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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this is a perfectly fine evening meal?

335 replies

IroningThrone · 14/04/2024 17:46

Had porridge at about 7am this morning and have been busy all day. Have just made myself tea (see pic) and my aunt (who is staying with me for a few days) has made me feel really bad about it - apparently it's too much food and a "greedy meal"

Aibu to think it's fine as an evening meal?

It's four new potatoes, boiled and crisped in the pan with a little olive oil (not how I'd usually have them with a salad type tea, but they were still a bit hard!), two slices of cheese, a tablespoon of fat free cottage cheese/coleslaw, two slices of ham, and a bit of salad cream (plus the salad leaves)

To think this is a perfectly fine evening meal?
OP posts:
MissScarletInTheBallroom · 14/04/2024 20:51

It's fine. Don't have your aunt to stay again.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 14/04/2024 20:50

KvotheTheBloodless · 14/04/2024 20:47

I know MN is mad for competitive undereating, but this thread is wild! Posters saying "that would be too much for me", give your head a wobble. 2 slices of ham is about 50kcal, a tbsp of cottage cheese also 50kcal. 4 new potatoes with olive oil = 270kcal. 1 tbsp coleslaw = 80kcal. Cheese = 85kcal. Salad = 15kcal. Total calories 550.

That's on top of a bowl of porridge at a maximum of 250kcal. So 800kcal for the entire day is too much for you? Oh do fuck off, and while you're at it get help for your incessant need to wang on about how little you eat/how virtuous you are. It's harmful to other women - I say that as a (mostly) recovered anorexic.

Absolutely agree! (Great username btw - I'm a huge fan!)

YouwouldthinkIhavemoresense · 14/04/2024 20:49

YeahComeOnThen · 14/04/2024 17:51

Why is she staying? Can you cut her visit short??

that's a perfectly normal 'tea', Has she reached the 'sparrow portion' stage of life??

Spot on about the “ sparrow portion of life “ 😂😂

Also , it has bugger all to do with the Aunt what op puts into her mouth. It really pisses me off when people pass opinion on someone’s else’s food or portion sizes. So fucking rude.

DGPP · 14/04/2024 20:48

Looks yummy, it would be the size I’d have. But I’d also have had lunch!

KvotheTheBloodless · 14/04/2024 20:47

I know MN is mad for competitive undereating, but this thread is wild! Posters saying "that would be too much for me", give your head a wobble. 2 slices of ham is about 50kcal, a tbsp of cottage cheese also 50kcal. 4 new potatoes with olive oil = 270kcal. 1 tbsp coleslaw = 80kcal. Cheese = 85kcal. Salad = 15kcal. Total calories 550.

That's on top of a bowl of porridge at a maximum of 250kcal. So 800kcal for the entire day is too much for you? Oh do fuck off, and while you're at it get help for your incessant need to wang on about how little you eat/how virtuous you are. It's harmful to other women - I say that as a (mostly) recovered anorexic.

mitogoshi · 14/04/2024 20:46

I wouldn't have cheese and ham myself but aside looks fine

NoSnowdrop · 14/04/2024 20:46

Your aunt is rude to call you greedy and clearly has issues with food/portions.

I never choose “fat free” options as I think they’re unhealthy and taste terrible but otherwise YANBU!

YireosDodeAver · 14/04/2024 20:44

Your aunt is one of those nasty competitive undereaters of which there are also a handful on MN who want to make other women feel bad about whatever they eat as a way of propping up their own self-esteem. There's nothing wrong with that meal. It's well balanced and not at all unhealthy.

tobee · 14/04/2024 20:44

Plus loads of people on Mumsnet have massive eating issues. Or don't tell the truth

tobee · 14/04/2024 20:42

What your aunt says is absolute bollocks

cardibach · 14/04/2024 20:41

LoveSkaMusic · 14/04/2024 17:52

It looks fine to me, if a little odd to have hot potatoes and cold meat!

You’ve never had cold turkey and chips on Boxing Day? You’ve never lived…

soupfiend · 14/04/2024 20:39

In fact OP, isnt this 'high tea' that I keep reading about on various threads, there seems to be a plethora of threads about 'high tea'

Or tea, as I know it

I like your high tea, its very 70s, but as you said, egg next time for the full retro vibe.

Beaverbridge · 14/04/2024 20:38

Aunty needs to pipe down. Your plate looks perfect.

greengreyblue · 14/04/2024 20:38

Your meal looks tasty and balanced with appropriate portions especially as your only other meal was porridge.

soupfiend · 14/04/2024 20:37

ladymalfoy45 · 14/04/2024 20:30

@soupfiend YES ! The best Cottage Cheese.
I like it with pineapple. Then chop a bit of pickled beetroot in for good measure.

Oh my god, love this

I had a big dollop the other day with aubergine curry. Surprisingly good.

BirthdayRainbow · 14/04/2024 20:37

I'd have something to say about her saying it is a greedy meal. That's spiteful. Your plate looks delicious.

FlissyPaps · 14/04/2024 20:36

Sprogonthetyne · 14/04/2024 17:49

It's slightly more then I'd usually have, but if you missed lunch (I'm guessing as you mentioned breakfast and nothing else), you'd want a big tea. Over the course of the day you've not had much

OP’s meal isn’t a “big” tea in the slightest.

The competitive under-eating on this website is actually insane.

soupfiend · 14/04/2024 20:36

Feebs450 · 14/04/2024 19:00

It looks absolutely fine to me, especially when you've had a light breakfast.

However, one point I thought was interesting is how off the op's measurement descriptions are. Disclaimer OP I'm NOT having a go at you - your meal is fine

That is far more than a tablespoon full of either cottage cheese or coleslaw. It's closer to 3 of each. I'm currently on a diet so I'm very well acquainted right now with what a teaspoon or tablespoon of this or that looks like 😂

It kind of makes you realise, when people are struggling with weight loss (not op, just generally) and claim they 'only had xyz amount of this' - our perceptions of portion size and measurement are generally massively skewed nowadays.

I agree, I have eyes that can weigh common foods like bread, cheese, nuts and measure a table spoon, however on that point, I find tablespoons a bit of a ball ache because my 'measuring spoons' which apparently are the right measurement are no way near as big as my big metal 'tablespoon' in the drawer.

I use my proper spoon to measure out oil and whatnot so I suspect Im having 2 tablepoons not one each time. I really need to do a proper comparison

Howdidtheydothat · 14/04/2024 20:32

Looks like a balanced meal, especially if all you had that day was porridge. Carbs, protein , fibre, not too much ultra processed.
People have many different eating habits, maybe your aunt has a larger lunch and a teeny evening “tea” rather than substantial dinner.
It is so rude to comment uninvited on anyone’s food choice. Many threads on MN about similar but in other spaces (work lunchtimes, family meals out etc. Comment like these are how bad eating habits and poor self esteem begin.
Suggest the MN favourite “did you mean to sound so rude?”

YoureALizardHarry11 · 14/04/2024 20:32

Nothing wrong with it at all - tell her to stop trying to push her unhealthy ideas around food on to you - cheeky cow 🤣

BananaLambo · 14/04/2024 20:31

Needs some pickled onions.

ladymalfoy45 · 14/04/2024 20:30

@soupfiend YES ! The best Cottage Cheese.
I like it with pineapple. Then chop a bit of pickled beetroot in for good measure.

Cakeandcardio · 14/04/2024 20:30

Def average. Not loads. Having missed lunch I would probably end up eating crisps or chocolate later too. Your aunt must have very low muscle mass (often happens to the elderly then they start thinking a piece of asparagus is too much. They don't need to comment though!)

DuchesseNemours · 14/04/2024 20:30

Grown adults should not be policing other grown adult's food by act or words.

Regardless of the size or composition of uour meal, your aunt is a dick.

Maria1982 · 14/04/2024 20:30

IroningThrone · 14/04/2024 18:42

I'd normally have lunch too but I've just taken possession of a new allotment and have been there most of the day getting sorted.

Show quote history

Oooh congrats on the new allotment.

your aunt is being rude ! And weird about food

and doubly so if you’ve been outside working allotment all day - I would have been starving !!!