Hi, this is culled from an interesting exchange from another group...
Offer of food to someone is not just that one is sharing the prasadam of Bhagavan. It has been characterised as a yajna, a must- be done, by everyone everyday. This is one among the pancha maha yajnas or 5 sacrifices that every human being, irrespective of caste, creed etc must do. It was done by everyone in those days. This offer done in the spirit of yajna is 'manushaya yajna'(yajna to people), also known as 'athiti bhojanam'. (This was originally written as a reply to a girl of white origin who wanted to know about hospitality )--------------------------------------------------