The nearer the bone the sweeter the meat.

The proverb presents the meat closest to a bone as especially enjoyable. Its mention of sweetness conveys a pleasing taste rather than necessarily describing a sugary flavor.

It expresses a preference for those morsels, not a rule that holds for every piece of meat. Nor does it make a claim about their nutritional value.

Use it to express a preference for meat taken from beside a bone, such as when comparing which parts of a serving taste best. It states that preference as a memorable saying rather than a testable rule.