A traditional south Indian meal would be considered incomplete by some were it to be served on anything but a banana leaf.

Apart from the basic benefits of eating on banana leaves- they are natural, easy to use and easily disposable- there are also scientific reasons why these natural plates have been used for generations now.

And then there's technique too- whether it is for eating the runny rasam with your hand, the placement of the various food items on the leaf or how it aids digestion.

Here's a serious(ly funny) video by Put Chutney explaining all this and more.