Why is this the answer?

The answer is deck because this fun riddle uses a very clever trick with words that have more than one meaning. The riddle wants your brain to picture a dinner table and food, but the real answer is an object you use for fun and games: a deck of playing cards. When you first hear the riddle, your mind might automatically think of food items you cut with a knife, like a cake, or perhaps a holiday ham. But the key to solving this riddle is to remember that the word "cut" has a special meaning in the world of card games. A deck of cards fits every single clue perfectly. Let us look at the first clue: “What is put on a table.” When you play any card game, like Go Fish, Old Maid, or even just practice shuffling, you always put the deck of cards right on a table. The flat, hard surface of the table is the best place for the cards to rest and for the players to see them. Now for the next part, which is the most important clue: “cut.” In almost every official card game, someone has to "cut the deck" before the dealer begins handing out the cards. This is a special rule meant to keep the game fair. To cut the deck, a player lifts the top portion of the stack and moves it to the bottom. This action is called a cut, but it does not involve using a knife or scissors. This unique meaning of the word "cut" is the perfect secret key that helps you solve the whole puzzle. Finally, the riddle says the answer is “never eaten.” Even though a deck of cards sits on a table, and sometimes has exciting pictures of kings, queens, and jacks, they are not food. They are made of smooth cardboard or plastic, and they are only for having fun and playing games. This entire riddle is a fantastic example of how language can be tricky. It uses simple, familiar words to send your mind in one direction, while the real answer is hiding in a totally different meaning of a word.