# carrying a tray

Category: Daily Living

## Post 1 by voiceofjoy (Veteran Zoner) on Friday, 20-Feb-2009 9:44:15

hello there :) any tips and tricks about carrying a tray with food on? e.g. at a cafeteria or just for yourself if you're gonna carry a tray with like glases and plates on ?
How can you fell your way around while carrying a tray?
Take good care all :)

## Post 2 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 20-Feb-2009 14:27:53

I'm able to carry the tray in one hand, usually my left, and use my cane with the right hand. But that took immense amounts of practice. And I do have to walk more slowly when I'm doing that. The only time it really gets difficult is if the tray is extremely heavy, and then I ask for help. But, as I'm usually only carrying food for myself, it's rarely that heavy.

## Post 3 by Brooke (I just keep on posting!) on Friday, 20-Feb-2009 15:21:37

I haven't mastered the trick of carrying a tray with one hand yet. I just carry it with both hands and go a lot slower. It helps to know your surroundings, and if you don't, there's nothing wrong with asking for help. I've had someone slam their tray into me and spill hot tea down the back of my shirt, and I really wish that person would have asked for help.

## Post 4 by blw1978 (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Friday, 20-Feb-2009 19:54:13

Hi, great tips. Yes, it does help to know your surroundings. Here's another tip. always carry a tray with your thumbs on top of the tray handles. I think it's fine to ask for assistance in this situation.

## Post 5 by voiceofjoy (Veteran Zoner) on Friday, 20-Feb-2009 20:20:33

thanks alot all :) like i said, all replies are wonderful to receive.. i looove sharing ideas on what to do, and not to do :)

## Post 6 by moonspun (This site is so "educational") on Sunday, 22-Feb-2009 6:08:38

I usually carry the tray in my left hand, balancing one edge of it against the front of my body to keep it steady. My hand is spread, palm to the tray, underneath in the centre if you look it it from left to right, but slightly more towards the front edge, to give counterbalance as the back edge is supported against my body. It's difficult to explain this accurately, but I hope this helps.
FM

## Post 7 by jamesk (This site is so "educational") on Sunday, 22-Feb-2009 7:11:34

as the poster above said, support the tray from underneath with your left arm.
also, position the drink glass on the left fron corner of the tray so you can hold it steady with the thumb and index finger of your left hand.
It takes practice, but can definitely be done.

## Post 8 by voiceofjoy (Veteran Zoner) on Monday, 23-Feb-2009 20:08:40

hey great :) and i guess the other way around when my guidedoggie is at work, right? so i should train both left and right hand ;)

## Post 9 by jen91_09 (777) on Monday, 16-Mar-2009 8:57:26

When u are carying a tray with a dog, its best to heal the dog instead of working them. Especially in a cafeteria where there is lots of tempting crums and food on the floor for them to dive for. I usually ask for assistence when carying a tray in a cafeteria just to avoid any potential accidents.
Jenna and Guide "sargent" Bilko

## Post 10 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Monday, 16-Mar-2009 10:25:20

I totally agree with the bit about heeling the dog. wrap the leash a couple of times around your wrist so you have better control of the dog if he or she tries to dive for anything on the floor that looks appetizing.

## Post 11 by marrie1 (Veteran Zoner) on Friday, 20-Mar-2009 20:27:41

1. Pick up the tray in your left hand with the arm over it.
2. hold the drink with the thumb and index finger on the middle back edge of the tray.
3. put the plate in the vicinity of the cup.
4. put the tray at your waste or in the stomach area. This is for support.
5. walk with the pencil grip to the place you are to eat.
6. Enjoy your lunch or what ever it might be.
Hope that helps.

## Post 12 by Philippa (Veteran Zoner) on Sunday, 22-Mar-2009 18:30:40

hi. i don't normally carry trays in cafes or restaurants as i am not that confident with them if i don't know my surroundings. but at home I use a t-towl to cover the tray so that the cups/plates can't slide about too much. then i just pick it up in both hands and hope for the best!

## Post 13 by Harmony (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 27-Mar-2009 18:10:43

I normally get assistance, or just make sure everything is spread fairly even on the tray and pick it up with 2 hands. If I know I've got to carry my tray and know the layout like of the college refectory, I just fold my cane up.

## Post 14 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Saturday, 06-Jun-2009 4:53:30

Wait, and why are we making a big deal about this? Just damn carry the fucking tray in one hand and use the cane in the other. Or if you have memorized the place just walk out to the table or where you need to go. End of story, that's it. Now, what's the fuss all about. It's simple, and no one needs to stir up trouble.

## Post 15 by moonspun (This site is so "educational") on Monday, 06-Jul-2009 19:32:16

Except you, it seems. Nice self contradiction there.

## Post 16 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Friday, 10-Jul-2009 0:22:25

Why not ask about it? Better to ask and be informed.

## Post 17 by margorp (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Saturday, 06-Mar-2010 16:46:01

The dreaded tray was never my strong suit I admit, but I manage now.

## Post 18 by b3n (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 09-Mar-2010 19:51:50

1: set the tray so that the dishes / bowls are on the sides of the tray - ie: main course on left hand side and pudding on right.
2: with parms facing up, extend yourfingers out and lift your fumbs up above fingers.
3: Place tray in the gap between fingers and fumb.
4: Use fumbs to grip the items on the tray so that they won't slide as you walk or if someone bumps into you.
I've done this more times than I care to remember when other people have been unable to do it and if you use this method in conjunction with a strong grip, even if you do bump into something / someone, the most thats going to happen is you'll get jar'd by the tray in the chest which isn't so bad really.

## Post 19 by OceanDream (An Ocean of Thoughts) on Thursday, 11-Mar-2010 14:10:04

Great idea about resting the tray against your body while supporting it with your left hand. I think I'll have to try this, as I have had a lot of trouble with it in the past. My trouble is not really navigating while carrying it, but making sure the tray stays straight.

## Post 20 by margorp (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Thursday, 11-Mar-2010 14:49:35

I will try this method.

## Post 21 by The SHU interpreter (I just keep on posting!) on Tuesday, 28-Sep-2010 21:06:22

i've done that before since i've been in ollege, but the only problem is that it's hard even with practice since i have very small hands.

## Post 22 by The SHU interpreter (I just keep on posting!) on Tuesday, 28-Sep-2010 21:07:42

i meant college guys, sorry for the typo

## Post 23 by AgateRain (Believe it or not, everything on me and about me is real!) on Wednesday, 29-Sep-2010 6:09:23

If you take the tray and put it on your hip, then hold it with your two fingers, that helps a lot too.
I think someone else have already mentioned this way, but these other ideas are a bit unsafe.

## Post 24 by moonspun (This site is so "educational") on Wednesday, 29-Sep-2010 10:33:19

Holding it the way I described isn't unsafe at all. It also has the added bonus that the tray is in front of you. you take up less space that way, and space is at a premium when you're trying to work through cramped cafes.

## Post 25 by AgateRain (Believe it or not, everything on me and about me is real!) on Thursday, 30-Sep-2010 0:19:51

Maybe it's not, you may be right, I never had to hold one in a restaurant, so there.

## Post 26 by starfly (99956) on Thursday, 30-Sep-2010 10:28:56

I like the idea of holding your drink and holding the tray so its balanced. Some of these ideas I use when I need to help cary stuff when my wife and I are out and about eating.