What on earth is this mealtime snobbery about?

[Diemme]

At 6.45 this evening, DH and I went to sit outside at front of the house to have a coffee and enjoy the last of the sun - we live in a close with benches outside the houses. Almost immediately our neighbours came back from a dog walk. They chatted for a few minutes and then she said she was going in to make dinner. I mentioned just in small talk that we'd already eaten. And I swear she did a head tilt and tinkly laugh as she said gosh that's early. Then she went inside and her husband arranged his face in a sort of patronising / pitiful expression and asked why we'd eaten so early. It's not just them, ive come across it loads of times. It's as if there's a bizarre sense of superiority to eating at 8 rather than say 6.

I hear you. We eat at between 5.15 and 6 (because we are hungry then and because we start the day early) and I sometimes feel we are being a bit sneered at. But mostly I don't care!!

I don't think it's snobbery, just differing habits. Neither is right or wrong. For me personally I would think eating before 7pm would be too early, but then I don't finish work until 6pm.

I agree with you. However mum's net seems to be obivious to it and other similar problems. Most people on here are probably the ones you are talking about.

It stems from aristo’s back in the day having High or Afternoon Tea (depending on whether kids or adults being served) at around 4pm, so dinner wouldn’t be till 8 or 9.

Stems from snobbery indeed.

It’s when they call it “Supper” that really winds me up. It’s Tea, or Dinner. Saying you eat “Supper” means you have ideas of grandeur! Lol!

I've never encountered this. I've always eaten my tea around 5pm/6pm. But then I can't say anyone else has commented on it in either negative or positive way.

I do think I get up earlier than most and go to bed earlier too. So eating earlier makes sense too.

I'm quite posh, from a quite posh family (I know, I know, I'm the devil) and I eat dinner with my children at 5ish, but my parents eat dinner at about 8/9pm - I can't wait that long! I'd be eating the table leg by then!

My parents eat their dinner in the early afternoon. Eat whenever you want. I personally don't like eating too late, it upsets my tummy. Its personal preference.

We eat at 6, always have done. I couldn’t care less what anyone else thinks or when they eat, this is what I do. Don’t worry about them, OP, if they think it odd, then surely they’re the weird ones for not understanding that different people do things differently to them.

It's as if there's a bizarre sense of superiority to eating at 8 rather than say 6.

Yeah, I've noticed this, too. I have a vague idea working class people tradiitonally ate earlier because the man would be hungry when he got in from a physical job at 5:30/6:00. The middle classes didn't have that issue.

6 is early for us as we don't get home from work until 6:30. We eat anytime from 7 onwards. I didn't realise it was superior to eat later. We eat when the food is ready. Ignore your neighbours. My parents ate to a strict timetable, no matter where they were in the world. Breakfast at 8am, lunch at noon, tea (sandwiches and cake) at 4pm and supper at 8pm!

I dont like eating late and its healthier to eat earlier (imo!)

I hate the word “supper” the way others hate “moist” or “gusset”.

I hate the word “supper” the way others hate “moist” or “gusset”.

I hate the word "tea" in that context.

I think 6pm is really early to eat, but I have lunch around 3pm because I have breakfast at 10am because I can't eat anything for a couple or so hours after waking. I don't feel superior though. However, I would be starving by bedtime.

@LadyWithLapdog @AnAC12UCOinanOCG I hate both those uses of those words😂😂😂😂

No judgement from me (we eat around 6.45-7.30)

DHs family eat around 10 which is too late for me.

Rosere Should we all just agree to call the evening mean 'dinner'?

Evening MEAL.

lady yes!!! It’s one of ‘those’ words. It’s hideous.

It's a thing. I don't get it either.

My DM is like this- quite snobby about anyone who has dinner before 7.

Yes to “dinner”!

If I eat before 7pm I'm starving before bed and end up snacking, so we eat about 8/9pm and it suits our lifestyle. I don't know why they'd feel superior about it though, everyone is different!

They were rude but however weird it sounds I think the snobbery could come from the fact that if you eat early that probably suggests someone is either elderly (as elderly people do tend to eat early and go to sleep early!) and/or you don’t have a sensible/serious job because if you did you wouldn’t be home until probably gone 6pm.

I am not saying that is in any way something to be snobby about but I think that may be the reason!