From an image in the Rigveda it can be learned that the Vedic Indians took their food in a sitting pasture. They used to recite a prayer to food before they took their meals. They also made offerings to gods before they began eating newly ripened corn as a token of gratitude to them for enabling them to enjoy the produce of a new crap. Women, generally, did not take their food in the presence of male members.

It is laid down in the Sutras that one should eat sitting on a piece of ground, which has been purified by the application of cow dung etc. In this period the skin of an ox was used as a seat. According to Apastamba the person taking food should sit on a low wooden stool having four feet or a seat made of wood or of a skin. The skin was considered as the best seat. A person should not eat in a boat or on a wooden platform. It is prescribed that he should sit with his face towards the east or towards the south. But facing the south is not allowed if the diner`s mother is alive. It was believed that one who eats food facing the east long life and one who does that facing the south becomes famous. A person should have his sacred thread as also his upper garment when taking his meals.

It was not considered proper that "a person while taking his meats should make sound with his mouth." The diner was expected to put each morsel in his mouth with all the fingers including the thumb. He should not speak while taking his meals. Biting off pieces from a cake, roots, bulbs, fruits or flesh with teeth and drinking water standing or bending forward were considered improper. Serving fats, salt and condiments in the hand was considered improper. Declaring the qualities of food was considered unmannerly. In a party one was not to begin eating before others and was not to leave the party while others taking food. All others were expected to abstain from eating after anyone had left.

Vasistha lays down that a person should honour food in the morning and evening by saying, `I like it`. In the case of sraddhas he, should say `it was very good in taste`. In married etc. he should say the food offered was perfect.