The term 'WORD BEFORE MATE OR FOOD' can be solved by the 4-letter word 'SOUL'. The word 'SOUL' is often used to refer to the spiritual or immaterial part of a person, which is believed to exist beyond physical death. It is also used to refer to a person's innermost being, their essence, or their emotional and moral character. In this context, it could be used to refer to the idea of a person's soulmate, or the SOUL of a food item.