When serving food, it is important to handle plates properly to maintain hygiene and avoid contamination. Here are some tips on how to handle plates when serving food:

• Hold the plate in the palm of your hand with all fingers tucked below, or just touching the very side of the rim where food will not touch.
• Position your fingers on the underside of the plate to pull the edge rim in firmly toward the space against your palm - just below your thumb. Keep plates level, so sauces and juices don’t run.
• Keep your thumbs and fingers off the rim of the plate.
• Limit pick up to two plates.
• Never let any of your fingers, especially the thumb, touch the top of the plate.
• When carrying plates, keep them level to prevent food from spilling.

It is also important to carry eating utensils, including knives, forks, and spoons, by the handle, and to never carry a glass by placing a hand or palm over the opening or by grasping the rim of the glass with your fingers. Additionally, it is recommended to serve food from the least-intrusive side, which is usually the left side, and to clear plates from the right side.