Why do people look up when they struggle to eat food?

Nobody else can see you if you look up.
Duh.

They might be asking God or some other supreme being for assistance. For those that believe in that sort of thing, of course.

Take smaller bites.

I typically look down over my plate.

If you look up, the people who are idly watching you make a fool of yourself look up too, in case a large bird is about to drop a huge rock on top of them. Meanwhile you can grapple the tough bite out of sight.

Yep, @rangerr pretty much covered it. ;)

It’s to avoid someone’s gaze so you don’t feel as embarrassed.

@DrasticDreamer Should you be embarrassed? I guess it would be pretty funny to have food falling out of your mouth and looking someone straight in the eye. But I think it it’s better than feeling embarrassed. We call gotsta eat!

Begging for mercy?!?!?!!

I really have never noticed this ever in my life. I’ll have to keep an eye out for it. :)

I do it to lengthen out the space in my mouth/throat. Plus, if some escapes, it can be easily recaptured.

@silverfly No, people shouldn’t feel embarrassed, but it just happens sometimes! :)

@gemiwing Escapes? Recaptured? Hehehehe. That’s why there are clamps in those holes in the table!

I think it is a natural reaction of the body attempting to open the gullet to allow the large food portion to pass to where it is supposed to go. My dog always would do this when he snuck off with a chunk of something someone dropped!!

@DominicX… lol Im with you on this one. im getting a visual. lol

raising the chin opens the throat a bit.

Probably for the same reason that people open their mouths while applying eye makeup.

I notice I look up when I put mascara on, not the same of course.

@hannahsugs haha!! Good observation.

They could be enjoying the food or just simply thinking.