Should I dump my boyfriend because he won't stop eating crisps?

It’s not the crisps, it’s the poor hygiene, juvenile behaviour popping the packets and stubborn toddler attitude to trying new food abroad.

You wouldn’t dump him for eating crisps but acting like a dragged up child.

Op I thoroughly enjoyed your post. You write so articulately about crisps. @SkippitySkoppityyou also made me chuckle.

As a crisp fan myself I would have no problem with the amount of crisps or indeed type of crisps he consumes, but perhaps the bag popping would be a step too far for me. However is it a dumpable offence? I think he needs the chance to rectify his behaviour so maybe have a conversation with him first and see if he’s willing to modify his habits.

Scrunching the bags down the bed could turn into an environmental health hazard if mice decide to darken your door.

I agree with this, he sounds fussy. I would rather someone who will have fun trying new foods on holiday, cooking healthy dishes together etc. My boyfriend eats lots of McDonald’s and it bugs me because it is utter rubbish… I think it’s important not to settle

The crisp eating wouldn't be a problem for me, the limited and unadventurous diet is the biggest deal breaker. Not even wanting to try different food in a different country is so boring.

His attitude to food and his restricted diet indicates a person who is stuck in their ways and inflexible.

I wouldn't be in a relationship where I didn't contribute financially.
Maybe he spends so much on you he can't afford real crisps/food?

At the risk of sounding like a snob, if you have any kind of food incompatibility then long term it is not going to work out. Think of how many meals a day you have to sit with this person and if you live with them how unbalanced the cooking or meals would be due to his limited diet. I have an ex that lived on curry, indian curry and the spicier the better. I think I must have been drunk for the best part of our relationship because I completely overlooked (or underinhaled perhaps) the 'scent' of spice coming from his bald sweaty head.
He was also a crisp eater and would chomp all the way through watching a movie so on a sensory level we had to break up before I was being taken away in a cop car.

Yes, it’s childish. It’s a sign of immaturity, lack of curiosity and childish stubbornness which would make me wonder about their attitude to other more important things in life.

He has a very childish attitude to food. Tipping the packet to get every crumb, popping the bag and only eating English food - sounds like a 12 year old boy not a grown man. I’d be embarrassed.
And I don’t agree with the posters who advise talking to him about it. He shouldn’t need to be told at his age. If he did change his crisp eating habits, I think you’d start to notice other things that give you the ick.
I don’t think he’s for you, OP.

This. Crisps aside there’s no warmth let alone affection in the op.

I know what you mean op. And I think once you've got the ick, it's very hard if not impossible to come back from.

Obviously there's nothing wrong with crisps but the behaviours associated with them would give me the ick too.

I had an ex who used to drink the remains of a pot noodle and it completely put me off him, even though I enjoyed (and still do) an occasional pot noodle myself. I think it was something about the gluttony of not allowing any of it go to waste.

So I get where you're coming from. Plus the empty crisp packets wedged in his bed makes me think he's potentially very immature in some ways which you may have yet to see.

He sounds like a teenage boy. If you have the ick after a two week holiday how would you be able to live together. Not washing his hands and not putting the empty bags in the bin would annoy me. Is he lazy? What’s the state of his flat like ? YANBU for thinking about dumping him, I mean , you want what you want right ? He has basic tastes and is not curious about other cultures, you are more discerning. You are mismatched. It won’t work if contempt is creeping in and you can’t respect him. Choose carefully, don’t settle for someone just because you are keen to settle down. If you back the wrong horse it can really mess up your life.

He’s done well to find Nik Naks/‘Monster Munch/Worsits type crisps in Spain. Up until about a decade ago they only did ready salted Leys. When I was there last year they’d branched out into salt and vinegar and paprika but I’ve never seen them sell crisps such as you would find here.

I used to work with an intern who used to do the chugging the crumbs out of a packet of crisps down his throat and I always remember thinking, you are never gonna get laid

And he ate the childish type of crisps that you mentioned

I would be worried about his daily crisp habit as he is probably neglecting his health in other ways.

As for not eating local cuisine - this suggests a very closed, set in his ways approach to life.

I vote for throwing this one back. If it irritates you now, can you even imagine what it might be like in 10, 20, 30………. etc years of time 😱

You’re not compatible!!! He’s not up to your standards. Move on, don’t settle! Xo

He could at least have eaten Lays. On the balcony with a bottle of Fanta Limon.

It's the only eating English food thing that would bug me but as long as he didn't mind me eating local I wouldn't judge him for his (terrible) eating habits

This made me laugh.

I dated a man who announced on our second date that he only ate chicken. I thought he meant he only ate poultry, like some people are pescatarians or vegetarians, but no, he meant he only ate plain grilled chicken. Every meal
Wouldn't go to a restaurant unless grilled chicken was on the menu. I dumped him after the third date when he pushed coq au vin around his plate and wanted to go home for some 'real food'. 😂

Have you talked to him about it? If it’s potentially a deal breaker, you really should. Give him a chance, but if it doesn’t improve, and that’s the hill you want to die on, end it. Small annoyances can become insurmountable obstacles. To me, in the big picture, it’s not the worst thing he could do. And you might have habits that really irritate him and that he wishes you would stop. But if his good qualities don’t outweigh this single quirk, move on.

This. It wouldn't be for me OP. And for God's sake don't move in with him if he's already irritating you.

There are more interesting and adventurous men out there.

I think you are being a bit melodramatic but not entirely wrong. Someone that refuses to eat different goods, leaves rubbish around, and pops crisp bags sounds quite immature. Is he immature in other ways? If he's otherwise fine I'd just sit him down and say look - I love you, keen to move in blah blah but there are habits of yours that come across as quite immature. In our own place I would want to live with someone who looks after that space not leaves it filthy. Which means all rubbish in the bin, wash hands immediately after eating any greasy food including crisps, and not popping crisp bags and spraying crumbs everywhere. I would give it a good amount of time to check he's properly changed his ways before you move in together.

But ultimately, life is too short to put up with things that really aggravate you. In relationships you can have so many divergences on important things, and it is hard to navigate those things. If you start off constantly pissed off with him it won't end well - don't move in unless you are really sure.

This thread has reminded me of the joy of blowing up and popping empty crisp packets. I’ve not done it for years but will be blowing up my empty bag of marmite puffs in the morning 🤣

I got the ick from a guy who didn’t eat any vegetables and would only drink hot chocolate.

Clearly, you are not compatible. Don’t flog a dead horse.

OP you might like to read this thread:

You meet the one. They're perfect for you. Then youve got the ick so badly you eant to set fire to yourself. What petty thing did they do?? 👀 | Mumsnet

I'm not surprised that he's keen for you to move in together after only seven months together. But you'd be a fool to do it. It sounds as though this man child thinks he can buy his way into living with someone who has no choice but to pick up and clean up after him.