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5. Food
A. Serving refreshments:
Visitors eating in the Shiva home: The widespread custom of Ashkenazi Jewry is to avoid eating in the house of a mourner during Shiva, and hence refreshments are not served. In contrast, the widespread custom of Sephardic Jewry is to serve refreshments to the visitors. See below and Chapter 19 Halacha 1 in Q&A for the full details of this subject!Lechaim:[1] It is not our custom to offer Lechaim in the Shiva home during the Shiva, with exception to the seventh and last day of Shiva, after Shacharis.B. Bringing food to the Shiva home:
It is customary for neighbors and friends to bring meals to the mourners in the Shiva home.[2] Nonetheless, sweats and fancy desserts are not to be served.[3]
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[1] See Toras Menachem-Reshimos Hayoman p. 414 that the Rebbe Rayatz agreed to the Rebbe to have Lechaim distributed only on the 7th day. See Shulchan Menachem 5:282 footnote 5
[2] See Rabbeinu Yerucham, brought in Beir Hagoleh 378 and Beir Heiytiv 378:6 that some are accustomed for the Aveilim to have food catered by others throughout the entire Shiva. The reason is because it is forbidden to do Melacha during Shiva and the paupers may not have what to eat. The Poskim ibid concludes that so is the custom of the Sephardim
[3] Nitei Gavriel 92:11 based on the prohibition to send presents to the mourner; See Rama 696:6 that one may not send Mishloach Manos to a mourner, and M”A 696:11 regarding Mishloach Manos of the Avel and that he is not to send sweets
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