I am looking for a verb that means to pick small portions of food usually stealthily before it is served for everyone especially from the main plate. I believe it can be the same verb used when people insert their finger in a cake to taste some cream before a wish is made or candles are blown.
Here are some examples of how I would like to use it in a sentence:
- Kids! Do not [the verb] the food. Go to the dining room and wait at the table.
- Don't [the verb] the food with your dirty finger. Go wash your hands.
- He was [the verb] the chicken nuggets before everyone came to the table.
Graze
was the first thing that came to mind for me, but that's already taken, so I'd go withnibble