Write a story where a character’s life completely changes over the course of a meal.

Posted in Adults on Oct 31, 2022

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✍️ 71 stories

“McFood For Thought” by Eshawnial Lowry

Submitted to Contest #162

"Dining for one?" He chuckled, while adjusting his bowtie with his "sausage fingers." That was his name in the yard. Sausage fingers, the prison chef. He had my order and I made sure it would be a meal for the ages, so to speak. They let me hand it to him personally since it would be my last meal here; or anywhere for that matter. The last meal request, a rite of passage for death row inmates who had exhausted all of our appeals. The date was set for the "apparently not so cruel and unusual punishment." ...

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“Newborn” by AnneMarie Miles

Submitted to Contest #162

Trigger warning: This story uses strong and/or offensive language, and describes violence. “It’s impolite to talk with your mouth full. Didn’t anybody teach you that?” Erik said, smirking at his companion. Kirk was holding his meal’s elbow in one hand and their wrist in the other when he looked up. His eyes were like flames, ravenous and burning a glistening gold. His deep crimson chin filleted upwards as he smiled amusingly. “That’s a rule I left behind in a past life. But for your sake, I’ll repeat myself. What I said was, why do you a...

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“Something’s Off About Mary” by Kate Ross

Submitted to Contest #162

The child came from nowhere it seemed. One moment Frank was alone, watching an ancient can of baked beans heat over the campfire, and the next the girl was there, standing at the tree line. Frank jolted to his feet when he saw her, his rifle in hand before he even really thought to pick it up. The next moment and his weapon was shouldered and aimed at the young girl, who did not seem particularly bothered by his doing so. She stood stock still, and Frank wondered how long she had been there that way, watching him.“What are you doing, gi...

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“Feast” by Samuel Shields

Submitted to Contest #162

The stranger eats like an animal. He tears into the day's bread before I've set it properly on the table, fingers prying apart the hard crust to make way for the porous, soft insides. He eats like he's dying. We're a simple family, it's simple food. A thick porridge of grain with shaved, dried meat and pinches of cheese, topped with fresh herbs plucked from the garden.The porridge stains his mustache, flakes get stuck in the stubble on his cheeks. "Travel takes it out of you." He says. "You gotta fast for days, dependin' on the when." He dri...

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“Stuffed” by John Barron

Submitted to Contest #162

David tapped on the door with the back of his hand. Doorbells were so impersonal. They also left fingerprints For a moment he wasn’t sure if anyone had heard. He inspected his ID tag briefly. He considered knocking again and toyed with the idea of moving on. Then inside, he noticed a shape shifting in and out of focus through the textured glass of the door panel. David straightened himself and put on his most sincere smile. The door cautiously opened an inch or two. A pair of horn-rimmed spectacles attached to the face of a woman with long h...

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“Fun News” by J.L. (Jesse) DuRona

Submitted to Contest #162

Dad’s made his world-famous lasagna tonight, and that means something’s up. He gives me a long stare after setting an extra-big piece on my plate. “You alright, Clay? You look a little green under the gills.” “I’m fine, Pop,” I reply, though I can’t meet his eyes. He smiles, ruffles my hair, and takes his place at the head of the table. “C’mon, everyone, there’s plenty to go around!” The giant slab of noodles, sauce, and cheese is calling my name, but my stomach is too swishy to do anything about it. The last time Dad made lasagna ...

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“A La Carte” by Ross Dyter

Submitted to Contest #162

The menu hit the table with a soft thud. “It’s all in there, I’ve done everything you asked.” His knuckles whitened as he gripped the edges of the table. He leaned in his blue eyes locked onto hers. “Now leave me, and my family, alone.” “I…” “I don’t want to hear it Sarah, it’s over.” He pulled his phone from his jacket pocket, “I’ve got your photo, if I ever hear from you again, I’m handing it all over.” He let go of the table and wiped his hands on his blue jeans. Straightening up he ran his fingers through...

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“Meal Plan” by Keila Aartila

Submitted to Contest #162

“Get out. Get out of my house,” she spoke the order in a neutral, nearly conversational fashion, surprising even herself.The man shrugged on his coat, finished the last gulp of his wine and contemplated her glare. He turned to leave. As he grabbed the door knob, he shot back,”I’ll call you tomorrow, then, okay?”“Whatever,” she stated as she closed the door after him.She poured herself another glass of wine before checking the oven. Gosh, it smelled so good! What's wrong with that guy? She had made this over-the-top dinner for him, to ce...

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“Abuela's Tamales ” by Charlie Stradiotto

Submitted to Contest #162

The streets are crowded. This is the first time I have been in my Abuela's food stall at night time. It is really busy. The streets are lit with glowing pink and yellow lanterns, and people bustle by, hoping to buy and eat some of my Abuela's famous tamales before she sells out for the night. My family's little food stall, the Especia de la Calle is crowded with people. My Mama is making the filling for the tamales in a large frying pan over an open flame, mixing the shredded chicken, beans, red chilli and pork with a large spoon until the m...

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“The Love of Cooking” by ELLEN DILLIGAN

Submitted to Contest #162

Lisa Delviri sat in the dimly-lit restaurant, looking over the menu, although food wasn’t what was on her mind. As her eyes bounced from appetizers to entrees, she thought about her greatest dilemma. Lisa had recently graduated culinary school, and with hope in her heart, she had moved to New York City to fulfill her dream of opening a restaurant, but little did she know how hard it would be. Her father had died only a few months before, and with her mother back in her hometown, New Orleans, Lisa was struggling to make ends meet with her nee...

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“Don't Eat The Blackberries” by Taylor And Sandra Preisler

Submitted to Contest #162

For as long as I can remember, I have believed in Faeries.It all started with my mother. I don’t remember much about her, but I do remember she smelled like wildflowers and campfire smoke. I remember a halo of black hair around her head and the sound of songs I couldn’t understand. I remember screams and crying and the sound of glass breaking. I remember waking up to find her gone and my father taking down all our family pictures.I was never allowed to play in the forest behind our home after that. When I cried and pleaded, he finally told m...

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“Pizza for Shane Corey?” by L Key

Submitted to Contest #162

Content warning: sensitive subjects including physical violence.Full list of TW at bottom of the story.Pizza for Shane Corey?If I could review this place, I would give it one star. I have felt more pleasure in a paper cut. Don’t bother coming here, I would write, the cutlery is blunt, the food is greasier than a homeless man’s beard, and along with your dish, the man will serve you a tight-lipped scowl. I didn’t order anything complicated: pepperoni pizza, a side of fries and a large strawberry milkshake. Hell, how can you screw up milkshake...

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“11 course meal” by David Brown

Submitted to Contest #162

Kara sat at the dinner table surrounded by her laughing family. This time of year was always her favorite, it meant she got to see distant family that only came to visit for the holidays. Her favorite cousin sat next to her chatting away about some new guy she was interested in. Kara tried to pay attention but she was overwhelmed by the sounds of talking and laughter and by the delicious smells coming from the kitchen. Her family usually cooked at her grandmother's house but for some reason this year her grandmother, mother, and aunts had re...

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“Salt” by Becky B

Submitted to Contest #162

‘Passthesal’.It was a grunt. Barely a word. Let alone three separate words. Or a please added on. Beginning or end – a please would have been appreciated at either point.‘PASS THE SALT’.This time the words were carefully pronounced. Louder. Almost like the words themselves could stand up, walk over, raise her hand, hold the salt and carry it over to his side of the table. They could have done before. Any word he uttered like that could have made her jump to attention. It was best to listen to what the words wanted and let them control you. I...

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“Harvest Moon” by Brett Larson

Submitted to Contest #162

Harvest Moon The tater tots left greasy streaks on the wax paper that lined the plastic serving dish. But these streaks Kerry never noticed. The food came into his mouth like a nervous habit. It was no secret that he only ate the tots when he was bluffing. He had a pair of 8’s and doubled up his bet, putting the pressure on the dealer. But the dealer watched another few cold tots disappear and knew to take the bet. Kerry lost again. But it wasn’t real money, not unless he won. Then he left with a pocket full of real cash. That was real. T...

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Write a story where a character’s life completely changes over the course of a meal.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 71 stories

“McFood For Thought” by Eshawnial Lowry

“Newborn” by AnneMarie Miles

“Something’s Off About Mary” by Kate Ross

“Feast” by Samuel Shields

“Stuffed” by John Barron

“Fun News” by J.L. (Jesse) DuRona

“A La Carte” by Ross Dyter

“Meal Plan” by Keila Aartila

“Abuela's Tamales ” by Charlie Stradiotto

“The Love of Cooking” by ELLEN DILLIGAN

“Don't Eat The Blackberries” by Taylor And Sandra Preisler

“Pizza for Shane Corey?” by L Key

“11 course meal” by David Brown

“Salt” by Becky B

“Harvest Moon” by Brett Larson

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone looking at a restaurant menu.

Write about a character whose love language is making food for others.

Write a story in which too many cooks spoil the broth — literally or metaphorically.

Start your story with one character trying to convince another that they make the best grilled cheese in the world.

Contest #162

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

234

Contest entries

97

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: