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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU for hating people wanting “a taste” of my food?

434 replies

HereComesAuntySocial · 22/01/2026 13:06

I went out for brunch with a friend which we do quite often, we usually order different meals. .

Every time we go anywhere she takes ages to decide what she’s having and questions me about what I’m going to order and makes suggestions when I just want to choose my own bloody food!

When we get our meals she will start eating her own then eyeing up mine and ask me if she can “have a taste?”
I don’t understand this at all, It’s often something she’s likely to have had before, I don’t see the point in just trying a small amount of a meal because what if you really like it? Is it not disappointing knowing then you can’t have more or having food envy wishing you’d ordered the same?

Sometimes she offers me a taste of her food first (just the wording of this is really winding me up) and I know it’s so she can then dip into my meal.
If I refuse she keeps on at me but I’d had enough today so I said no firmly and told her I just wanted to eat what I’d ordered.
She laughed and said “well I’m still tasting yours” and before I could stop her she’d stuck her used fork into my smoked salmon and scrambled egg.

I lost my temper and pushed her fork away with mine and then said I actually didn’t want my food now and she could have it.
I was really angry and she seemed taken aback and said it was a complete overreaction and it’s normal to try each other people’s food when eating out.

Unfortunately I have experienced this before and I’ve been out with groups of friends where people have asked to taste each other food and I just think it’s so unhygienic and puts people under pressure to say no.
I also really hate people staring at what I’m eating and commenting on it with things like
“oh that looks nice? What’s in it? What does it taste like?“
I had to stop eating my lunch in front of other people at work feeling like I was expected to start offering it round.
I fell out with a colleague once who was hanging around quizzing me like he’d never seen a chicken baguette before, he got highly offended when I said he reminded me of a seagull waiting to dive bomb me.

Another food crime is people who don’t ask and just take food off your plate, I find that men are the worst offenders who ask if you are planning to finish your meal or wait until you are taking a small break from eating and lunge at it before you get a chance to stop them.
My BIL used to make comments like “you can’t possibly eat all that” or “where do you put it all?”It made me feel like he was trying to shame me into not finishing so he could eat the rest so I refuse to eat with him now unless it’s unavoidable.

I know some people say they love the experience of sharing food and it makes it more enjoyable to try different things, I have friends who start offering round “a taste” of their meals before they have even tried it themselves, I just find it weird!

Whilst all these are annoying scenarios to me, nothing is as bad as people who order a small meal or nothing at all claiming they aren’t hungry but then they change their mind and ask for some of mine - or worst still start helping themselves. There is a special place in hell for those people - especially when it’s a pudding I’ve been looking forward to, fuck off Janice we will not need “two spoons” 😂.

AIBU to get so pissed off about this or was Joey right when he just made it clear he doesn’t share food?!

OP posts:
FuzzyWolf · 22/01/2026 13:08

YANBU and the next time you go out with her tell her before you order that it’s you meal, not hers and you’ll be leaving if she starts eating it and ensure she has the bill to pay for both meals.

ToddlerMumma · 22/01/2026 13:09

JOEY DOESN’T SHARE FOOD!!

x2boys · 22/01/2026 13:09

Smithy and Nessa would agree with you!

FeralWoman · 22/01/2026 13:09

Should have stabbed her with the fork. That’s so gross that she put her dirty fork into your food. Yuck.

Sanasaaa · 22/01/2026 13:10

You know a lot of annoying people, just stop going out for food with them.

Brefugee · 22/01/2026 13:10

stab her with a fork.

MissCooCooMcgoo · 22/01/2026 13:10

I would hate this op.

Only people I would allow a taste are my husband and children.

Your friend was incredibly rude to just go for it when you'd firmly said no. What a cow!

Edited to add confirmation that she is the abnormal one! Not you!

LetRip · 22/01/2026 13:13

Tell her prior to arranging the next meal that you will not be sharing your food with her

mcmuffin22 · 22/01/2026 13:14

x2boys · 22/01/2026 13:09

Smithy and Nessa would agree with you!

Funnily enough I watched that episode yesterday😁 I agree with them because there are always some greedy fkers who take massive helpings and leave the rubbish stuff.

MissCooCooMcgoo · 22/01/2026 13:14

LetRip · 22/01/2026 13:13

Tell her prior to arranging the next meal that you will not be sharing your food with her

I would not go out for food with her again! End of.

Redcandlescandal · 22/01/2026 13:15

I don’t share food, except with my own DC.

All my friends know this, so I never get asked. Is there a reason why you feel unable to say no, you don’t like sharing food?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 22/01/2026 13:17

You do seem to know a lot of god awful people!

This is completely unacceptable. It’s only acceptable if you’re ordering something like tapas that’s meant to be shared from central plates, or if you’ve agreed to share eg curries in a simple way - but only if you’ve willingly agreed!

Cazzovuoi · 22/01/2026 13:18

ToddlerMumma · 22/01/2026 13:09

JOEY DOESN’T SHARE FOOD!!

This. Can’t stand it.

Brefugee · 22/01/2026 13:18

you could tell her, in advance of going out, that you do not need her input into your choices and will peruse the menu in silence, thank you. And that you will not be giving her any of your food at all.

If you are choosing your food and she starts - stand up and leave.
If you get as far as getting food and she asks for a taste, or you see her fork approaching: say loudly "i told you not to do that" then get the staff to pack up your food, pay for yours and then leave.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 22/01/2026 13:18

mcmuffin22 · 22/01/2026 13:14

Funnily enough I watched that episode yesterday😁 I agree with them because there are always some greedy fkers who take massive helpings and leave the rubbish stuff.

Yes!! People who pick out all the meat/ fish/ protein element and leave the mushy bits of what is basically a sauce

BootMaker · 22/01/2026 13:19

Gosh! You sound unfathomably annoyed about minor things.

fndshalom · 22/01/2026 13:19

Felt like screaming reading this OP and yanbu. Agree with every word and feel your pain

x2boys · 22/01/2026 13:19

mcmuffin22 · 22/01/2026 13:14

Funnily enough I watched that episode yesterday😁 I agree with them because there are always some greedy fkers who take massive helpings and leave the rubbish stuff.

Like the Korma ,which is pointless in Smithys opnion 🤣

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 22/01/2026 13:23

“Bet Pete’s already eyeing up my Bhuna! Pete have you been eyeing up my Bhuna?!”

I am on your side. I don’t want to share someone else’s mouth germs. Eat your own food, you bastard.

rainbowsparkle28 · 22/01/2026 13:23

x2boys · 22/01/2026 13:09

Smithy and Nessa would agree with you!

Literally my first thought as well 😂😩

rainbowsparkle28 · 22/01/2026 13:25
ThejoyofNC · 22/01/2026 13:27

I need to know what happened to your food today?

Did you leave it?
Did she eat the lot?
Did you eat it in the end?

x2boys · 22/01/2026 13:28

rainbowsparkle28 · 22/01/2026 13:25

It's when they want to put it all on the table and dip into each others 🤣😂

RainySundayAfternoon · 22/01/2026 13:30

The bit about sticking her fork in your scrambled eggs and salmon - noooooo! I thought she wanted you yo offer her some which is bad enough but that is just next level cheeky fuckery!
Not acceptable - I hope she got the message 🤦🏻‍♀️

Fingalscave · 22/01/2026 13:30

I'm with you and Nessa on this- my food is my own! Hands off! My really good friend always wants to share, or have tastes of each other's food and I just say no thanks and she's got the message. I love my food, if I'm ordering something lovely I want to eat it all and I don't want anyone else's or I'd order that instead. I certainly don't want someone else's fork/spoon in my food.