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AIBU?

To pick at my dinner over a long period of time

80 replies

andymoan · 02/05/2021 18:52

Anyone else the same? I'm never able to sit and have a big meal in one sitting but I could finish it over the course of the night by just picking at it even if it's cold. I've even seen myself not being able to finish it that night and having the rest for breakfast/lunch the next day. Anyone else?

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Bomchiccawick · 02/05/2021 19:50

It sounds like disordered eating to me. My alcoholic relation eats similarly (if they eat at all).

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CheeseFace · 02/05/2021 19:50

Categorically not. I have the appetite of a ravening bear and do not understand when someone cannot eat a standard portion.

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SchrodingersImmigrant · 02/05/2021 20:03

Sparrows eat a between quarter to half their body weight every day😁 I would not recommend to eat like a sparrow. Plus their table manners are very questionable 😂
I knew someone will mention them and my time to shine will come!😂

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StrawBeretMoose · 02/05/2021 20:05

I do this too, not always but often enough.
Sometimes have a bit more dinner later or next day, Monday morning could be cold roast potatoes and a few carrots from my Sunday roast.
I've never thought of it as a big problem, if I'm going out for dinner in a group I might have a starter as a main, or just leave what I can't eat.
I also have IBS so it can be connected to sometimes knowing not to overdo it. I could force more food down but will be uncomfortable.
I quite like cold food.
One of my sisters does the same, we're in our 30s so unlikely to change.
I don't think it's rude, if I know someone well enough to go to their house for dinner if it's not 'help yourself' I'll ask in advance for a small portion. DH has been known to help me out on occasion, he doesn't mind.
The only time it's a pain is work dinners but they are not a feature of my current role.

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MichelleScarn · 02/05/2021 20:25

I think on reflection that is fine to do what you do re food and portion size as long as you don't factor other people into it, I.e drawing attention to your tiny appetite, pointing out how much other people are eating "ooo i could never eat that much" I don't in all honestly notice what others do at meal times unless they draw attention to themselves.

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andymoan · 02/05/2021 20:28

@MichelleScarn oh no I would never mention what anyone else is eating, I wouldn't even notice to be honest let alone mention it, that would be beyond rude. If someone mentions when we're out or eating together oh you've not ate much I would just say oh I shouldn't have had a big lunch or my stomachs not feeling well today something like that so as not to make it seem attention seeking.

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SofiaMichelle · 02/05/2021 20:38

Why would you do it, though?

If you know you can't eat a full portion do a much smaller one and then have a snack later if you need something else.

I can't imagine sitting there picking at a cold meal. It's pointless and unnecessary.

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ChochoCrazyCat · 02/05/2021 20:53

I do this too. It's a bad habit from my student days...we frequently ate in our rooms, so I'd sit in front of my laptop watching a film and picking at my food for a couple of hours. DH likes to eat in front of the TV too, so I've just kept up the habit into my "grown up" life. But now we have a child so I want to start having family meals at the table. It's hard to change an ingrained habit though. We also eat very late, about 9pm usually. I'm just not in the mood for dinner at 5 or 6, which is when DD needs to eat.

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Haggisfish · 02/05/2021 20:55

I’m exactly the same op. I would love to live somewhere where lunch takes all afternoon!

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longtompot · 02/05/2021 23:06

I find it difficult to eat dinner and it takes me ages. I had an anxiety issue a few years ago which, while mostly under control, still pops up it's annoying head every now and again. I find it difficult to swallow sometimes, so things like meat will take me a long time. I don't eat beef, or will just have a few cubes of it if I do a stew.
I think if I were you op I would serve up my dinner and then divide it into four portions, or whatever you can mange in one sitting and eat that. Then later if you want more, you have more portions to eat. I wouldn't make an issue of it, because it then becomes a bigger issue.

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4PawsGood · 03/05/2021 10:28

@SofiaMichelle

Why would you do it, though?

If you know you can't eat a full portion do a much smaller one and then have a snack later if you need something else.

I can't imagine sitting there picking at a cold meal. It's pointless and unnecessary.

Because a snack is probably less nutritious and also a bit mor effort.
If she doesn’t mind it then what’s the problem?

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4PawsGood · 03/05/2021 10:28

*more

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IHaveBrilloHair · 03/05/2021 11:27

I live alone and cook for myself, I can't see why it would bother other people what I do with my food.
It makes no sense to me to cook a small portion, eat it all, then make a separate snack later, when I'm happy to cook a bigger portion and eat it in two goes.

I obviously don't do it around other people because that would be bad manners and if eating out I order just about what I can eat all at once and leave whatever I can't finish.

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BlueSussex · 03/05/2021 11:38

Sounds really weird to me.

Are you underweight?

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Foodisascience · 03/05/2021 11:45

What is your portion size? you are in control over what you dish up. In a restaurant it’s more difficult. Those sort of eating shacks that do giant portions are not for me but what is a genuine standard portion? We have lost sight of it.

Modern dinner plates are huge, I have some of DH Granny’s dinner plates from the 1970’s. They are much smaller.

So a roast dinner will have me eat a drumstick, four roast potatoes , a dessert spoon of four types of veg, a stuffing ball and gravy. But even then how big are those spuds.

MN often has a what are you having for dinner thread. It’s interesting, what would be more interesting is a photo of the portion size and an honest one. Not tweaking it for the camera.

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IHaveBrilloHair · 03/05/2021 20:57

I have a normal BMI, I don't have an eating disorder, or, as mentioned uptrend, am I an alcoholic ffs.
My portion sizes clearly suit me since my clothes tell me I don't gain or lose any significant amount of weight, I don't own scales.
(I only know BMI as I'm weighed at medical appointments. I have a disability)

MN is completely weird about food and what other people eat.

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gulliblestravels · 03/05/2021 21:06

Are you perhaps a bit depressed by eating alone, so just don’t have the appetite??

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Bluntness100 · 03/05/2021 21:11

@IHaveBrilloHair

I have a normal BMI, I don't have an eating disorder, or, as mentioned uptrend, am I an alcoholic ffs.
My portion sizes clearly suit me since my clothes tell me I don't gain or lose any significant amount of weight, I don't own scales.
(I only know BMI as I'm weighed at medical appointments. I have a disability)

MN is completely weird about food and what other people eat.

Have you had a name change fail are you the op?

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thinkIamdone · 03/05/2021 21:16

I hate big meals, especially late. Stop eating them. Make a smaller portion, and snack if you feel hungry. Some people a grazers

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LagunaBubbles · 03/05/2021 21:25

LagunaBubblesyes that's exactly what it is

Not sure what the stupid wee role eyes were for your the one posting about disordered eating.

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DrEllie · 03/05/2021 21:58

Are you quite petite? I find this. I'm only 5ft and struggle to eat a lot in one go. And i eat really slow. I tend to have 5 or so small meals throughout the day.

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IHaveBrilloHair · 04/05/2021 00:20

Oh, no, not name change fail, I'm not the OP, but I'd posted and then questions were asked so I answered.
I've no idea how the OP would answer them.

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IHaveBrilloHair · 04/05/2021 00:27

Yes, I am also 5ft, with size 3 feet and v small hands too, so being this size is clearly natural for me.
I can't understand why people have such an issue with it.
As for eating alone as I'm depressed, should I invite my neighbours around every meal time, do my cats watching me eat count?
I live alone!

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Stichintime · 04/05/2021 00:31

OP whats going on? You also started a thread today about drinking too much wine and laying on the sofa the next day over eating, then feeling really bloated.

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IHaveBrilloHair · 04/05/2021 00:32

Can we be clear that wasn't me!

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