If offered, do you eat the party food??

I've been offered food at nearly every party/event that I've been booked at, but I can't get past the fact that I find it really unprofessional to start tucking in to a plate of party food...even if it's virtually forced on you. There has been two occasions, where I have eaten something (very small!) just to be polite, because I could see they would've been offended if I hadn't (I find this happens especially with clients from a different cultural background). But I still felt VERY uncomfortable with this...what do you guys do?? Am I the only one that feels like this? Or am I being silly?

It is always offered to me too. I say no, it just seems wrong. Sometimes I wonder which cultures it would be rude to not accept food, but so far, I just say that it looks so good, but I have either just eaten, or my I have plans to go out with my husband after...

i dont usually eat food at a party if im not asked but if i see something that is tempting me and i have done my job and am talking to the parents and they offer ill grab a small something like a piece of watermelon at my party i went to on the weekend the kids loved me sooo much they all decorated cupcakes for me (one of the games they had) and yep you guessed it the kids wanted me to eat it right there on the spot to tell them how yummy they were..haha i had 8 of them the parents thought it was the funniest thing they have ever seen and to top it off the cupcakes were weat free, dairy free, ect ect and they were gross so the over the top YUM was forced!!! hahaha

We had a thread on this a couple of weeks ago...

Ewwww, forced to eat horrible muffins by the packet...Gorjess that's awful. Maybe the devious little minds knew how horrible they were and made sure they didn't have to eat them!

It really is awkward having to eat at a party where you don't know anyone. I say no thanks the first time, but if they insist, well, I know there are several cultures where it is considered insulting to refuse hospitality. I'll pick something small and not messy! The most awkward encounter I had was a lovely Malaysian mother who brought over an entire plate of hot lunch and there wasn't a single thing on it that I recognised.

Sometimes saying you'd love a drink (glass of water) can salve the host's wish to feed you.

If they really insist, I will admit that I have to go home & cook for my kids...have been sent home from Latin & Indian events with enough to feed an army of awesome homemade delicacies at times...

No, but I'm vego and they usually offer gross sausage rolls so I can decline easily, but I never pass up birthday cake if offered at the end. 1. because they are the best kind of cake, and 2. it's good luck for the birthday person

Nope I don't eat it, I did a job a few months ago for a lady that runs a cookie factory and she gave me a tip of lots of cookies.. but otherwise no it feels weird I'm employed to be there I'm not a guest but I'd play it by ear and I love food so if it would offend someone if I didn't eat it then I'd suck it up and have a very small taste.

I usually say... Oh, Thank you so much, I can't while I am working but afterward that would be lovely. That is so sweet! (If they REALLY insist I will take something small and say Thank you- I'll save it for later.)

If they try to force alcohol (I Don't drink- period) I do the same thing, but if they push it, I just say- "Oh, I can't with the medicine I take."

People mean well.

If I am at a convention and they are offering the left overs- YEAH I'll take the scallops to go!

Here in Germany I have found "food, snacks or lunch" is on the hoster. They book 3 hours event with include 1/2 break and paid snack. I was booked for a 4 hour event and they gave me $10 Euro coupon for lunch. I think it is something related to the union rights, at birthdays I eat when I finish at it seems they won't pay me if I don't.

For my daughters most recent party we had a face painter that I had hired - and we've had her before - I offered and delivered food and drinks to her. I guess now she's more like a friend and is going to come to my house and teach me privately...so long as I make her a mud cake...lol.

My husband is Sri Lankan and his family find it genuinely rude if you don't eat seconds or thirds at their house. I guess this has rubbed off on me a bit as I'm always offering and re-offering. I can't help it.

I actually want people to join in and enjoy themselves and get into the party spirit. If they want to have a drink (alcoholic) fine, but I just expect that you will be competent to undertake the task you have been paid for. I also want them to eat whatever they want and to genuinely make themselves comfortable.

I also sent her home with a slab of birthday cake, a couple of beers and a $50 tip. I love her THAT much!!! She did such an awesome job

I am often offered food, but I have a really good excuse why I can't have any of it... I am gluten free and dairy free. Food allergies are a great way to get out of feeling like you are being a "bad guest" even though I would still not have it. I used to say it would spoil my makeup in clown. It's not that I want to refuse their hospitality or don't think their food is any good, but it just doesn't feel professional.

I was totally wondering about this myself the other day!

I do a lot of birthday parties, and people always ask me if I want a drink, or something to eat... I never ever accept any food, and I prefer not to have a drink either because I simply don't have time to drink it! At one party one guy kept asking and asking if I wanted something to drink... I finally agreed to a gingerale, which I had time to take one sip of! I feel bad leaving behind a full glass/plate so I prefer not to accept any kind of food or beverage even if I'm hungry... hah!

I've been offered at just about every party, but I've never had time to actually eat any. Sometimes they beg me for just a drink, but I'd rather finish up and get out of there earlier. I'm usually meeting hubby and kids for dinner or I'm going home to make dinner for them.

I just say "no thank you" to food. I will occasionally have a soda/cup of coffee/other non-alcoholic drink if they offer it, but I usually don't - I find I mistake it for the brush water too often.... (luckily I don't usually mistake the brush water for the drink! )

I bring my own snacks/drinks to get me by through an event (or party, but I rarely do parties compared to corporate events), and I will never ask for or expect something. I treat the offer of food as I would treat a hand offered to shake as a greeting - I will respond positively. I may say "I'd love a very small portion if possible" or "a glass of water would be great" when offered something, but I don't refuse out of a sense of politeness. If I don't have time to eat (or want to eat the whole portion served to me), I will ask if I may take what was supplied home for my brother. I totally get the allergy thing as I have reacted to various foods at various points in my life, but I also used to avoid accepting offered food and found I was offending those who were paying me.....

I've got no problem with it ONCE I AM FINISHED PAINTING... then I am on my own time and if they invite me to stay and I have time, sure (presuming I want to! there are times when I just want to get the heck outta there!) Birthday cake is often offered.

Offers of drinks are often accepted as I tend to forget to bring my water ...

I had one repeat booking for sibling parties and the mom even remembered I was diabetic and had bought some diet pop just for me... (I use the "diabetic" card to avoid things sometimes...) That was really sweet of her and no way I could refuse!

And yes, the cultural thing is often in play - and I love trying different things so I will accept offers of taking a plate home!

I also do several corporate gigs where there are huge spreads of food, and hot drinks... when you are working a skating party on the side of the rink you NEED the hot chocolate to thaw out your hands. They tell us to help ourselves and we do... it is a long busy gig.

You have to judge the situation and the people.

Eating WHILE working is not, IMO, profesional. But after you are done... sure. Just wait to be asked!

I have eaten at corporate things, when they have a spread, and the organizer has offered, but only during breaks, and not at my station.

At festival I eat because it's usually an all day thing and I have to eat with meds I take. We haven't done many birthday parties but I wouldn't eat till done and offered. We work one charity event that they provide bottled water and sometime lunch. Even better next year they are putting us inside which is great because it's usually 98 degrees in the shade that time of year.

Where I live, it is southern hospitality to offer the guest food and it is being snotty not to accept. So, I always get a to-go plate but I never sit down and eat with them. After I'm home, changed, and relaxed, I enjoy my goodies. If the grandchildren are visiting, they like sharing the cake and goodies with me.
The reasons I don't eat while I'm at the party is 1) If I get something and it doesn't taste good I will feel bad having to toss it. 2) It takes time from entertaining and would need to be done on my time. However, most of the time I need to be leaving and don't have lots of extra time. 3) The close contact required, can leave you germy and I like to clean my skin, nails, and change clothes before eat. BTW I am referring parties and other private events.

I have not been to one party yet where i havent been offered food, but i usually say no thank you i already ate or im going out to dinner when i leave but i have eaten at partys before i dont see it as unprofessional if you decide to eat i mean if it is offered sometimes its more rude to say no then to eat. so i guess its with your own discretion. i know several occasions where im offered alcohol but in no way do i think is that professional i mean if your there to paint children then there is no need to drink along with that i jsut think it makes bussiness look bad but again i guess its on your own discretion. i guess this topic could go many diffrent ways depending on the person.

I usually say no but if they ask a second time I'd just ask for a glass of water. I don't feel comfortable eating the party food. I volunteered at McDonalds on McHappy Day and they even offered food as I was packing up. I couldn't even say yes (not like I was keen on eating McDonalds food) so I just asked for a Sprite.

I'm offered food at almost every party I've done so far, and they've been parties of my baby sisters' friends (where they were invited) so I will admit I have accepted the food at those

Unless it's a friend-of-the-family's party, I decline food and say I already ate (even if I'm starving in reality and their food smells fabulous!) and only accept a water or something.

I always, always decline. The client is paying me to paint, and that is what I do. I usually just tell them, "I ate before I came but thank you very much for the offer!" I figure the party host/hostess is busy enough catering to their actual guests and I am there to help entertain, not add to their work. I always bring my own water bottle and have a few tiny snacks in my FatMax in case of emergencies! ;-)

I will accept refreshements - non alchoholic because I have to drive after, but I love to have a cold drink while I work and sometimes water just doesn't cut it.