolate milk,
otherwise a large bottle of water.
Great question! I was surprised to realize that reading may be one of the few times I don’t snack – an excellent reason to read more often, perhaps?
http://mommablogsalot.com/2010/10/fir-10-question-3-favorite-reading-snacks/
hmmmm M & Ms….but couldn’t justify those while on my diet lol. My answer is here
CMash
hmm I would say some of both! If I am actually able to sit down and snuggle up with a blanket and a book then I would have a snack. I don’t have a preferred snack just whatever I am in the mood for. Some favorites: apple and peanut butter, popcorn (lots of butter), and fruity candies like skittles. As far s drinking.. I almost always have something to sip on during the day. Coffee, tea, soda, water, juice or hot chocolate just depends on my mood
I love reading everyone’s responses. Oddly enough I rarely eat when I’m reading..not because of the spillage/smudging thing but because I’m usually too engrossed in the book. Say, maybe that’s the key to weight-loss for me?! I hadn’t even realized that until you asked the question! I do have to have a comfy place and usually a blanket too, but I’m okay without snacks.
Oh dear! Definitely not! I couldn’t risk getting anything on the pages *gasp* Unless I’m sick, and then I’ll munch on toast or something. If I’m sneaking in some reading time in the morning when everyone is asleep (and I should be writing!) I’m probably drinking coffee.
Ok, and now that I’m thinking about it…I’m always reading something while I’m eating a bowl of cereal. I think that’s why I adore the Kindle – easy clean-up.
The Survival Mama
Having something to munch on definitely can make the experience much more pleasurable at times. I think most of the time I read without food present. But when I’m really having fun with a book, I like a yummy frappucino or candy treat to sweeten the deal. =)
I love to eat and read at the same time! In fact, I would read during every meal of the day if my family didn’t mind.
My all-time favorite combination since childhood, Art’s & Mary’s Jalapeno chips with a Dr. Pepper. Since I’ve been laying off soda while training for a couple half marathons, I have not been able to indulge. But, it is the ultimate reading snack.
When we were kids, my cousin and I would go to my grandma’s basement with these chips, a soda and a good book, and we would spend the whole afternoon there. Great memories!
It totally depends. I read during lunch at work, so I’m eating whatever I’m having for lunch. During the week I read in bed, so no snacks there. On the weekends when I grab some time to read I always have coffee, and sometimes a snack but not always and it varies. Pita chips are great, and yes M&Ms are a wonderful snack at any time!
Hmm. I usually only get to really, really read while I’m in bed (if I can convince my husband that I’m only going to finish the chapter. (The “chapter” usually winds up being at least 200 pages long
Thankfully, my husband falls asleep really quickly!). So, usually, other than my morning computer reading (blogs) and my coffee to get me going, I don’t usually snack. BUT if I did, it would totally be on peanut M&Ms! Love those!! Fun question!
Interesting question. I would turn it around a bit and say that while I don’t always eat while I read, I am ALWAYS reading while I eat. I can’t stand to just sit and eat by myself without doing anything else, so unless it happens to be at a time when I am watching TV, I am definitely eating with a book in my hand.
Trish´s last post ..Halloween’s A-Comin’!!
I use to read while I was outside smoking. Now that I’ve quit smoking, I do munch while reading.
I do most of my reading late at night and in bed, so no snacking then, but if I’m reading during the day, I like a Sonic cherry coke and a handful of M&M’s or chocolate chips…or maybe a cake pop. (Haha). Great question!
I have to admit that my snacking and drinking habits while reading are not anything to long for.
My answer is here: http://annsreadingcorner.blogspot.com
Hmmm… I don’t eat, drink, or snack while reading. I just read!
Heather
My response: http://bookwormsandtea.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-into-reading-question-3.html
What a good question! Certainly made me stop and think. I usually don’t snack while I’m reading but if I do I usually go for something like chips, crackers or some kind of candy. But really when I read I just plop down in my favorite chair and read and anticipate that one or more of my cats will probably join me.
I’ve answered the question on my blog here… http://www.discoveringliz.com/2010/10/into-reading-question-of-week.html
My answer is “no”. I don’t eat or drink while I read. It distracts me from the book, and I’d hate to get my book messy.
Liz´s last post ..Fall Into Reading Question of the Week
Good Question! I don’t usually snack while reading, but give me a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate, my book and (sigh) I’m a happy girl!
I don’t usually eat while I’m reading. However I always have a glass or bottle of water with me. If I am reading for hours on end I hit the coffee with cream and sugar.
Almost daily I eat two chocolate chip cookies and drink a Diet Coke while I do my daily Bible reading. There. My secret is out.
(All my in-person friends already know.)
On a good night of reading, I like to eat popcorn and drink a root beer while I read. Combining pleasures.
What I eat depends on the book. When I read Julia Child’s My Life In France, I craved all sorts of things I couldn’t make. Cozy mysteries get me craving tea and hard cookies or warm cocoa. The gourmand Nero Wolfe usually provokes me to rebellion: raw cheese sandwiches will suffice! But most often I gobble down some chocolate chip cookies and milk as fast as I can and then free up my fingers for some knitting-while-reading.
If you haven’t tried the Pumpkin Spice Hershey’s Kisses, then you should run very fast to the closest Target before they’re gone. I’ve been reading World Without End for the past week + and I’ve devoured two bags of these little gems. I usually try to read without eating, but I can’t resist these little boogers. When I read my Kindle, I keep food and drinks away. I’m too clumsy to risk it.
Great question!
Drinks: Either a bottle of water or a 32 oz. fountain Dr. Pepper
Eats: Since fall is upon us…those yummy Brach’s mellowcreme pumpkins are hard for me to resist. On occasion I may have some crunchy Cheetos (poured in a bowl and eaten with a spoon…no mess that way. *grin*).
No eating…because my fingers get sticky and the page gets messy. Sometimes a beverage ~ a hot one if it’s chilly out, otherwise sweet tea if it’s summer.
Jolanthe´s last post ..Garden Vegetable Soup Recipe
My reply is posted
http://myheartbelongs2books.blogspot.com/2010/10/fir-question-3.html
I posted my reply here:
http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-into-reading-2010-question-3.html
I’m really enjoying the questions!
Crystal
At the most, I drink water or possibly coffee. That’s it. I am usually in the bedroom or in my classroom. I often drink coffee in the morning and evening as I am going through my e-mails and blogs.
It’s a rather bad habit to eat while I read. All of my books have some sort of food stain on the pages. Coffee is a must. Tortilla chips with pineapple chipotle salsa, BBQ chips, popcorn with extra butter and ice cream all manage to find their way onto the pages of books. I think the people at the library cringe when I return my books
I like a nice hot cup of coffee or tea. I also like some cookies to dip into it, as well. Great question!!
I love to read while having breakfast and that may have to do with the fact that it’s the only meal where you only need one hand to eat leaving the other free to hold the book and turn the pages!
Other than that, I don’t really eat or drink while reading. Well, with the exception of chocolate. But we can always open an exception for chocolate, right?
Eating is about the only time when I do get to read!
http://surrender2survive.blogspot.com/2010/10/fir-10-question-3.html
Jessica @ Surrender2Survive´s last post ..FIR 10 Question 3
My answer to this weeks question.
http://ladybugsdoodles.blogspot.com/2010/10/fir-10-reading-question-3.html
Great question! I never, ever dog-ear my pages! Like you, I have a ton of bookmarks, but I most often use whatever is handy…a postcard, junk mail flyer, receipt, envelope, scrap of paper, etc. I’m doing pretty good on my list too! I’ve read two and am working on two others, plus I’ve read 3 others that weren’t on my original list.
Kara @ Home With Purpose´s last post ..Coming Soon- Blog Makeover Celebration Giveaways!!
Yes and no – answered here: http://frugalhippiebusy.wordpress.com/2010/11/19/fir-10-reading-question-3/
Joe´s last post ..FIR ’10 – Reading Question 2