Waitress commenting on how much I eat

[Fugghetaboutit]

So, I was out with friend the other day and ordered breakfast, a huge plate came and it was delicious (spinach on sourdough, avocado and poached egg with sausages and hellim for anyone interested )
I ate quite a lot of it but couldn't finish it all (left a sausage and half the toast) and when the waitress came to collect it she said 'you haven't eaten anything!' In a way my mother would. I felt suitably embarrassed as I had to mumble something about having a small stomach.

When I left I got thinking that this has happened to me before but only by women servers. Has it happened to anyone else? Is it their place to comment on how much you eat?

What the hell is a lady's steak?!

Lady's steak

Whoops! Forgot the pic

Oh good grief Worra!

Yes, I ordered 'Lady steak', but I'm sure it did not look like that!

I am now averting my eyes

How could you put tabasco on that?

Ha ha ha ha ha! That is brilliant! I thought it was a sexist term for a small portion or something.

I am pretty sure it was meant as a sexist term for a small portion.

It's just that Worra's imagination got the better of her.

Partialderivative is right

Because I'm a Classy Bird I have been known to ask for the kingsize plate in the local Toby eatery.

The look from the chap behind the carvery is worth the extra £1.50 alone (well, that and the chipolatas).

Worra

MabelSideswipe - had you not thought that it might just be that they were trying to make out they had "tiny bird-like appetites" - but genuinely didn't want to eat as much as men? You might think the portions are not that big, but if you are also serving enough for the average man, then perhaps it was more than the average woman would want in a meal?

Really not having a go, but it seems like you came to the conclusion that it was 'put on' rather than people who have a good relationship with food stopping eating at the point they are full, and if that's only one forkful left, still not finishing it, and that seems really sad that to be like the OP and finish eating when full is considered to be a negative thing.

I have noticed, woman who don't struggle with their weight don't seem to also feel the need to clear plates or eat more than they want to be polite. I always feel uncomfortable with things like stickers at school for children who clear their plates, it's a really bad lesson to teach, to eat beyond the amount you want/need to be 'polite'.

I eat loads (shameful amounts) and find the opposite when they bring the food over they always assume it's for my DP and put the plate down at his place rather than mine...

And when the plates are collected I always get a look cos I've wiped the plate clean and usually polished off everyone elses as well

You can't win.

I also find cashiers' comments at the till in supermarkets tiresome.

"Oooh wine! A night in is it?"

"Oooh chocolate! Secret stash eh?" Nudge nudge...

As students my flatmate's and I went to a small Italian restaurant. One girl got told off for not finishing her vegetables - the waiter said he'd phone her mum!

I've had similar remarks about not eating all my food, but only in conjunction with whether I liked it, or was something wrong (Nothing wrong, just stuffed full before I finished). Never felt judged by it, perhaps I've been lucky on that front.
I was more embarrassed when placing an order and the waiter said "there are 1000 calories in that". That felt like a judgement to me. Perhaps he was just sharing a fun fact and I was over sensitive.

Mary - no not really because it was one mouth full usually and they would make a point if saying 'it's too much for me' when I wasn't making mention of the tiny amount left. Also they were not big portions especially compared to portions in some places these days.

I would like to think you are right and women don't feel judged about their appetites.