Would You Tell Someone You Just Didn't Like Their Food?
By jujunme
@jujunme (2501)
United States
December 26, 2010 1:18pm CST
There are many occasions where we're invited to someones home for a meal, usually lunch or dinner and although this can be a very enjoyable experience, we can't always be sure the meal will be to our liking, tastes funny, or maybe it may be something we've never eaten before and we're just a little leery of trying something new, or it just doesn't look appetizing to us. Besides restaurant food, where on occasion i have asked that my meal be taken back for various reasons,on the few occasions when someone has prepared a meal i just couldn't eat, i can't recall ever telling the person i just didn't like what they prepared.but,i also don't think anyone should force themselves to eat a meal they just don't like or can't eat at all. so, what do you do?Do you make up an excuse as to why you can't eat the meal? and if so, what do you say? or, do you go ahead and eat the meal anyway, just not to hurt the hosts feelings?
6 people like this
24 responses
@lunion (64)
• Indonesia
27 Dec 10
Hm, i always eat the food that i'm provided. doesn't matter if it's good or bad.
Well, according to your question, that's depend on how well i know the host (how good is my relationship with them). If they're like close friendss and they honestly ask for my opinion, then i will just tell them. I will still eat the food anyway, because it's their goodwill to make me one.
I agree that no one should force themselves to eat meal the just don't like or can't eat at all. In the extreme, i will simply tell my host that i can't eat frogs, or i can't eat this because i have allergy, etc..
I'm sure they'll understand. every good host does.
Hope this help.
2 people like this
@shaggin (71664)
• United States
27 Dec 10
I hate when I go to someones home and they have food that I have to eat that I dont like. If I need to be polite I usually just say that I am not hungry but usually I will try to gag it down as long as its not meat. If its someone that I am very close with like my parents or sister I will just tell them its gross lol because I know they would do the same to me. Its nice when you can be honest with each other like that and get valuable feedback.
1 person likes this
@jujunme (2501)
• United States
28 Dec 10
I'm definitely with you on this one.I think it puts a person in a very bad positon, even if it's not their fault and they are only doing the inviting,but, when it isn't a close relative or friend cooking the meal(i will be honest with them as well )you either have to force yourself to eat the food, or,make up some lame excuse for not eating it and you just know, the person doesn't believe you for one second.No easy way out here at all.
@thyst07 (2079)
• United States
26 Dec 10
It depends on the situation. If I'm at the home of a close friend or family member, I might be more comfortable with being completely honest- especially if they've asked me for feedback. I probably wouldn't just say "this is terrible." Instead, I might say something like, "I think this could be improved if you did X."
If the meal was prepared by someone who I'm not that familiar with, I would probably say anything unless they asked me for my honest opinion. If the food is bad enough that I just can't manage to force it down, I usually use an excuse like, "I had a really big lunch today so I'm just not as hungry as I usually am."
1 person likes this
@jujunme (2501)
• United States
28 Dec 10
it does depend on the situation and who it is asking for your opinion. i just can't see someone you hardly know asking how you liked their food and telling them you didn't like it.but, in all fairness there really isn't any excuse a person can give that would make whoever is doing the cooking feel good,since if someone invites you to a meal,and you accept, they do expect you to eat it and any excuse we may provide for not doing so, would certainly hurt their feelings.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
27 Dec 10
I don't like boiled potoatoes, but it is a very common side dish in my country. When other people invite me for dinner they often place a huge bowl filled with boiled potatoes on the table.
If I don't know the host that well I take one or two potatoes to in order to be polite, but I always try to find the smallest ones in the bowl 
When I get other kinds of food that I don't like, I do the same thing. I take a bit of it and eat it even if I don't like it.
If it is family members or close friends, I am honest and tell them that I don't like boiled portatoes or certain kinds of vegetables. Of course they can get hurt, if I am honest, but on the other hand I don't want to lie and I don't want to pretend to like something for years (they might cook the same dish more than once) If I am not honest in the beginning it will get harder and harder to tell the truth.
When I get other kinds of food that I don't like, I do the same thing. I take a bit of it and eat it even if I don't like it.
If it is family members or close friends, I am honest and tell them that I don't like boiled portatoes or certain kinds of vegetables. Of course they can get hurt, if I am honest, but on the other hand I don't want to lie and I don't want to pretend to like something for years (they might cook the same dish more than once) If I am not honest in the beginning it will get harder and harder to tell the truth.
1 person likes this
@jujunme (2501)
• United States
28 Dec 10
Most of the time when we're invited to someones home for a meal, it isn't that the food tastes bad or doesn't look appetizing,it can just be something we don't normally like, or are not used to eating. Being kind and eating just a little of whatever it is, i think is the right thing to do. I do agree that it's easier to tell a close family member about a certain food you don't like, i don't think they should feel hurt or insulted by this since if it were the other way around, i would want to know what my relatives or close friends like or don't like to eat, this way i know what i should or should not cook for them.
@starrose_ara (784)
• Philippines
27 Dec 10
I love eating and cooking too. I can say I can cook tasty foods so I can give a review whether another person's cooking is good or not. In our country's culture one cannot say that we don't like the food especially when it is served in a house or home. But if its served in a restaurant we can give comments and suggestion.
@jujunme (2501)
• United States
28 Dec 10
I also like to cook and even though i feel i could possibly give someonea few suggestions on how to improve thier cooking, i won't do this since i'm afraid i may hurt their feelings in some way. Eating in a restaurant where we're paying fot the meal is a different story.Ordering a meal that isn't what we expected is unacceptable and should be sent back.
@destinybattlefield (294)
• Netherlands
27 Dec 10
I think if I really just hated the food I'd tell people that I just don't like it that much. If it would be my parents or my family I'd tell them faster than like my friends' parents or something, because you know them better. But usually when I go eat at like a friend of mine, and they serve dinner, I think I really don't like that at all. In the end I usually find out that it's not that bad at all and I actually like it! So I guess I don't really tell people I don't like their food untill I had a bit and tried to like it.
@jujunme (2501)
• United States
29 Dec 10
Most of the people i know are really good cooks,so i rarely have a problem eating anything they serve. On the few occasios when someone has made somethng i just couldn't eat or wasn't used to, i couldn't find the words to say i just don't like this very mch, instead, i would try to taste a little just not to make someone feel bad,It really does depend on who the person is , since, as you mentioned a close relative or friend would understand if you told them in a nice way that you just couldn't eat that particular thing.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Dec 10
When I am invited for dinner or lunch in someone's home, I will try to please and praise the host even when the food taste horrible. It is not for me to give unpleasant comments as the host has taken the pain to prepare the foods and invited me for a free meal.
@jujunme (2501)
• United States
27 Dec 10
I just don't think you can "praise" someones food if the food is that bad.in the first place if the food tastes that bad,you risk making yourself ill by trying to eat it.While i don't believe anyone should insult or hurt the feelings of someone who was kind enough to invite you to their home for a meal,i think if the food is really "horrible," your host knows this without you saying a word.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
27 Dec 10
Hi Jujunme,
I was raised to eat what was put in front of me and that it was rude to complain. I am not a fussy eater so even if it is not something that I love, it is always something that I've managed to eat enough of to be polite. Once a friend of mine, knowing that this is how I am, had me over for dinner. As I sat at the table waiting for dinner to be served, she announced that she hoped I liked tripe!! I have never had it but the smell and sight of it makes me feel ill. I was mortified and wondering how I was going to pull this one off. She brought out a big juicy steak!
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
28 Dec 10
Actually I do agree with you on that. Whenever I have invited someone to my house for dinner, I do talk to them about what to serve and make sure it is something that they actually like. Then it is just a matter of making sure my cooking is up to par!
@jujunme (2501)
• United States
27 Dec 10
Wow! saved by the steak, thank goodness.I do know what you mean i was taught in the same way and i'm not a very fussy eater either but, my Mom was a terrific cook, so most of what she served, i had no problem eating at all.but,there are some foods i just can't force myself to eat, like liver, certain types of fish (tripe is one of them lol)and lamb made any way, anyhow.I don't know if you would agree with me or not,but, don't you think it's better to invite someone to your home for a meal and ask them what they like to eat so that you can at least be sure you won't be serving soemthing they find unpleasant? i realize this isn't always possible, but, it does save a lot of embarrassment and hurt feelings.
1 person likes this
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
27 Dec 10
I usually try to do my best and eat the meal anyways. I don't like to be rude and say it taste bad but sometimes I speak my opinion too. I just dont like to hurt the friend/family member saying theri cooking is horrible. I've never really had this experience though. My family can cook really well so no worries there. My friends are teaching me how to cook so some of my stuff may not be great but it taste good. I love cooking and baking.
@marguicha (215402)
• Chile
28 Dec 10
I would not tell anyone that I don´t like their food. But I would make an excuse to eat little. I do have the habit of trying just about everything though. It has led me to taste some strange dishes from other places that have been wonderful.
Now if the food doesn´t look fresh or clean I will saw I have a stomach problem and that I will join them with a cup of tea, no sugar, please. No one is offended if one of the guests has tummy problems in a cetain day. It´s not their fault.
@marguicha (215402)
• Chile
3 Jan 11
I love to cook and I love to taste different food. But it is true that some food just "says" it is not for you. And you have to accept what your body is telling you.
@jujunme (2501)
• United States
28 Dec 10
"I will say i have a stomach problem"/Actually, that's a very good excuse for not wanting to taste any food that looks unappetizing , it doesn't hurt the persons feelings and also, you don't take the chance that the food may make you ill for real. I also like to try diffrent foods as well and been quite surprised when eating something that may not look too appetizing, tasted really good.
@jahernandezrivas (11288)
• United States
26 Dec 10
I have been there before and at many times I ate things I did not care for because I didn't want to hurt their feelings but I got sick every time I did that so now I just tell them I can't eat that and just say no thank you or you could just say that you are allergic to that? I would rather say something than get sick again so I learned the hard way just to say no thank you. Well have a nice day!
@jujunme (2501)
• United States
27 Dec 10
I don't think it's a good idea to eat anything that will make you sick but i do agree that when someone is nice enough to invite you to eat, you just can't tell the person their food is terrible either. i think the best way to solve this is to say that, on your way to the persons home you started feeling ill and don't think you should eat anything for awhile.this way, you won't be hurting anyones feelings, plus you won't have to eat anything that will possibly make you ill for real.
1 person likes this
@MsWhtny (42)
• United States
26 Dec 10
I would try my best to eat the food like there was nothing wrong with it. I'm the type of person that doesn't like hurting other people feelings. Although, if this was a relative or close friend, I would probably mention it to them during a more private setting.
1 person likes this
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
27 Dec 10
I would feel that i had to be curteous to someomeone who has offered me food. i ould feel that i had to be polite and gracious to them. I don't think i would have the heart to tell someone i didn't like their food.@jujunme (2501)
• United States
28 Dec 10
Telling someone you don't like their food, is never the right thing to do and very rude as well. But, sometimes it isn't possible to eat something that tastes bad or or you're just not fond of the food in general. There really isn't any easy way to deal with this situation, since any excuse you may give for not eating it may hurt the person anyway.I guess if you know the person very well and know their cooking is not up to par the best thing you can do is not accept the invitation.
@Suggar (3606)
• Bulgaria
26 Dec 10
If it's me, i'll say that i'm not hungry and won't eat the food. I'm that kind of person, who doesn't eat lots of things. For my own happiness i eat nearly everything which is vegetable or fruit, but i don't like meat so much and foods made with meat. Last night we went to my boyfriend apartment, where his parents live, for Christmas. She made baked lamb for diner. I knew that someone gifted them half lamb, so i was expecting that they will cook it for Christmas. I asked my boyfriend if we are going to eat only that, he said no, but i eat at home enough, so i was not hungry when we went to his parents home. Since i cook at home, i love the taste of the dishes, not because i am so good cooker, but because i always use advices of my mom how to cook and for me she is brilliant cooker, so i follow her in that. I prefer some sandwich than food which taste i don't like, so i would say just - i'm not hungry, thanks.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
26 Dec 10
jujunme hi I would just say I am sorry, I imagine its delicious
but I am allergic to whatever it you do not want to eat. That
way you will not hurt anyone's feelings as someone had to have
made that particular dish and could be offended. Or the
excuse sorry but I am just too full to eat another bite.Your
dinner was so delicious I just gobbled it all down so fast.Great
meal Mrs.So and so.So you give a few little white lies its still better than saying oh that dish tastes vile and looks like pig slop.My way you keep your friendship intact and do not make anyone angry with you.
@jujunme (2501)
• United States
27 Dec 10
"it's still better than saying,oh that dish tastes vile and looks like pig slop."/ OMG! Hatley,lol,
you provided me with my laugh of the day."Anything" anyone could say would be better than saying that.Nevermind insulting the cook, a remark like that would get someone thrown out the door in a minute. but, how could anyone get away with saying the food was delicious and that they "gobbled it all down,"? unless, you had a very big napkin in your lap to put the food in(i've done this) or were able to get rid of it some other way, it would still be laying there for the cook to see you hadn't eaten a bite.but, i love the allergy excuse and just might use that one the next time i'm given food, i just can't bring myself to eat.
you provided me with my laugh of the day."Anything" anyone could say would be better than saying that.Nevermind insulting the cook, a remark like that would get someone thrown out the door in a minute. but, how could anyone get away with saying the food was delicious and that they "gobbled it all down,"? unless, you had a very big napkin in your lap to put the food in(i've done this) or were able to get rid of it some other way, it would still be laying there for the cook to see you hadn't eaten a bite.but, i love the allergy excuse and just might use that one the next time i'm given food, i just can't bring myself to eat. @buggles64 (2709)
• United States
26 Dec 10
My sister-in-law is usually an awesome cook. There really has not been any food that she has made that I haven't liked...until yesterday. I don't know what was up with those kiss cookies, but they were not up to her usual standard. I end ed up throwing out a cookie..I couldn't get past the taste..And, no I would never tell her that I didn't like her food. That would be rude and unappreciative..I made potatoes yesterday...and they turned out terrible. I don't know what was up with that, but they were horrible...I definitely didn't need anyone telling me how bad they were, that would have made me feel even worse...as it was part of our Christmas dinner...I could tell my spouse if I did or didn't like something...after all, I don't want him making me food that I don't like.
@jujunme (2501)
• United States
27 Dec 10
I believe no matter how good a cook someone is,sometimes,a food item doesn't turn out as good as we planned and the worst part is, we don't always know why.While i agree no one should ever tell someone they didn't like thier food,there are people such as my husband or close relatives and friends, where i wouldn't mind, if i were told in respectable way that they didn't like something i prepared or the item wasn't as good as usual.This way, i would know not to make a specific thing or try to understand what went wrong with something that usually turns out well.funny though, when it comes to me trying to do this i just can't find the words.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
26 Dec 10
It really does tend to depend on the person with me. I think that it is an awkward situation no matter how far you slice it. I think that some people are much more awkward than others to tell the truth. I would like to think that I would come clean. Most likely, I'll just pretend I'm not as hungry as I thought I was. Although I do wonder if anyone actually buys that excuse. I never would have.
@jujunme (2501)
• United States
27 Dec 10
I do agree, it is a "very awkward" situation no matter what. Other than eating a little bit of the meal and pretending to like it, any other excuse would probably cause some hurt feelings as the host would realize you're just making an excuse and i totally agree, "i wouldn't fall for the "i'm not as hungry as i thought" excuse either.
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
26 Dec 10
I would try to eat it, for as much as I possibly can, because I really think it is super hard to tell someone such a thing...
@Tyler198961 (148)
• China
27 Dec 10
In my opinion, If I am invited by one of my friends, and they prepare for something that I don't like . I will not express the feeling. Please pay attention, I said don't like, not cannot. If they prepare something that you cannot . If you eat, you will feel unhealthy, I think you can tell them directly . You needn't make any excuses. You just tell your friends the fact and I believe they can consider you.
