Do you smell food before you eat?

Smelling the food is part of eating, I mean there are ways to smell the food without being offensive. It's usually the smell that tells you whether the food tastes good or not, it even helps you with your appetite. You can already smell the food the moment you sit in front of it , I see no offense if I smell the food and make a positive comment about it. Cheers!

I'll admit it can be pretty irritating and insulting if you cook some food and offer it to someone who smells it first - in front of you. But about the habit of smelling food before eating it - I think it may be becasue certain people rely more on their sense of smell than others. You may have noticed that when some people cook, they can just take a look at the dish and figure out what needs to be added (if anything). Some people have to taste it, while some others need only to sniff it to give their verdict. In my case, for instance, presentation is very important. Which is why, I don't eat any food if it doesn't look good! Biased? May be. But, it is a fact. So, I hope this explains why your friend does what s/he does.

That shows your friend is cautious about foods more concerned to her health.She might had some bad experiences previously,which you didn't know.Also,she may not like some foods.It is better to smell first rather spitting or vomiting later.Cheers!

No, I don't usually smell the food before I eat unless I could smell something bad and the food doesn't look good, I will smell and check whether it is still edible or not. Sometimes, when I do smell openly that is when it smells so deliciously and appreciate the food I am going to eat. However, sometimes there are times when the food smells nice, but the taste is not that good. Whatever it is, I don't really find it is irritating if my friends want to smell the food I offer them, but I understand what you mean. It's like you are offering them something yucky, so, if my friend do it in front of me, I would just say that there is no poison in it or just ask them to go ahead and taste because it's yummy! Sometimes, I think it is funny and strange though, but I guess those who always do it are picky in what they are eating. Just my thoughts...

hi daliaj, i do not smell food before i eat, and i have no friend like to smell the food before the meal. but there is one except that if i am invited to taste the food that my friend cook it by herself. i think it is ok in this situation. but it is impolite to smell the food in public with friends. i think you can tell your friend that you do not like him in that way.

I think many people will smell food before they eat, it looks that they will have good appetite after sell the foods. Sometimes I smell the foods, but I think it's a bad habit, so I do that very little.

No, I don't smell the food before tasting it but I often compliment the cook on the lovely smell coming from the kitchen. I also very often compliment the cook when the meal is served, commenting on the wonderful smell. I have never known this to offend. On the contrary, the cook is pleased and thankful.

no i dont, specially when i know the food already. if it is a new recipe is still dont smell it just take a little and taste it. if its not okay for me then i wont eat it. if it taste good then i will get more. my mother told us that trait is not a good one. only dogs do that har har har. and you might embarrass the person who cook that meal if you smell it before tasting it. there are food that does not smell good but it taste good.

No friend, i dont have that habit.yeah, its really a bad habit and irritating to others who seeing this.

Sorry, I do smell my food before eating. I don't see it as a bad habit. It just the aroma of the delicious food is so good to smell and the same will go with the taste (though that doesn't apply on some food) I don't mean to insult but just to smell the nice aroma. I can't differentiate whether the food has gone bad or not based on the smell though (which is my mom's speciality)

My ex was like this he would smell all food before he ate it. It didn't bother me I really didn't care. I knew it was a habit not something about me. so I say don't take it personal

No daliaj, i don't that kind of habit, even i feel that if someone smell before eating, i just say why are you doing like that. it is very very bad habbit right, thankyou, have a nice day.

...i only sniff the food i eat if is strange looking...yup i agree with you smelling the food infront of you is not nice habit, it might offended other people espl. the person who cooks the meal or prepare it..have nice day!!

If I am eating the food alone, I do smell but not the food that share among friends. It is not nice to smell the food that share among friends. If someone smell the food and offered it to me, I will refuse to eat it. It is not hygienic too.