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Prepare: to make something or somebody ready to be used or to do something

For example, I am preparing a room for you

I have just cooked potatoes and meat and my children can eat them together.

Is it correct for me to say "Honey, wait a second, I am preparing food for you" when I mean I am putting the potatoes and meat on a plate and give them to my children?

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    Preparing food refers to the whole process of cooking, not just 'dishing up' the food. Oct 15, 2021 at 8:08

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You could say it, but you wouldn't sound like a native speaker, because we wouldn't say that.

'Preparation' of food would refer to the entire process of making food. It might include serving, as "food preparation" is often used as a term for work in the food service industry. People cooking at home might say "I'm preparing dinner" to mean cooking, but are more likely to say they are cooking, or making dinner (in American English I believe they also commonly say 'fixing' dinner).

For the process of putting food on a plate, the most common expressions would be:

  • I'm serving your food
  • I'm dishing up your food (particularly in BrEng)
  • I'm plating the food (more likely in a food industry setting)
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  • Ok, now your friend comes to your house and wants to stay over night there. You have a small room which is a bit messy but not too messy. It will take you 5 minutes to tidy the room. Do you say "Let me prepare the room for you"? Is that a different context?
    – Tom
    Oct 15, 2021 at 11:57

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