Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To eat crisps in office

68 replies

Foood · 10/04/2024 11:43

I'm currently pregnant and have terrible morning sickness.

The only thing that helps is keeping snacks in my bag; hula hoops seem to be keeping the sickness at bay.

A colleague who sits at the desk to the back of me hates the sound of chewing or crunching, and comments every time someone eats.

Am I being unreasonable that I just ignore this and carry on eating my snacks despite the glares when I turn around ?

OP posts:
MonsteraMama · 10/04/2024 14:41

I have misophonia and work in an office where snacking at desks is very common. It's my problem to deal with and I just whack my headphones on if someone is crunching.

If she's scoffing pretzels at her desk she hasn't a leg to stand on!

Jk8 · 10/04/2024 14:35

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 10/04/2024 11:48

I would get 10, stick one on each finger and eat them extravagantly at my desk.

Maybe during a hobby but in an actual job there's usually some standards needed.

As for the OP if the morning sickness is so bad that you can't work without eating you need to either see a doctor or take time off (obviously returning once the morning sickness phase has calmed down.
Doing something to make yourself not ill is one thing but doing it repeatedly in a work environment because you can't cope without it is excessive especially if somebodys complaining about it unfortunately.

takealettermsjones · 10/04/2024 13:45

JudgeJ · 10/04/2024 13:16

But we can be sure if someone in the OP's office did something that annoyed her the responses would be quite different because she could play the 'pregnancy' card. Maybe a bit of consideration for others would be a good idea, she may need something from them later.

Of course, we should all have consideration for others. But unfortunately in situations like this a side has to be picked! This is just what happens in open plan offices, people are noisy.

SallyWD · 10/04/2024 13:38

I work in an office of 4 people and we're all crunch away happily! 8 suppose some people are more sensitive. I think they're being a bit unreasonable though. If I was them I'd suffer in silence.

WalkingonWheels · 10/04/2024 13:17

I have diagnosed misophonia. It is an awful thing to have, but it isn't other people's fault. I bought myself loop earplugs which really help. You should carry on eating your crisps!

JudgeJ · 10/04/2024 13:16

takealettermsjones · 10/04/2024 11:56

If there's no rule against eating at your desk in your office then unfortunately this is your colleague's issue to sort. Noise cancelling headphones for instance.

But we can be sure if someone in the OP's office did something that annoyed her the responses would be quite different because she could play the 'pregnancy' card. Maybe a bit of consideration for others would be a good idea, she may need something from them later.

toomuchfaff · 10/04/2024 13:13

That sounds like their problem to solve, whether they do that by buying headphones etc. They cannot expect the world and the people within the world to not make sound.

stripes92 · 10/04/2024 13:13

I used to sit next to a woman who would crunch her way through several whole carrots each day. As soon as I saw her hand go towards her bag for another carrot my headphones would go on.

saraclara · 10/04/2024 13:06

Foood · 10/04/2024 12:34

I do try to moisen the crisps in my mouth before I crunch down to muffle the noise.

Just to add, she will eat pretzels and nuts at her desk, but has no tolerance for other people eating.

In that case, I hope you comment when she's eating crunchy stuff!

mitogoshi · 10/04/2024 13:00

A couple of times a day no problem but constantly eating sounds is really annoying and disruptive if you are sound sensitive, pregnancy doesn't trump other people's issues

Mirrabel · 10/04/2024 12:54

I have misophonia - like others have said I try to control my reaction before I try to control the environment around me.

Having said that, some people have disgusting eating habits that they are subjecting other people to with no escape. The horror of “grazers” which is just a nice way of saying no self control over eating, why are they always so noisy?! You eat enough, you’ve clearly had opportunity to learn to close your mouth

Gingernurt88 · 10/04/2024 12:52

I had morning sickness that could only be half helped by eating every half an hour. I worked in a quiet customer office (could could hear a pin drop amongst 70/80 people) so I was very very conscious of not making too much noise. I stuck to mostly soft things such scotch eggs and sausage rolls etc. I'd personally have a quiet word with this person and explain as much as you are comfortable with. Maybe come to a compromise somehow that works for both of you. She can't sit there making noise and not expect it from others. However you can't also sit there feeling horrendous when there is an alternative that allows you to still function.

Iaskedyouthrice · 10/04/2024 12:52

Foood · 10/04/2024 12:34

I do try to moisen the crisps in my mouth before I crunch down to muffle the noise.

Just to add, she will eat pretzels and nuts at her desk, but has no tolerance for other people eating.

Crack on then! The absolute cheek of her to munch at her desk but expect anyone else not to 😂 I love @neverknowinglyunreasonable suggestion. Do this! Make a song and dance of it.

GasPanic · 10/04/2024 12:51

I think the idea of someone "moistening" crisps in their mouth annoys me more that the crunching would.

When we were kids we used to get minichips (now probably banned because they were horribly fattening due to the surface area) and crunch them up in the bag to make "more" minichips. Maybe you can do some sort of pre eating bag squashing to reduce the crunching necessary.

Negangirlxx · 10/04/2024 12:48

If they are happy to munch and crunch away, then they have no right to dictate what you do.

I’m currently in the morning sickness boat, and have to eat little and often in order to avoid puking. My safe foods are crackers, plain crisps etc. I can fully sympathise with you.

If she can’t work in an open plan office, then that’s her issue. I’m autistic and can struggle with noise at times, so when I am struggling at work, I put my Loops in, or my earphones. (I can still hear if my phone rings, but it blocks out any noise that may irritate me).

I’d rather deal with someone crunching crisps, than throwing up in the office. That woman should have a bit more empathy towards you. Morning sickness is horrible!

DeepfriedPizza · 10/04/2024 12:47

I have misophonia and my colleague is a really noisy eater so I just pop headphones in when she eats. It is a physical reaction rather than a dislike but it can be dealt with by using headphones/earplugs. I have to wear headphones when DH eats noodles and can't go to any restaurant that is mainly noodles. Again, my problem.

KoolKookaburra · 10/04/2024 12:47

Foood · 10/04/2024 11:43

I'm currently pregnant and have terrible morning sickness.

The only thing that helps is keeping snacks in my bag; hula hoops seem to be keeping the sickness at bay.

A colleague who sits at the desk to the back of me hates the sound of chewing or crunching, and comments every time someone eats.

Am I being unreasonable that I just ignore this and carry on eating my snacks despite the glares when I turn around ?

Can you not eat them in the kitchen? If it's one bag and you're not taking ages then fair enough I guess

usernother · 10/04/2024 12:47

@KimberleyClark Always surprises me when people suggest wearing headphones in the office. Last place I worked we were meant to be listening out for other people’s phones and answering them if necessary. Headphones would have been a total no no.

Where I worked we had soft phones and could see if they needed answering on our screens. It was easy enough to remove my headphones to replace with the phone headphones when necessary. The admins answered most of the calls anyway so it obviously depends what job you do.

Devilsmommy · 10/04/2024 12:46

AGodawfulsmallaffair · 10/04/2024 12:36

Oh well she can go fuck herself then!

Made me lol 😆🤣😆🤣

ScubaDivingSpiderMonkey · 10/04/2024 12:46

Hula Hoops result in some motherfuckin noisy munching and crunching. Drives me round the twist. But Yanbu to eat them! I always have headphones that I wear to drown out munching noises. Works like a charm.

Some people are just office despots expecting everyone to do as they say. Fuck ‘em.

WaltzingWaters · 10/04/2024 12:43

So she can eat crunchy pretzels at her desk but nobody else can crunch?! Eat away and don’t give it a second thought. I had so many crisps and crackers in that first trimester to keep the nausea at bay.

KimberleyClark · 10/04/2024 12:42

usernother · 10/04/2024 12:39

I used to keep headphones to wear at work for that very reason. I cannot stand the sound of people eating anything. I'd suggest it to the colleague.

Always surprises me when people suggest wearing headphones in the office. Last place I worked we were meant to be listening out for other people’s phones and answering them if necessary. Headphones would have been a total no no.

Hippomumma2 · 10/04/2024 12:40

Your colleague needs to get over this pronto. I eat all day at my desk - I graze during office hours !

usernother · 10/04/2024 12:39

I used to keep headphones to wear at work for that very reason. I cannot stand the sound of people eating anything. I'd suggest it to the colleague.

NewNameHello · 10/04/2024 12:39

In my office a colleague eats those hula hoop pufts with her lunch and crunches away not giving a shit, gob wide open 🙉 we just secretly laugh about it and leave the office. Its the sucking on each finger after once done and then turning their keyboard over to bang it to get the crumbs out that just give me the ick. What can you do 😂 🎧

Swipe left for the next trending thread