Is this normal eating behaviour?

[lucyboop]

I'm a 30 year old woman, I havd been single the past three years, however, have been seeing someone the past 4 months.

During my time single I developed a habit where I would cook a meal, eat half of it, then put it in the kitchen and pick at it for the rest of the night. So if I was going to the kitchen to load the dishwasher I would have a couple of bites, going to make a cup of tea - another couple of bites. Sometimes I'd finish it, but usually I wouldn't.

Anyways been with my guy for four months and when we cook together, I make a conscious effort to sit down and eat a full meal (even though that's a struggle for me to do all at once), although I usually end up leaving half on it and feeling hungry later on in the evening and just ignoring it.

However, he works later shifts so sometimes he will come over to my house around 8 and half my dinner is still sitting in the kitchen. When he questioned about why he couldn't put it in the bin, I explained to him that I usually liked to have half in one sitting and the other half over the course of a night.

He thinks this is very bizarre and nothing he's ever heard about before. So I'm wondering, is it all that unusual? Number 1 I couldn't eat it all in one sitting. Number 2 I get hungry later on so I have that to pick on otherwise I would snack.

AIBU?

It's not particularly strange and if it works for you then nothing wrong with that!

Embrace your quirks, I say!

No one is being unreasonable. He’s right that it’s unusual. But it works for you and doesn’t impact anyone else. It’s a bit of a non-issue.

I think this is normal. It's maybe not common but it's not a concerning behaviour and seems sensible if you have a small appetite and know you will be hungry later

I think it’s weird. Why not just cook half the normal portion and serve that as your dinner. I wouldn’t want to eat my dinner cold either.

Because I'll be hungry later anyway and it serves as a sort of 'comfort' that I have it

Never heard of that. It's common for people to pick during the evening but can't imagine many frequently cook themselves twice as much as they want to eat for their evening meal.

It is a bit odd but really better than you picking at crisps and biscuits and chocolates.

Only down side I can think of is its a bit ick having a half eaten meal sat there all night, and food that's gone cold isn't usually so nice. Guess it works for you, no big deal.

It's not the way I eat but your food, your rules.

Do what suits you.

It's a normal sized dinner portion. I just eat half at once and half throughout the course of the night.

It's not what most people do so it is unusual in that respect but it's no different than having a few biscuits or a.packet of crisps later you just prefer to have the same meal. I am a little.and often eater, I cant eat much in one sitting as I hate feeling overly full so I dont think it's odd (I definitely make a few trips back to the pan if I make a large batch of curry or something).

Nothing wrong with that. I like the idea of having an extended long dinner and enjoying it for the whole night!

Yes it’s odd in that most people don’t do it. Hours old cold dinner is massively unappealing tbh. But meh do what suits you.

Isn't it rude to comment on other people's eating habits?

It's not impacting on him,so continue your way of eating.

How long is this food out for, and at what temperature? Honestly picking at lukewarm and half eaten food over several hours just sounds like a receipt for food poisoning. I make double portions and keep the second half for another time, but it’s properly separated out, put in the fridge as soon as possible and properly reheated. I could maybe understand eating two small dinners a few hours apart, but just eating a couple of mouthfuls every time you’re passing is weird.

No it's not normal eating behaviour but if it works for you then it's fine

I do the exact same thing. I get full really quickly. Always have. I'm not going to make myself uncomfortable because someone else thinks I should eat the way they do 🤣

Little and often works better for some people. I have never in my life been able to have a starter and a main in thr same sitting. Never mind a dessert as well. But I'll be hungry again 2-3 hours later. You're bothering nobody, carry on as you are 😊

Unusual but harmless.

Also I work in sports and fitness so extremely active. It works for me.

My mum used to do this. She shouldn’t be arsed/couldn’t face eating it all by the time she had cooked it, so would just graze on it later on.

I do it with some foods, like curries. I don't like to over-face myself and have to struggle to finish, so I just eat what I want and put the rest on the side for later - or in the fridge for tomorrow's breakfast. Same goes for pizza - I usually eat half, then put the other half aside to nibble on. I wouldn't do it in a more formal setting, but at home, when I've cooked it, I don't see it as being particularly odd.

Do you think it's a way to control anxiety?
Have you a fear of putting on weight?
It seems like you only eat half then use the other half to make sure you don't eat anything else.
Because you can cope with the 'dinner' but other portions/snacks make you anxious maybe?

I thing wrong with it at all.

I like to graze too. I don't see it as doing any harm.

The only thing I would do this with is a pizza. Eat as much as I wanted up front then lazily pick at the crusts for the next few hours. Can’t imagine doing it with a cold roast chicken or a shepherd’s pie or similar!

*Nothing wrong with it at all

lol!

You dont need to analyse her, shes not some abnormal weirdo, she just eats her dinner slowly!!!