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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:
LoopyLoo1991 · 26/01/2026 01:04

scottishgirl69 · 25/01/2026 23:41

Because it has zero to do with the subject under discussion

Thank god I'm single and I don't steal my mans takeaway eh. All the salad and chips

OP talked about 'other food crimes' so I joined in.

And quoting
'ToddlerMumma

JOEY DOESN’T SHARE FOOD!!'
made me laugh & recalled the 'Takeaway Fiasco' I experienced & a female comedienne experience around it. So it's pertinent to the whole thread. You might not think so but thread posts show it.
Perhaps read the whole thread not just the last page?

orangemapleleaves · 26/01/2026 05:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MyTeaParty · 26/01/2026 19:14

That was a funny read 🤣!
I'm sorry, firstly I just want to make clear that you're not BU, my husband also hates sharing his food, which is often a cause of argument because I love tasting other people's food.
I find it difficult to choose a dish because I want to taste all of them, so if I can taste two, I feel like it's a small victory.
But all that said, if you don't like it, then you don't and other people need to have the social intelligence and read the signs and not make you feel uncomfortable.

BMW6 · 26/01/2026 19:19

LoopyLoo1991 · 26/01/2026 01:04

OP talked about 'other food crimes' so I joined in.

And quoting
'ToddlerMumma

JOEY DOESN’T SHARE FOOD!!'
made me laugh & recalled the 'Takeaway Fiasco' I experienced & a female comedienne experience around it. So it's pertinent to the whole thread. You might not think so but thread posts show it.
Perhaps read the whole thread not just the last page?

I remember that skit, really funny and true - and I'm a woman so I hope I don't get accused of being an Incel too!

PS - Sarah Millican?

Cherrytree86 · 28/01/2026 09:06

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

LoopyLoo1991 · 28/01/2026 09:20

BMW6 · 26/01/2026 19:19

I remember that skit, really funny and true - and I'm a woman so I hope I don't get accused of being an Incel too!

PS - Sarah Millican?

Yes I couldn't remember her name. Thank you!
I see the bitter kill joys are out in force here, so glad someone else enjoyed the absurdity of this sharing dynamic 😆

LadySpratt · 30/01/2026 19:52

Gizzywizzywoo · 25/01/2026 14:34

Love the defence idea! She is a cheeky fucker id have to tell her in no uncertain terms to fork off 🤣

Fork off. Superb!

Happyasapiginmuck1 · 31/01/2026 01:06

LoopyLoo1991 · 25/01/2026 19:55

Another 'food crime' is women relationships refusing anything to be bought for them at takeaways ... and then eat 30% to 50% of it. This drives guys nuts but of course they rarely say anything as they'll get verbal backlash over it.
I've seen girl being asked two or three time if they want anything from a kebab shop; refuse; and then all the salad & ⅔ of the chips.
This happened a number of times apparently, so the guy in question ate his whole takeaway at the restaurant or in his car so he wouldn't be left hungry.

As some comedienne put it, this is how the subconscious 'girl logic' seems to work:
"I'm not making a pig of myself/going to get fat, because I'm not the one getting the take away"
(food arrives)
"That smells goood! Why didn't I get some! He won't mind if I take some ..."

So the guy who gets exactly what he wants to sate his hunger gets left unsatisfied & the girl subconsciously 'still hasn't had a takeaway' in her mind! The skit was hilarious & I'll try and find a link.

On the flip side if the guy gets her something despite her not wanting anything - because he's knows what will happen - gets berated for for 'trying to make her fat' ... poor guy's can't bloody win ... 🤦

So be certain if your man asks you 'do you want anything?' you can stand by your decision and not regret it later. It's not fair him being penalize for your choice.

I want that link! 😂

MinnieMountain · 31/01/2026 10:31

Slightly off topic, but thinking of meals that people expect to share, DH tested out his theory that people over-order at Indian restaurants on a hockey night out where his team always share the food by not ordering anything himself (they always split the bill equally so he paid his 10th or whatever) and there was still plenty for everyone.

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