Although a person is permitted to eat and drink while reciting Tehillim, he should be careful that while he is saying the mizmorim his mouth is free of food; likewise, there should not be a candy or the like in his mouth. Therefore, when he wishes to eat or drink, he should pause his recitation briefly, and after he has finished swallowing he should continue.
Sources and Explanations
The Gemara (Berachot 51a) derives that a person should not recite a berachah (blessing) while there is food in his mouth, from the verse “My mouth shall be filled with Your praise” (Tehillim 71:8). The Magen Avraham and the Taz (end of siman 172) likewise cite this as halacha. Therefore, also when one recites Tehillim and is engaged in the praise of the Creator, he should do so with a mouth empty of food, so that he can fill his mouth with His praise. [However, where one has food in his mouth and hears a berachah, he is permitted to answer amen, as cited by the Eshel Avraham of Butshash (siman 172) and the Or LeTzion (vol. 2, p. 308).]
From the sefer “Shaf Veyativ – Laws of Saying Tehillim” by Rabbi Shay Tahan, Chapter 7: What Is Forbidden and Permitted When Saying Tehillim, Halacha 6 (p. 124 in the print edition). Translated from the Hebrew original.
