When you need this

You're hosting friends for dinner, planning a team lunch, or ordering for a table at a restaurant. Before anyone eats, somebody has to ask what people can and can't have. Asking early is thoughtful. Asking at the table, when the food has already arrived, is awkward for everyone.

The trick is to ask open questions that don't make people explain themselves. "Is there anything you don't eat?" lets a guest say "I'm vegetarian" or "no pork" or "nothing, I'm easygoing," and move on. "Why don't you eat meat?" puts them on the spot, so leave that out unless they bring it up.

At a restaurant, the questions turn to the food itself. "Does this have nuts in it?" and "Can I get it without cheese?" are normal requests in the US, and servers expect them.

Phrases

the open, polite question a host asks

important to ask before cooking for people

check before you choose a dish

direct but fine among friends

check one food in particular

what do you want to eat right now

offer a second helping

a host or server checks what you need

ask a server about what's in a dish

ask for a change to a dish

friendly question about a dish

invite someone to try something new

small talk about food habits

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Practice · 3 min

Ask the question that fits. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.