When you need this

Food comes up at every lunch, dinner party and office birthday. Somebody offers you a slice of cake, a coworker asks if you want to split a pizza, a host wants to know what to cook. You'll need to say what you eat and what you don't, and say it in a way that's clear but not heavy.

There are three kinds of sentences here. Things you don't or can't eat: "I'm vegetarian," "I don't eat pork," "I'm allergic to shellfish." Your habits: "I usually cook at home," "I eat late most nights." And your tastes: "I've got a sweet tooth," "I'm a picky eater." People share the first kind as facts, with no need to explain. Nobody expects a reason for "I don't eat beef."

"I'm on a diet" is common too, and it's personal. You can say it about yourself, but it's not a phrase to use about anyone else.

Phrases

you don't eat meat or fish

a clear, simple fact; no reason needed

nuts make you sick; always say this clearly

milk, cheese and butter don't agree with you

a habit you're working on

you don't eat much in the morning

you love sweet food

you don't like many foods

you're relaxed about food

your normal habit

"tend to" makes a habit softer

your mealtime habit

you're following a food plan; personal, say it only about yourself

a polite no to more food

Say it out loud

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

Practice · 3 min

Say it about yourself. 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.