eating items

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "eating items" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of consuming food or objects that are meant to be eaten. Example: "The restaurant specializes in eating items that are both delicious and visually appealing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

They look for clues in the lunch menus at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, where his two daughters will be eating items like herbes de Provence pita, local pears and organic chopped salad, served with unbleached napkins in a cafeteria with a serious recycling program.

The New York Times - Food

The goal was to stay within strict calorie limits while eating items from the hamburger chain's menu.

Huffington Post

The piece delves into the competitive nature of consuming ridiculously hot peppers, mentioning recent individuals dethroning each other by eating items measuring 1.464 million Scoville Units (that's the "standard measure of heat").

Huffington Post

On the other hand, the strongest correlation was found between "difficulty in drinking" and "difficulty in eating" items (Table 5).

BMC Oral Health

Some patients developed hypoglycaemia, as food was distributed through rationing, and they could no longer supplement a lack of calories by eating items like snack food between meals.

BMJ Open

Satiety responsiveness and slowness in eating items from the original model loaded onto the same factor and were thus combined into one subscale termed slowness in eating and satiety responsiveness (Additional file 1: Table S1).

BMC Pediatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Camels have also adapted to desert conditions by being able to endure protein deficiency and eat items other livestock avoid, such as thorns, dry leaves, and saltbush.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As fans of the show could have predicted, ITV viewers saw little of Dorries' political views but did get to see her eat items including a camel's toe, an ostrich's anus and some cattle genitals, as she was selected by viewers to undergo the ordeals around which the programme is based.

The Guardian

In restaurants, there is a trend for companies to locate several of their brands under one roof, allowing a family to eat items from Taco Bell and Pizza Hut at the same time.

Forbes

Following World War II, the company continued to answer the call for greater convenience in consumer foods and expanded its offerings to include single-serve, easy to eat items such as popsicles and ice cream sandwiches.

Wikipedia

Be sure that you eat items from each of the food groups.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing dietary habits or nutritional studies, be specific about the "eating items" by naming concrete examples for clarity.

Common error

Ensure the context clarifies whether "eating items" refers to food or non-food objects to prevent misinterpretation. Specify food types whenever possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "eating items" functions as a gerund phrase, where 'eating' acts as a verb taking 'items' as its object. As shown in Ludwig, it describes the activity of consuming particular objects, typically food. The phrase commonly serves as the subject or object in a sentence, detailing a general action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "eating items" is a grammatically correct gerund phrase used to describe the act of consuming food or objects. According to Ludwig, the phrase appears across diverse sources, including news, scientific publications, and wikis. While generally acceptable, it's important to ensure clarity by specifying the types of food being consumed, especially in formal contexts. Alternatives like "consuming food" or "ingesting products" can be used for a more formal tone. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for various writing styles, though specificity enhances clarity in certain contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consuming food

Focuses specifically on the act of eating food, removing the ambiguity of "items".

ingesting products

Emphasizes the act of taking something into the body, applicable to both food and non-food items.

having a meal

Suggests a structured eating event, typically implying a social context.

devouring edibles

Highlights the enthusiastic consumption of food.

taking nourishment

Emphasizes the nutritional aspect of eating.

sampling provisions

Suggests a careful or measured way of eating.

partaking of victuals

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying eating food.

feeding on supplies

Implies a more basic or survival-oriented approach to eating.

chewing foods

Focuses on the mechanical act of eating rather than the items themselves.

swallowing substances

A general term for ingesting anything, not necessarily limited to food.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "eating items" to sound more formal?

Consider using phrases like "consuming food" or "ingesting products" for a more formal tone, depending on the context.

What is a more descriptive alternative to "eating items"?

Instead of "eating items", try specifying the type of food, such as "having a meal", "sampling provisions", or "devouring edibles" if the meaning allows it.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "eating items"?

The phrase "eating items" is suitable when you need a general term for consuming various kinds of food without specifying each one. It's often used in studies or descriptions of dietary habits.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using "eating items"?

Avoid using "eating items" in situations where specifying the food is crucial. For example, instead of saying "the study focused on eating items", say "the study focused on the consumption of fruits and vegetables" for greater clarity.