"I watch what I eat every day. I mean, who actually eats with their eyes closed?"

Brian Celio’s witticism about watching what he eats every day presents a clever take on a common modern concern. When people say they “watch what they eat,” the phrase is typically interpreted as an expression of dietary mindfulness, carefully choosing foods for health or weight management. Celio’s play on this cliché invites us to reconsider the phrase in its most literal sense: observing the act of eating itself.

The humor arises from the duality of language. Most would never contemplate eating with their eyes closed; the suggestion itself seems absurd. By focusing attention on the physical act of “watching” food as it’s eaten, Celio highlights the gap between literal and figurative meanings embedded in everyday speech. This element of surprise draws attention to the routine nature of idioms that have become so familiar we rarely question their wording.

There is further subtle commentary hidden within the remark. Eating is, universally, a sensual experience, visual cues are a crucial part not only of flavor expectation but also of enjoyment and even safety. The joke prompts readers to consider how much of what we do is habitually monitored. Eyes guide the hand, confirm the content of the plate, signal when to pause or continue, and anticipate satisfaction or disgust. By stating the obvious in a context where underlying meaning is presumed, Celio cleverly challenges us to be more conscious, perhaps even skeptical, about expressions we routinely use and accept.

Beyond the humor, there may also be an implicit nudge to engage more mindfully in daily activities. The phrase might remind us not just to be more careful about our food choices, but also to actually pay attention to our immediate experiences, to “eat with our eyes open,” both literally and figuratively. Celio’s quip, then, functions on several levels: as a linguistic joke, as a gentle nudge toward self-awareness, and as a reminder to question the everyday language through which we view the world.