Had a few comments about how I eat..

[Laiku]

Which include "are u a gerbil?' 'Are you autistic? (er, yes), 'How do you cope in restaurants?'
Never questioned it before but it's got into my head a bit now.
Usually by people I don't know too well, such as a neighbour popping in, visiting cousin, DP's sister..

My daily eating will go something like this:
Breakfast - 1 wholemeal seeded toast with peanut butter or marmalade. A couple of days per week I will have 2 scrambled eggs instead.

Lunch - working from home I wake late-ish so tend not to want any. Will sometimes eat a banana or pear.

Dinner (I have about 3 variations on rotation) ....
Small grilled flatbread (around 40g) topped with peppers, pesto, herbs, olives, tomatoes, onion, spinach, mozzarella and either chicken or fish.
A few nights per week it might be less complex rice, green veggies and mackerel.
Sometimes I will toss some mediterranean veggies in oil and eat with seasoned & baked white fish portion.
Now and again I will make my own coleslaw (cabbage, cress, radish, carrot, mayo) and have with chicken or cheese.

Supper - handful of berries and a bit of greek yoghurt with seeds, or a handful of nuts with figs, avo slices or slice of cheese.

If there's something 'off' about this, could you suggest some tips? I am always satiated and enjoy yoga and lots of walking, but don't have a demanding physical schedule. I prefer nibbly things with flavour so anything like Tapas or Sushi suits me, as opposed to large hot meals. I have never got along with larger cooked meals. I love taste so stuff like garlic, herbs and lemon, lime etc are my favourites.
Due to some of the comments I have started to worry a bit if I am missing something, or some essential nutrient? I really don't like porridge, red meat or pasta. I can't see how I could bulk up more, but do like fresh bread!

@AliceOlive @Revelatio I do the Jamie Oliver flatbread, it works just as well with Gluten Free flour www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/bread-recipes/easy-flatbreads/

I do much smaller quantities, but as it is just equal amounts of Greek yoghurt and flour, I do 1/4 cup of each, usually needs a bit more flour and adjust the baking powder accordingly. This quantity makes 2 very filling flatbreads, if it's just me I leave half the dough covered in fridge for next day or cook both and heat one up in the toaster the next day - slightly less delicious but much better than usual gf bread and less upfs

I aspire to eat like you but the amount you eat would leave me very hungry. But that's on me not you.

I wouldn’t worry, sounds good to me. I would just ignore unsolicited comments. I eat similarly, Mediterranean style diet, it’s delicious.

Sounds lovely to me, healthy and nutritious

People making mean comments are likely to be envious as your healthy eating has hit a nerve with them

Sounds delicious, might follow your daily eating habits simple and nutritious

Thank you!! I’m going to make it with OP’s toppings as soon as I can get to the grocery for burrata. That pushed me over the edge. 😁

For anyone interested, the crosta mollica flatbreads are also low UPF (just the oil if you are fussy on that)

Unfortunately, I think you just know some rude people, OP. Try not to give it any more thought. Your meals sound fine to me, although I personally couldn't skip lunch, but that's my preference. In terms of breakfast, I doubt many people are eating a different thing every day - who has the time or inclination?! And as for lunch/dinner, most of us have a few meals on rotation. It's not strange.

This sounds like a weird humble brag

It’s not. HTH.

Why would anyone comment on anyone elses eating habits unless it was directly relevant to themselves? And why would you respond to them? I dont understand that part at all.

Hi when I saw the comments by these people, I was thinking the WAY you eat? Not what you eat. Could it be the way you eat? Are you a hamster would imply to me that your cheeks puff out? Or you put lots of food in your mouth? Could this be it??

This sounds amazing. I’m going to try making it, thanks OP!

I don't see why they would be commenting on the food as it's normal Mediterranean diet really . Just carry on with it. It sounds fine .

It's also lovely with goats cheese too 😍

Your diet sounds perfectly healthy to me.
I'm surprised at age 50 you give even half a fuck what uncalled for opinions rude folk have! 🤔

It doesn’t sound enough to eat to me, but your BMI is in the healthy range so it’s obviously enough for you. The comments are rude, as they’re clearly not coming from a place of concern or they would have phrased them differently.

If you’re happy and healthy then that’s all that matters!

Why do people think it is okay to comment on people's eating habits. You don't know what is going on in someone's life or if they are struggling with an eating disorder. It is bloody rude and unnecessary.

Some bloody odd posts about my mental health here!

Back to the food though - I wish I had access to some decent fresh fish, I don't have a great local supply really.

As for the comments, they've occurred in a cluster, recently. I can't imagine voicing an opinion about someone's food choices so it stood out. DP's sister is a bit weird about my shopping habits but there's likely a more complex issue driving that, which is another thread entirely.

No none of these people are into junk food, just different tastes. I have definitely noticed some people consider it a bit rude if I don't want red meat, as if I am being awkward. Seems a bit behind the times.

This just reminded me, we went away on holiday with DP's sister last year which is when I first noticed it. We were in a supermarket stocking up with our big trolley and whenever I put something in it she would pass comment. This was, if I recall, a tray of vine tomatoes and some organic spinach. The feeling at the time was as if my choices made me 'superior', which reared up again when I said I didn't fancy any pork. That was definitely the vibe. I am far from a snob and only buy organic on occasion.

I am just going to assume a lot of vegans must get some shitty comments, if my food choices look remarkable. Maybe I just currently know some rude people

How do these people know what you are eating?

I can't say as I've ever noticed what people are eating so why do they have an interest?

For the sake of argument, I HAVE noted the circumstances when the comments occurred several times already, as in my recent post above.

Why attempt to deconstruct that into something weird?

I really don't understand why people would ask if you're autistic due to your diet? It sounds lovely and even if you don't vary it a lot, it still seems really good.

My DS is autistic. When he was young he would have funny habits around eating (and still does TBH). For example, he would eat the "skin" off fishfingers and not the fish (I would eat the fish only so worked out OK). He had a limited diet, but would not eat certain textures, colours or strong flavours. He now stockpiles things he likes (like he will buy dozens of packets of beef jerky, dozens of jars of marmite and honey, etc).

I'm not autistic, but have similarly weird habits. I have to eat sandwiches in a certain way - the crusts first, then the bread with least filling on, the one with most filling, followed by the filling itself. I rarely have McDonalds, but when I do I can only eat Filet O Fish and have to eat the burger then fish in a certain order too.

It drives my husband potty when I eat a sandwich or anything out, because I do it in public, because I cannot eat anything unless it's done in a certain order.

Same with egg custard tarts, I have to scoop out the filling, eat the pastry which as touched no filling first, then the pastry with remnants of filling next, then the egg filling with no nutmeg, followed by the nutmeg last.

When eating dinners I have to eat everything separately. I cannot eat two things (like potatoes and veg) at the same time, I follow a certain way of eating - first veg, then potatoes, then whatever the protein source is.

DD also loosely does the same as me. Until I met DH I thought everyone ate the same way as DS and me.

People are really rude sometimes.

If ypu notice that the same person makes a similar remark a few times, I'd ask them if there's something they'd like to discuss as this is the second/ third/ fourth time they've said that in X weeks.

@Laiku I’m very sorry, I missed that you are autistic in the OP. I read that people were asking if you were but missed the bit in brackets.

I recognised myself in the controlling / limited diet elements of your descriptions but it sounds like for you there is a different reason. I do think it sounds like your diet is pretty limited / restricted but as long as you are happy with it it’s no one else’s business.