The Sages of the Talmud on Food and Eating

When Hillel the Elder would cease from [teaching] his students, he would walk, and they would walk with him. Said his disciples to him: "Master, where are you going?" Said he to them: "I am going to do a kindness to a guest in my home." Said they to him: "Every day you have a guest?" Said he to them: "Is this poor soul not a guest in the body? Today she is here, tomorrow she is not..."

(Midrash Rabbah, Vayikra 34)

The saying goes: "The belly carries the feet"

(Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit 70)

When the Holy Temple was in existence, the Altar atoned for Israel; today, a person's table atones for him.

(Talmud, Berachot 55a)

One who eats slowly lives long.

(Talmud, Berachot 54b)

The world can live without wine, but it cannot live without water; the world can live without peppers, but it cannot live without salt.

(Jerusalem Talmud, Horeyot 3:5)

"Great is eating for it distances those who are near, and brings close those who are far."

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 103)

Four things were said regarding bread: One should not place raw meat on bread, one should not pass a full cup over bread, one should not throw bread, and one should not prop up one's bowl with a piece of bread.

(Talmud, Berachot 50b)

Rabbi Meir says: The tree from which Adam ate was a vine, for there is nothing that bring woe upon a person as wine.

Rabbi Judah says: It was wheat, for the child does not have the knowledge to call "Father" and "Mother" until he tastes grain.

Rabbi Nehemiah says: It was a fig -- the thing that caused their ruin was also their rectification, as it is written (Genesis 3:7), "And they sewed the leaves of a fig.

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 70a-b)

When Noah took to planting, Satan came and stood before him and said to him: "What are you planting?" Said he: "A vineyard." Said Satan to him: "What is its nature?" Said he: "Its fruits are sweet, whether moist or dry, and one makes from them wine which brings joy to the heart." Said Satan to Noah: "Do you desire that we should plant it together, you and I?" Said Noah: "Yes."

What did Satan do? He brought a lamb and slaughtered it over the vine; then he brought a lion, and slaughtered it over it; then he brought a monkey, and slaughtered it over it; then he brought a swine, and slaughtered it over it; and he watered the vine with their blood. Thus he alluded to Noah: When a person drinks one cup, he is like a lamb, modest and meek. When drinks two cups, he becomes mighty as a lion and begins to speak with pride, saying, "Who compares with me!" As soon as he drinks three or four cups he becomes a monkey, dancing and frolicking and profaning his mouth, and knowing not what he does. When he becomes drunk, he becomes a pig, dirtied by mud and wallowing in filth.

(Midrash Tanchuma)

One should not talk while eating, lest the windpipe [receive the food] before the gullet and endanger one's life.

(Talmud, Taanit 5b)

Said Rav Ami: In the study hall, give priority to wisdom; at the table, give priority to age.

(Talmud, Bava Batra 120a)

Our sages taught: One who eats in the street is comparable to a dog. There are those who say that he is disqualified from serving as a witness.

(Talmud, Kiddushin 40b)

In the clothes that you cooked a pot for your master, do not serve a cup to your master.

(Talmud, Shabbat 114a)

Bread should be eaten on the edge of a sword.

(Zohar)