There's always one annoying fucker...

[SaltedPretzel]

....who has to comment on what you're having for lunch!!

Work in an office full of blokes which is fine but one of them annoys the living crap out of me. He's quite a snob anyway and I'm not fond of him but he has the most annoying habit of always commenting on my lunch.

Today is spag bol - "bloody hell! That's a plate full, you're never gonna eat all that are you?"
Last week - "That's a box of salad!!" It was a fucking Tupperware box.
And so forth.

He regularly comments on the cleaner's weigh too when she has left. Bear in mind she has three young children and is at most is a size 14. Not that it's anyone else's business what size she is.

AIBU to get aggravated at this guy? Anyone else have to suffer with people like this?

Ask him if he was overweight as a child. Whatever the response just say, I ask because you seem so focused on portion size and what I’m eating every day.

He possibly has issues surrounding weight - my dm used to do this. I literally couldn’t lift anything to my lips without her commenting “ooh, that’s a big slice of cake”, “ooh, another biscuit?”, “do you know how many calories are in that?”. (I’m a size 10-12) btw. She frequently comments on other people weight “have you seen Sharon? She’s lost weight but she looks a bit drawn in the face” or “have you seen Julie? She’s out in quite a bit of weight recently” etc etc. She also weighs herself daily and goes on and on if she’s put a pound on. It really started to do my head in so I simply started pointing it out to her every single time she did it. So I’d say something like “do you realise you pass comment every time I eat something? Why do you think you do that?” Or “why do you comment on people’s weight all the time? Don’t you think it’s a bit shallow?”
She doesn’t do it any more. You really should point it out to this guy as he possibly doesn’t even realise it annoys people. It may (hopefully) make him start to question why he feels the need to do it.

You guys have all been brill with the advice and support!! Us food-loving ladies shall band together and sit on the faces of judgemental men

Bluetrews Excellent!

" you seem to always feel the need to comment on my lunch ....do you think you may have a problem?" .....just look him in the eye and wait for an answer.....He'll make some flippant response but I bet he doesn't do it again.

Does he eat lunch? If so, start commenting on his lunch every day, make sure you say it smells off or looks awful.
Or as you get your own lunch out, say things like "An enormous sandwich for me today" or "A huge tasty quiche today".

Try commenting back "shame yours doesnt look too appetising" or something else.
"Well i couldn't manage to shovel that slop down me. Do you need some lunch tips? You re so interested in mine".
Tea break drives me mad sometimes. I reward myself with a large coffee and a wispa bar/twix.
We have diet fiends here too who say "ooh i couldn't eat that. I d put on a stone looking at it" and "where do you put all that?" (I m a size 12 so not dead thin but not overweight).
One day i will say "well lucky you re not having to eat it Susan"

"What I eat or what I weigh is none of your concern, unless I'm sitting on your face"

He sounds like a creep, maybe he fancies you?

I'd just say 'so?' and shrug and continue eating.

Just say really loudly to the room 'anyone else want to comment on my lunch? No? Thought not'

Bet he won't do it again when you call him out on it.

Use the responses suggested here. They are likely to shut him up.

Anyone commenting on other people's food is very rude. Most of the time they are just hugely irritating, but don't appreciate what a sticky wicket this can be, as you never know really why people are the way they are. I have an anorexic DD. It has been hard enough to get her eating properly and up to a reasonable body weight. Stupid comments from an idiot like your colleague would send her into a tailspin.

I'm not suggesting that you have these issues at all, just that this guy needs to engage his brain before his motormouth.

I would pretend not to have heard and ask him to repeat it. That often throws someone when they are poking their nose where it isn't wanted. If he has to say it louder, and others hear and see what a twit he is being, he may not be so quick to comment next time.

I’d simply say “do you want some?

He'll probably come back with some sarky reply about there being enough for two even when it's clearly a portion for one person.

You could make a loud siren noise (NEE NOR NEE NOR NEE NOR) and announce the food police have arrived so warn everyone to hide their snacks

I've only had this from women (both older than me, not sure if that is relevant).

One would comment constantly regardless of what I was eating. Salad got a "ooh, VERY healthy!" and a bag of crisps was "naughty"

Another woman once commented loudly while I was eating one of those pre-packaged tubs of watermelon from Sainsbury's. I'd been picking at it all morning and she exclaimed "wow, you managed to shovel all that in, did you??" another time she asked how many calories was in my lunch. Yet another I was waiting for my toast to pop and she reached right across me (and my plate) to grab my peanut butter and check the nutritional info. She said, "I haven't eaten white bread in years". I replied, "then it's a good thing I wasn't offering you any".

I think we can all unanimously say that people are idiots.
Except you fine lot of course.

@Topseyt Really sorry to hear about your daughter. I hope she recovers from that horrible illness x

"Do you have issues with food and weight Keith? You seem over-involved with what acquaintances eat when it obviously has nothing at all to do with you. Have you considered whether you would benefit from some therapy?"

Then every time he comments do the sympathetic head tilt and the 'you really should consider therapy' eyebrow raise (you may need to practise in a mirror).

@SaltedPretzel

Print out a daily menu describing your lunch in a very Masterchef way (Today SaltedPretzel will be enjoying selected foraged leaves with a rustic vinaigrette served with a chunk of artisan bread etc), hand it to him first thing and ask him to critique in advance.

SaltedPretzel, thanks. She has mental health issues and has been in therapy for over a year now She is doing much better, though has the odd meltdown still. I think it will always be an issue in the background.

It is one of the reasons why arseholes such as your colleague need to rein their comments in. People who have these issues do not have it imprinted on their foreheads.

Just give him a long stare and say “I love how you take such an interest in my lunch, it really seems to fascinate you doesn’t it”

"Do you have issues with food and weight Keith? You seem over-involved with what acquaintances eat when it obviously has nothing at all to do with you. Have you considered whether you would benefit from some therapy?"

This. Every single time. Over and over.

Get in there first tomorrow... go up to him and be like "So today I'm having pasta with 5tbs of fresh pesto, 1tbsp greek yogurt, 1tsp mayonnaise, peas, green beans and courgette, 4 cherry tomatos, 2 slices of ham, a sprinkle of cheese... and half a lemon. I may also have a coffee. Milk and sugar. Any further questions?

Bet he doesn't do it again.

Next comment:

'Haha BINGO! I was waiting to hear what today's comment would be! I really need to get a trigger warning sign for this lunchbox don't I? 'WARNING - WOMAN EATING FOOD!' All said as if you're trying to stop yourself from completely collapsing into laughter.

Embarrass him.

I’m eating my lunch, go away. Simple response.