To not want to talk about the food I’m eating

[Limona]

It is a minor thing but DH eats faster than I do. He then WATCHES me eat.

‘How’s your lamb?’

‘What’s the fish like?’

‘How’s your lasagne?’

I’m not saying it’s a LTB thread but AIBU to find this so fucking annoying? I’m generally eating it so it must be pretty nice, surely?

The questions wouldn't bother me. If DH and I are eating different dishes we would always ask each other what the food is like. As for watching you eat, if you're sitting across from each other is that not unavoidable?

He's just making polite dinner conversation. If you wanted to have a conversation about something else why didn't you change the subject?

What did you WANT to talk about?

I think I do this. It never occurred to me that it might be annoying. I don't expect a conversation about it, just something along the lines of, "it's really good," it, "it's a little dry," something like that.

Generally it’s when I’ve been talking about something else. I’m not sitting there in silence. It must be a different thing then, I really hate it!

I'm guilty of this, especially if I've cooked it. Food's a bit of an obsession with me, no idea how DH puts up with me, sometimes (though he does get cooked for, so that could explain it!).

It depends. Is he asking once or multiple times? Does he ask because he cooked it?

God yes, I find this so irritating!
Just leave me along to eat my fucking dinner!

You’re on my wavelength book

It happens all the time, eating out, in, someone else’s house ...

I don't want anyone talking to me when I'm eating. I can either taste my food, or listen to you, I can't do both. I'm a man, I don't multitask.

If you talk to me while I'm eating then you've caused me to consume calories without enjoying the meal I've been looking forward to for hours.

What the hell?

@Limona

You’re on my wavelength book

It happens all the time, eating out, in, someone else’s house ...

Sorry, I meant ‘alone’ not ‘along’ but you knew what I meant.

I would just tell him to sod off into the other room to be honest 😂

My friend's husband is like that - he eats really fast and then just stares at your dinner and fires questions at you. It's incredibly off-putting. I just think he wants to eat my dinner.

Oh god my husband's a bit like this. He's a bit of a foodie, loves to cook and it's wasted on me as food is just fuel as far as I'm concerned. He watches how much I put out and comments 'is that all'? Then comments if I don't clear my plate as well as the 'how is it' while I'm eating.

I've told him if he comments again I'm scraping the whole lot in the bin. Tbf he's really trying to rein himself in. He doesn't get what a normal sized portion of food looks like, it's always been plate piled high in his family.

Actually you might have a point there gamer, mine eats what I think are very excessive amounts (although I don’t say anything.)

I've interpreted this differently, Limona, in that maybe your husband - having gobbled his food quickly - wants to try yours.

I too dislike other people's eyes and focus being on my plate, it puts me right off whatever I'm eating and I don't want it then.

Dining conversation subjects don't have to be so food-centric, even if it was cooked for you. I might ask once if it's ok and other than that, I've let go and my fellow diner is under no obligation to keep reassuring me.

@RandomLondoner

I don't want anyone talking to me when I'm eating. I can either taste my food, or listen to you, I can't do both. I'm a man, I don't multitask.

If you talk to me while I'm eating then you've caused me to consume calories without enjoying the meal I've been looking forward to for hours.

Like a proper would you two like to be alone moment?

I don't like this. It happens at work. "Ooh, what you have you got there?" Fuck off and let me eat in peace please. It makes me cringe so much. It's actually really rude to comment on what someone's eating.

If he did he would say so lying and regularly does

That's not 'polite dinner conversation', that's just boring. If he wants a conversation he can surely come up with a far more interesting topic than blandly asking yes/no questions about someone's food.

He could surely conjure up some personality.

Is he eating the same or a different meal?
If the same, what about saying it's exactly the same as yours was.

Or tell him right away.
This food is lovely. Just telling you now so you don't have to watch me eat and ask me questions once you've inhaled yours.

I may be being a little mean here 😁 it was annoying just reading it. How you have t beaten him with your fork I have no idea.

My daughter has real anxiety over this. If people talk about her food she stops eating. It's been really hard getting her to eat her lunches at school as they all discuss what's for lunch. Totally sympathise OP

I hate it as well Gin!

Mmm..I think I might do this to DH. But it’s because Im the cook and he just never says anything. I don’t want praise just recognition of the effort I ve made. However, I accept his first answer . MIL on the other hand will keep on at you even when you have said it’s delicious.

I hate this in restaurants where they come 5 minutes in and ask you how the food is.

I find it very rude and off putting, just go away I'm eating

My dad does this and it's because he's a greedy pig and he does want the other person's dinner. He's jealous because they have some left and his is gone even though he had more to start with and just bolted his. He even makes comments like "oh you are lucky, still enjoying that lovely dinner, do you like the taste ..."

Aarrgh! Sometimes my mum (who went to the effort of cooking the bloody food) gets so fed up she hands over her plate because it's ruined her appetite. Which is, of course, exactly what he wanted.