To think this comment from manager was completely inappropriate

Nobody should ever comment on what anyone else is eating. Ever.

Men can be idiots,my ex employer once said he was disappointed when I told him I didn't wear skirts oh and then asked me out. I screenshot the message & used it as a form of reference for my next employer when they asked why did I quit my job.
I think in your case he thought he was being funny, maybe approach the subject but when he is on his own.

He was a bit tactless, but I would let it go or either say something without being too rude, like it’s none of your beeswax.

Fwiw, if I had a brownie and a slice of cake at my age (near your manager’s age), it would be excessive, but my DS who’s your age, could eat 10 slices of cake and 10 brownies and not put on an ounce.

Thats the way to do it. I would also say I have 3 more in my locker and Im going to eat them all as well. Then chuckle and carry on enjoying my cake.
But im in my 60s now and I tend not to look for offence where none is intended

I agree people shouldn't comment on what others eat, but if a comment like that makes you feel unsafe then it is time to toughen up a bit.

Just tell him he's not the food police.

It was a horrible thing to say and if he does it again, I would tell him so, but it’s too late to do anything about it now.

A joke is a joke when it’s funny for everyone - clearly OP did not find this funny

There is a fine line between bullying and banter - jokes are better when they are clever not disguised as funny at someone’s expense and discomfort. No matter what…. The point is OP was upset. I’m not sure why it is considered not a good thing to be ‘sensitive’ - in this instance a bit more sensitivity from the manager would have been useful here

It was clearly a joke, if you didn’t have issues with weight and food do you think you’d have reacted the same, or just joked back and said yes it’s hungry work or something,

I would have just laughed to be honest and carried on eating.

This, if it happens again!

I don’t agree that you’re being over sensitive- stuffing your face is a horrible comment.

What a weird, vile comment. Do you want praise?

Why didn’t you just say, ‘Fuck off, Steve. Who made you the food police? ‘

I remember in my first job being told off for talking too much.
i was 18 and it really stung but it was true.
I was probably getting on the managers nerves.

Unfortunately @Banannanana your manager just happened on you when you were eating, it wasn’t kind of him but if he’s normally a good manager then I would let it go but have an answer if it happens again.

Get a grip woman . How on earth are you going to get through life looking out for offense everywhere. Snowflake generation .

Everyone just needs to sit in silence, don’t say morning in a cheerful tone in case someone is sad. Don’t compliment anyone is case it triggers them. Don’t ask how someone is, in case they are having a bad time. Or maybe you can be a grown up and go and speak to your manager and explain how his comments upset you and you would appreciate it if he didn’t mention your eating habits in future.

What kind of cake?

Strange comment. We have moved on somewhat from customary groping at work precisely because some women spoke up. The fact that you shit up and put up is not quite as impressive as you think.
I am also 20 years older than OP and have only ever been groped once. Went straight to HR with that one and that was it. Certainly wasn't the "norm" for me.

Having said that, I would encourage OP to "put into words why it upset her". I very much discourage the focus on personal feelings when communicating in the workplace. Op, if you want to talk about this with your manager, you need to focus on facts - I.e why you feel this comment was inappropriate in the workplace and what you are hoping to change going forward. Sharing feelings a shouldn't be the aim. So what is it that you want to achieve with this conversation?

I'd probably make a joke if I saw someone eating cake and a donut on the same shift if we were friendly. I feel dessert foods are a safe, light hearted topic, I guess not anymore. It's dangerous being amongst people these days. Absolutely everything is offensive.

It’s an awful comment and the reason you’re upset is because of the underlying criticism and judgement which is that you are lazy, greedy, “stuff” your face in a piggish way, can’t control yourself, work is not your priority…. Etc It probably raises self image issues, work ethic issues and clearly puts you under the spotlight of feeling scrutinised. Horrible!!

What you do about it is entirely up to you and within your control. It will depend very much on how you view yourself, your position (in life and work) and how you view him.

Give this some thought, make a balanced decision and then stick to it. Whether you deal with it or not is not important it’s whether you stick with what you have decided the best course of action to be.That will help you feel more in control and reclaim your equilibrium.

Theres no place for banter in the work place.

I think it’s best to just not speak to each other anymore. Less upset.

Yes it was rude. Colleagues shouldn't comment on each other's food. Managers certainly shouldn't. His words imply you are not pulling your weight at work, just taking breaks. That's the angle that would annoy me. All that said I think its silly to mull it over and turn it into something that it isn't. It's just work banter and really not a big deal. I'm able to give as good as I get at work with jokey banter and would have responded with something smart. I'd much prefer this type of environment than more serious colleagues who are constantly talking about their diet and counting calories, and then quietly judging the person eating.

@Banannanana that is sooo fuckin' rude to comment. YANBU!!

Unsafe? Unsafe from what? As @WhattheFudgeareyouonabout says what?!

Yes it was inappropriate. Your eating issues are irrelevant, do not refer to them in any conversation at work.

It is 2026 not 1986 and managers are expected to observe normal politeness and avoid making personal remarks. Dismissing it as 'banter' is nonsense, because banter is shorthand for inappropriate comments made at another person's expense.

How you deal with it depends on whether you can be bothered and what your workplace is like. If your workplace has a generally poor culture and no HR structure, you may conclude there's little point trying.

The first step with something like this is to make it known you're not happy. First time you say something pretty simple such as 'I feel uncomfortable with personal remarks like that'. Do not divulge your eating issues, you don't need to and they are not anyone's business at work.

“Yes, and I’m still young and beautiful.” Or something equally cheeky.