to start eating
席に着いてすぐに食べ始めた。
I started eating as soon as I sat down.
子供がひとりで食べ始めているのを見た。
I saw the child starting to eat on their own.
まだ全員が揃っていないので食べ始めないようにした。
Not everyone had arrived yet, so I held off from starting to eat.