What should you avoid holding in your right hand while saluting?

Saluting is a formal gesture that demonstrates respect and protocol, especially in military and other formal contexts. When saluting, your right hand is used for the gesture, and it is important to keep that hand free to perform the salute correctly and in accordance with military customs.

Holding anything in your right hand while saluting can hinder the ability to execute the salute properly. This includes various items, such as food or drinks, which would not only be impractical but also disrespectful in a formal setting. The purpose of the salute is to show respect, and anything that distracts from that intent, such as holding food or refreshments, detracts from the professionalism of the action.

The other options, while they may present issues in specific contexts, do not encompass the general principle as strongly as holding something like food or a drink, which inherently conflicts with the act of saluting by making it difficult to perform the gesture correctly and with the appropriate decorum.