Kind of like cat-nip?

[Lilo] very seldom eats something new. She likes it better when I'm trying to giver her some food, than the food itself.

It's quite common that she's very eager that I make some food for her, bring it out and put it on a plate. She's so happy with me while I'm doing this. Then she smells a little at the food and walks away and eats the food some other time.