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AIBU?

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

609 replies

Spicyseniorita7 · 29/06/2026 23:26

I'm in a relatively new relationship (7 months) after over 2 years of being single with some dating disasters along the way. Everything seems great on paper, he is kind, has a good job that pays well, not bad looking, treats me well and never allows me to pay for anything. For context, I am 28F and he is 32M- we both live separately at present. I would like to settle down soon.

I'm unsure if I am self-sabotaging, but some of his eating/snacking habits disgust me, to the point that I think I've developed the ick. This came to light properly on our recent 2 week holiday-prior to this, the longest we had spent together was about 3 days. He eats at least 3 packets of crisps per day and not the sophisticated type i.e kettle chips, think more Skips/monster munch/Nik naks/cheesy wotsits/space raiders. He doesn't wash his hands after eating the crisps and requires prompting to do so. This often results in him having disgusting synthetic crisp dust all over his fingers and fingernails.

Even more disgustingly, after he's finished with a packet, he arches back his head and empties the remnants of the crisp crumbs into his mouth. It's almost as though he cannot bear for a single scrap to be wasted. But the most disgusting is sometimes, after finishing a packet, he will blow up the packet like a balloon and pop it. This has resulted in me being sprayed with crumbs. I've also found scrunched up crisp packets wedged behind his bed, almost as though he can't be bothered to walk to the bin.

We recently went on holiday to Spain and it was mortifying-he didn't try any local food and just wanted to eat British food, McDonald's and crisps. We went to the supermarket and he loaded up the trolley with crisps. I haven't said anything yet, he is keen to start looking for a flat to rent together, but I just can't help but thinking I would prefer a man who doesn't eat over 3 packets of crisps a day and doesn't smell like pickled onion Monster Munch or cheesy wotsits. Is eating all of those crisps a dumpable offence?

OP posts:
user67584329 · 29/06/2026 23:39

Hmmm. Does he like pre-prepared frozen gyoza?

SummerInSun · 29/06/2026 23:36

You feel the way you feel and that’s perfectly fine, and that is enough of a reason to end the relationship. FWIW I would feel the same way about the poor personal hygiene and the refusal to try new food when travelling, which I’d find unbelievably tedious and really limiting in a long term relationship where I’d want to have new experiences together. I’d also be worried that someone who ate three packets of crisps a day was going to drop dead on me in his 40s with clogged arteries!

BUT - if you really like him otherwise, it might be worth one honest conversation about how off putting you find his manners and hygiene around eating crisps and his refusal to properly engage with the holiday by trying local food. He has probably been eating like this since he was a teenager or a uni student in their first flat share and it’s never occurred to him how off putting it is to other people.

giddyaunt19 · 29/06/2026 23:36

Dump him.

he can do better than a crisp snob.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 29/06/2026 23:34

think more Skips/monster munch/Nik naks/cheesy wotsits/space raiders

None of these are crisps, so yes, YABVU indeed.

FetchezLaVache · 29/06/2026 23:32

I love a crisp myself, but Jesus. That sounds horrific, especially the inflating/bursting the empty bags and showering you in ultra-ultra processed crap. But add in the refusal to eat Spanish food in Spain and you have yourself the opposite of a keeper, I would assert.

Imbusytodaysorry · 29/06/2026 23:30

@Spicyseniorita7 I mean i love crisps. However your description of the dirty fingers and nails and someone who can’t wash or be bothered to put the packets in the bin . Nope .
It does seem his pallet has never quite got to adult stage . I’m not sure trying to have adult relationship with him will work .

Bristolandlazy · 29/06/2026 23:30

Yes I would say so, his attitude to food isn't great. If eating well, healthy food, cooking etc are important to you I would end it. Unless you have really strong feelings for him. Sounds like you have the ick.

SkippitySkoppity · 29/06/2026 23:29

Am I your boyfriend? I too eschew fancy crisps for delicious plebeian crisps. I don't explode empty crips bags though, but may have to explore introducing that to my repertoire.

BauhausOfEliott · 29/06/2026 23:29

I wouldn’t give a shit if someone ate a few packets of crisps.

I couldn’t live with someone who went abroad and didn’t want to eat any local food though. I can’t stand unadventurous eaters; it drives me mad.