Who to Share With

• The first thing to learn is that you cannot share food with everyone. According to Collegelifestyles.org, it's only appropriate to share food with people you are close to, such as significant others, family members and close friends. Outside of that, it isn't proper etiquette to share food with other people.
  
  

The Environment Must be Right

• Sharing food is fine as long as the location is appropriate. An upscale restaurant might frown on a plate placed between two people with two forks attacking it. The act of reaching for food across the table doesn't work there either. However, in a casual restaurant or at home, it is OK.
  
  

Prepare to Share

• Ask the server for an extra plate if you are going to share, and then divide the food. Sometimes, if you explain that you plan to share, the server will divide the dessert onto two plates before serving it to you. Two things are accomplished by this. The dessert is shared equally, and it establishes a more formal and more respectful environment than is created by two people eating off the same plate. The simple act of asking the waiter for a plate completely changes how appropriate your actions will appear to other customers at the restaurant.
  
  

Eat Only Your Share

• Perhaps the most important rule is never to eat more than the person you are sharing with. If sharing one dessert, make sure the amount you eat is equal to the amount the other person eats. If you are taking bites off each others' plates, make sure you don't take more bites than the other person takes. By doing this, you ensure that you aren't taking an inappropriate amount of food that will be silently resented.