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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:
Dinosaurhearmeroar · 23/01/2026 19:53

I would have seen absolute red at your friend helping themselves to my meal! That’s gross and it’s just bad manners. I am also in total agreement about people asking about your food while eating it - I find that deeply annoying. I have had colleagues comment on my food but negatively - “that looks horrible! What are you eating?” me: my lunch. Now kindly eff off.

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 20:12

Those who think it’s fine to stick a fork that’s been in your gob in others food… think about all the bacteria in your mouth, bad breath 😷

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 20:25

Grammarnut · 23/01/2026 19:43

You shouldn't do it to anyone. It's disgusting.

Oh my God, I’ll stop immediately, a random on the internet disapproves!

EsmaCannonball · 23/01/2026 20:31

People who don't order chips or won't have a pudding because they are 'trying to lose weight' and then eat (sometimes more than) half of yours are the worst.

I won't eat food off someone else's plate because it just seems unhygienic.

outerspacepotato · 23/01/2026 20:31

Unhand my food or Feel the Tines of My Fork of Wrath in your Grabby Hand!

JerryTubs · 23/01/2026 20:37

YANBU. She’s a cheeky fucker! It’s disgusting to swap saliva IMO. I don’t even like my children to eat from my plate. Some people are more laid back and that’s also fine but you don’t get to impose what you think on others. You did well to say no to her - well done. Next time she invites you out just reply “I will if you promise not to ask for some of my food.” My Nan used to do this, she’s dead and I don’t miss it one bit, so it’s obviously not something that I feel differently about with the passing of time. Like you say it’s not like it’s a new food item they’re never likely to have again is it?

BarbieShrimp · 23/01/2026 20:41

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 20:25

Oh my God, I’ll stop immediately, a random on the internet disapproves!

A random on the internet, plus most people on this thread, plus the majority of adults in this country.

Greenmouldycheese · 23/01/2026 20:41

You are being a bit unreasonable to be angry and have all these thoughts around food. It's just food to me and I woukd never accuse someone of being a seagul or get really a.gry at someone wanting some of my food. Just wondering if you lived in poverty growing up and experienced a lack of food which has made you so paranoid and protective of your plate?

Greenmouldycheese · 23/01/2026 20:50

Gotitgotit · 22/01/2026 13:53

This! I really don't have a problem with tasters when out with friends or family.

Same. I never try other people's food because I like what ive ordered myself, but I have no problem sharing my food or desert if friends want. Some people are just very teratorial about food.

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 21:00

BarbieShrimp · 23/01/2026 20:41

A random on the internet, plus most people on this thread, plus the majority of adults in this country.

How will I cope with your disapproval??? swoon

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 21:12

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 20:25

Oh my God, I’ll stop immediately, a random on the internet disapproves!

@WhatMyNameis

yes, pleas do! Do you really think people want your spit in their food??

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 21:13

Greenmouldycheese · 23/01/2026 20:41

You are being a bit unreasonable to be angry and have all these thoughts around food. It's just food to me and I woukd never accuse someone of being a seagul or get really a.gry at someone wanting some of my food. Just wondering if you lived in poverty growing up and experienced a lack of food which has made you so paranoid and protective of your plate?

@Greenmouldycheese

It’s not that deep. she just doesn’t want peoples spitty forks stabbing into her food

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 21:17

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 21:12

@WhatMyNameis

yes, pleas do! Do you really think people want your spit in their food??

Only the ones who offer me their forks I guess?

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 21:17

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 21:17

Only the ones who offer me their forks I guess?

@WhatMyNameis

maybe they feel compelled to? I mean if you’re banging on about wanting “a taste” they might feel obligated

tommyhoundmum · 23/01/2026 21:18

I feel quite feral about my food and will share only with my daughter or the hound.

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 21:18

I am reading this to my husband and we are in hysterics because you lot literally suck cock and eat arse but draw the line at a mate’s fork 😈🤣🤣🤣

CypressGrove · 23/01/2026 21:19

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 21:13

@Greenmouldycheese

It’s not that deep. she just doesn’t want peoples spitty forks stabbing into her food

Maybe you need to learn how to eat if your fork is all spitty.

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 21:19

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 21:17

@WhatMyNameis

maybe they feel compelled to? I mean if you’re banging on about wanting “a taste” they might feel obligated

Edited

I think you need new friends. Or some friends?

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 21:19

CypressGrove · 23/01/2026 21:19

Maybe you need to learn how to eat if your fork is all spitty.

@CypressGrove

i don’t want even the slightest smallest trace of someone else’s spit on my food

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 21:20

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 21:19

I think you need new friends. Or some friends?

@WhatMyNameis

i have loads of friends. We keep our saliva to ourselves and don’t eat others food 🤷‍♀️

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 21:21

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 21:18

I am reading this to my husband and we are in hysterics because you lot literally suck cock and eat arse but draw the line at a mate’s fork 😈🤣🤣🤣

@WhatMyNameis

suck cock, yeah. Eat arse, no. Ewww

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 21:21

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 21:20

@WhatMyNameis

i have loads of friends. We keep our saliva to ourselves and don’t eat others food 🤷‍♀️

That’s nice.

Greenmouldycheese · 23/01/2026 21:21

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 21:18

I am reading this to my husband and we are in hysterics because you lot literally suck cock and eat arse but draw the line at a mate’s fork 😈🤣🤣🤣

I was just thinking the same 😄 🤣 ive seens posts in here about people sleeping with many people, many ine nights stands etc yet being weird about a fork. I dont think its about the spit underneath it all, its probably just greed and selfishness. That's fine, but own it rather than saying its about the fork.

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 21:23

Greenmouldycheese · 23/01/2026 21:21

I was just thinking the same 😄 🤣 ive seens posts in here about people sleeping with many people, many ine nights stands etc yet being weird about a fork. I dont think its about the spit underneath it all, its probably just greed and selfishness. That's fine, but own it rather than saying its about the fork.

@Greenmouldycheese

happy to admit it’s both! The saliva/germs and the greed/selfishness. Both give me the ick

HailSofia · 23/01/2026 21:24

Food sharing is vile, absolutely gross.