to find this irritating and a bit rude

[pointlessalbatross]

I have a friend I've known for a long time. We speak once a week or so, often on a Saturday evening. She'll ask what we're having for tea and whatever I say she seems to find something negative to say about it. Some examples:
curry / Indian takeaway (our favourite) - she doesn't like curry, allergic to coriander, same story about unexpected coriander attack every time!
Steak - overpriced burgers!
Pizza - meat on pizza is horrible
Salami / pepperoni - she doesn't like it
Cheese on toast - hates cooked cheese, tells same story about how it was the only thing her ex fiance ever cooked for her despite knowing she didn't like it.

There's probably more too. It's often followed up with "but you know me, I'm not fussy".
I am willing to accept that I am being too easily irritated by this and that she's just trying to make conversation. There's a whole load of other issues with this friend so I could just be predisposed to being irritated by her. However, this really just grates on me. What do you think?

don't tell her

YANBU I have a friend who does similar with pretty much everything I say, it is really irritating. Thing is, in other ways she's great.

Sounds like the friendship has run its course as you've nothing to talk about

Tell her you're having cows cocks and onions.

You should ask her what she is having for tea, then say 'ooh us too'. Or just end the friendship.

We are having shit with the dirt picked out!!!!

That's what my mum told me !!!

Whenever the kids ask me what we're having and I have no idea I say

"the scrapings from the sole of my foot!"

Maybe you should try that with her.

My Mum says duckshit and lard
Sounds nice

tell her you are having balut and crackers with casu marzu for dessert

Great suggestions! Might have to try some of those :-)

Most of the conversation is her talking about her own problems to be honest, usually on for nearly an hour. I could definitely handle less! I may be a little boring to talk to (like a quiet life), but shes often dismissive of anything i tell her about, good or bad, so i dont feel inclined to share much anyway. Maybe it is a sign that we have little in common anymore, but she is very unhappy and I'd hate to be another person in her life who just walks away.

When she said the thing about steak I laughed and said jokingly do you ever like anything we're eating? She got emotional and said I was having a go at her!

Ask her what she's having. Tell her you don't like it and why, even if you'd be lying.

Or tell her she won't like it.

Or change the subject. Make up something utterly ridiculous (for instance, they've discovered how to revivify dead corpses and the first human one they're going to do is Alan Rickman, next week. He'll be back to filming in about 3 months....) Make your conversation more fun.

Or tell her "cooked cheese. Now it's your turn to tell me about your awful ex who only ever cooked you that" if you want her out of your life.

Get in first and ask what she is having, then just say "oh me too!" :)

Toe cheese on toast. It's a spicy variation on the original and if her ex had made it for her, she'd have been all over it.

Say you are having dog poo pie.That's what my other half teases the children with when they ask.

Get really creative: -
"Well tonight I thought we'd have pickled ammonites, with some fried Micropachycephalosaurus steaks with a boiled dodo egg on the top."

When I was a kid in this area you would have a 'kick up the pantry door'.
Go with that. If nothing else you'd confuse the fuck out of her.

It's a cup of cold sick in this house.

Well not literally obvs.

She sounds hard work. But TBH be honest I'd say it's not really a friendship based on her response to your jokey reply "do you like anything I eat?!".

My best friend and I speak often. Sometimes quite easily for hours an hour in the phone. Sometimes during less busy times it's hard to find something to stick with conversation wise for longer than a quick exchange iyswim? (Yiu know the sort of dinner conversation!)

However, if either one of us was responding negatively to the other - whether intended or not - if the other drew attention to it jokingly it would be taken as such - a quick "oh sorry", a giggle and move on.

phone calls like that are better to deal with on speaker phone, as you can do other things while the person rattles on.That way they don't annoy as much as when they have access to your brain thru your ear.

Her - What did you have for dinner?
You - Nothing yet, what are you having? Might give me some ideas!

I'm finding some if the responses to this very interesting and getting a different take on this, thanks. Think I will try making the conversation more interesting as suggested by Boaty. Might at least make the conversation more enjoyable and you never know, it may cheer her up a little.
Thanks all for your input.