pick at
• repeatedly pull at something with one's fingers.
• "the old woman was picking at the sheet"
• eat food in small amounts or without much appetite.
• "she picked at her breakfast"
Similar:
nibble,
peck,
eat listlessly,
toy with,
play with,
take very small bites from,
eat like a bird,
show no appetite for,
eat sparingly of,
• criticize someone in a petty way.
• "now, please don't start picking at Ruth"
