Do Atheists ever pretend to pray at the table before eating?

Why? so you think it would have some impact somewhere do you.

I bow my head slightly and let them get on with it.

That has never happened to me. I would probably just look.

I usually participate. In that moment, it's about spending time with family and friends and not creating kerfuffle to suit my own agenda. One can be atheist and respect other's traditions w/o being anti-theist all the time....not a big deal IMHO

i dont know anybody that prays before meals. And if i was at a meal with people praying i would just think they were retarded

I know I don't. I simply sit there quietly and respectfully.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Just sit quietly and wait while they do whatever it is their customs dictates they must do before eating. It shouldn't harm you at all...

I probably wouldn't be at a dinner party where peole prayed to a god in thanks for the food instead of thanking the people responsible for growing and hauling that food to market, or more importantly, thanking the animal for sacrificing its life for few moments of my dining pleasure.

However, I sit quietly and look around the table at the other diners who are awkwardly trying to figure out what they should do without abjectly insulting the host by snickering.