To find it annoying when fussy eaters pull faces at my food?

[peasantfolk]

There are a few fussy eaters in my life (family, at work).

If they don't like certain foods, that's fine, I don't have a problem with that, they don't have to eat them.

What I do find annoying is when I am eating my own food (nothing extreme, just normal foods they happen not to like), some fussy eaters that I know will watch me and loudly say things like 'ugh, I don't know how you can eat cucumber, it makes me gag!' while pulling disgusted cats-bum faces.

I find it takes away my enjoyment of the food and it's almost like they're saying I'm disgusting for liking that food.

I would understand if it was something universally seen as a bit gross, like tripe or something, or even something like tuna that is strong smelling. Or if I was asking them to eat it. But I'm not.

AIBU to find this annoying?

I'm a fussy eater and as long as you don't shove it under my nose I won't pass comment.

However food such as Marmite and gherkins are pretty much open to debate. As is very bizarre combinations of food (going to have a Marmite and peanut butter sandwich people will comment)

Marmite is jokey banter though isnt it? I think everyone would agree that thats fair game for a "OMG how can you eat that?!" comment, as long as its in jest. And yy to gherkins too.

But a chicken salad sandwich with mayo (mayo being one of my ex's hates) is not.

That's rude!

I do have to excuse myself and "get a drink of water" when someone initially opens their tuna or hard boiled/deviled eggs. But that's my problem and try my best not to make faces! As long as they are chewing with their mouths closed...it's alllll good!

I have a friend who is ridiculously fussy with her food. Years ago, we were on a quick Channel hop over to Bruges and I was determined to have mussels for lunch. She created such a scene and said there was no way I was eating something so disgusting in front of her.

We are still friends.... but I ate the mussels regardless of her comments. She is slightly less fussy these days thankfully.

Just realised I do have an issue. Oysters. I tried them once and they were vile. The texture was horrible, so yes anyone eating them does make me gag, but luckily I have equally uncultured friends so it only happens on tv :o

I am a fussy eater and I wish I could like lots of different food. I have the opposite problem of people thinking they can comment on my food choices.

Yes. Fussy eaters and late risers are seen as so inferior, it’s bizarre. I think it’s generally because the people who eat everything or get up with the larks have little else to boast about.

I did once intervene when a colleague tipped a pack of uncooked bacon lardons over his salad, as I assumed he’d picked up the wrong pack. Nope, he just liked eating raw bacon. Whatever floats your boat I guess!

Height of bad manners.

I am a fussy eater and I wish I could like lots of different food. I have the opposite problem of people thinking they can comment on my food choices.
Same here
Like, omg whats wrong with you not liking avocado/chilli/insert fad food here
Or just a little fish wont hurt, try it, your crazy if you dont try a LITTLE bit - im allergic

DH went for a coffee with a neighbour and our DD's the other day and he said she kept sticking her entire tongue in the paper cup to lick the foam from the sides.
I mean what!?? He said it turned his stomach...licking the foam like a toddler ffs!

Sorry but if im buying a latte, half the reason is to lick the foam. Im 32
Some days i lick it, some days i run my finger round the rim and lick it off. Being an adult dont mean you lose small joys like licking foam lol

OP, The only one i comment on is tuna, i mean i have to explain why im leaving the room. "the smell makes me feel sick, im allergic" covers it though. No need for gaggy face.

However food such as Marmite and gherkins are pretty much open to debate.

Marmite is the stuff of the devil
Vegemite is far superior

I have a friend who swears she eats anything but when I’ve invited her round for dinner she picks and pokes at everything and leaves half of it. The last time she did it, I was so pissed off I just decided not to invite her again.

They have no manners.

Fussy eaters generally piss me off. I live with one. It’s like they have a monopoly on meals. They text me in the day ‘what’s for dinner’, so they can fill up if buy something different. I just find it irritating.

My ex was a fussy eater but he was also allergic to other foods. Just another reason on a long list why he was difficult to live with. He would pull faces about fish pie especially.

I think a comment back to him ... act like a grown up and not a toddler would’ve sorted it.

Sorry but if im buying a latte, half the reason is to lick the foam. Im 32
Some days i lick it, some days i run my finger round the rim and lick it off. Being an adult dont mean you lose small joys like licking foam lol

Just know that people are thinking how gross you are whilst you do it. I mean...if you MUST consume the foam separately, a spoon would be a better choice than a dirty finger or a gross big tongue.

I have a friend who is a picky eater. She does the retching sounds and goes urgh when I'm eating most food that's not very basic. I've told her to grow up and stop being so rude, many, many times.

I refuse to tolerate it any longer. I won't let her restrict where we go out to eat anymore.

I've done her shopping a few times but I had too many complaints so I won't anymore. She expected me to go in dozens of shops all over town and was very particular about brands etc.

Since the virus she has a very kind neighbour shopping for her. He won't put up with any crap from her and it has really made her a lot more tolerant of many food products that she previously refused.

The latest moan is about a bag of frozen mixed veg - peas, carrots, beans and sweetcorn - Iceland has cubed carrots whilst Lidl has baby carrot shaped carrots. She won't touch the Lidl veg as she reports that it doesn't taste right.

I've a feeling her kind neighbour has just about had enough of her.

Just know that people are thinking how gross you are whilst you do it. I mean...if you MUST consume the foam separately, a spoon would be a better choice than a dirty finger or a gross big tongue

Meh, im fine with that lol
Well unless people comment, then im allowed to reply lol, my reply would be along lines of exaggerated licking with noise, yes to be childish and id get a laugh

Thankfully, i aint got no gene simmons tongue

Its really immature to be pulling faces at someone's dinner just because you personally don't like it. I wonder with some of these exes whether it's a way to try to stop you eating it, seems like it could be controlling.

Oh God yes the people who even write down the words "makes me gag" give me the rage. No one cares. Just don't let your food preferences impinge on anyone else.

I don't care about people being fussy eaters. Eat your beige food. It's when they impose their choices onto me that I get pissed off.

I don't want to hear about how you only like potatoes and plain chicken and refuse to eat any vegetables. I don't want to hear about how my food choices disgust you. I don't want to forever restrict where I go out to eat to pander to you. It so often comes across as attention seeking because they bang on about it. Don't mention the fact that you can have chips and plain fish at the Chinese restaurant that everyone else wants to go to. No one cares.

There are some foods I'm not keen on, scotch eggs, spam, for example but I wouldn't dream of spoiling someone else's meal by moaning about it.

And no people don't get a free pass on marmite and gerkins.

I used to work with a woman who did this at everyone's lunches. Constant "ugh I don't know how you can eat that" at totally normal foods.

Then she would crack open a cold tin of mushy peas for her lunch. Seriously.

I don't get what they get out of it though. Is it that because they don't eat something, you shouldn't either?

@KatherineJaneway

I don't get what they get out of it though. Is it that because they don't eat something, you shouldn't either?

No, it is because they lack the imagination, insight, and education to understand that the world is bigger than themselves, their taste buds, and their experiences.

I just feel pity on these sorts of people - what narrow rigid world they li've in.

I have a friend who swears she eats anything but when I’ve invited her round for dinner she picks and pokes at everything and leaves half of it. The last time she did it, I was so pissed off I just decided not to invite her again

So she didn’t say anything? She basically didn’t eat your food?

Er what would you have expected her to do?

Maybe your cooking wasn’t that great.

Wondering the same about the OP - loads of people pull faces at your food but they’re the fussy ones you either know a lot of fussy people or your cooking may not be that great.