To be embarrassed about my childish eating behaviour?

[Butterflysize]

I’ve started to really notice lately that my behaviour around food looks quite childish, greedy, both.

Some examples:

• out with DCs and other mums, if we go to a cafe they usually have a coffee and maybe something like a toasted teacake if any food, regardless of what the children are eating. I will have more similar to the kids, maybe a burger, milkshake etc
• Out with other family members recently at a nice restaurant for dinner, I had cleared my plate when they were at best halfway through then was sitting there twiddling my thumbs and picking at bread for ages
• same occasion, I asked for more bread twice
• I bought a box of crème eggs yesterday for the kids and have now eaten three of them

I am starting to feel people noting it and judging. I think I’ve always been like this and my parents are quite embarrassing to eat out with and show zero self control. I’m starting to feel ashamed and that I don’t fit in with other mums.

AIBU to think that my behaviour is not normal and need to do something about this? If so, any advice?

To note I am a healthy weight.

chemical-tasting, gloopey crap.

I had an HR lady say to me once 'I won't judge your food choices' because I took chips and chocolate from the canteen. I just smiled. I have the same childish eating habits as you, and I just rock it. It's okay to have an unsophisticated palette. Mine is too!

Honestly don’t see the problem. You wouldn’t bother me at all. Far more annoying when someone talks too much then you all have to wait for them to finish before you can order your pud!

You seem fine to me, if another mum ordered a burger and milkshake theres a good chance I’d be eyeing it uo wondering why I hadn’t

I think everything sounds normal. I expect the mums at the cafe are trying to save money thinking they can just eat at home.

What a load of bollocks 🙄

Whatevs23 · Today 15:57
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Exactly! Even if we would prefer a milkshake over a coffee, as adults (especially parents who have children we need to stay healthy for and model good eating habits for) most of us would usually choose the healthier option.

Milkshake can be the healthier option.

The first and third sound OK, but the second, do you mean you ate so quickly you'd finished way before anyway else?
Just stop doing thar.

Because her eating is a problem if she's obese

I would assume you were merely hungry OP, nothing childish about being hungry 🤷🏼‍♀️

they taste better when dunked in a cuppa tea

@Perfectlystill

you can still be really unhealthy and of average weight

I think I’ve been out the UK for too long: this thread is making my head spin.

Why are children / you having a burger at a time when adults are having coffee / crumpet? Do children eat burgers and milkshakes for a snack in the UK? Or do adults now have coffee and tea cakes as a meal?

I tell my kids to slow down if they are scarfing down their dinner. Eating, at a table, with company, is a social activity. Eating solo, go at whatever speed you like. But in company, I would eat at the same speed as the others.

I’ll be honest and say I judge adults who eat crappy kids food. I’m in France and there is a pretty clear divide, and tbh adults do not generally eat novelty chocolate (not that Cadburys really counts as chocolate). I remember FIL and BIL taking the last two buzz lightyear ice creams to eat one summer, rather than leaving them for the kids and I’m afraid I was clutching my pearls. It made me realise how French I’ve become tbh. Adults eat correctly, kids grow up and learn to eat correctly as well - but they get to eat some sugary shit on the way. Adults grow out of it.

it does strike me when I’m home in the Uk that there don’t seem to be any rules around eating these days: anything goes, all the time.

I completely agree @LuckySantangelo35

This thread is hilarious. Its almost as good as the one about wearing DMs to a wedding

Get a life people!!!!

Yeah that’s what I was thinking. Most people I know are trying to cut down on coffee.

I crave a burger when I need iron and milkshake is a good source of calcium so I'm feeling your choices are healthier compared to coffee and teacake.

I’m inclined to enjoy childish foods sometimes too, but I also love more refined things.

I feel this way at dinners with friends when they all order a steak salad and I order a pasta dish. OR (because dessert is the highlight of most of my meals!) when I’m with a group and the only one who wants to order a dessert! I’ve started just letting myself order one now, bugger the judgment!

Ok, I'll bite...what is the definition of 'childish food'? And what is adult food?

Food is food. There is no childish vs adult food. It's just food. The purpose of food is to nourish and also to be enjoyed. Who cares whether it is a milkshake or a cappuccino, a hamburger or a teacake? It really doesn't matter.

soooooo many calories in a milkshake

Absolutely not. It’s way higher in calories and contains a ton of sugar. A black coffee is a much healthier choice. I love chocolate milkshake but haven’t had one for years because of the sugar content. Obviously I’d much prefer a milkshake to a coffee! But I (and most other adults) restrict our food and drink choices to reduce our sugar consumption. That’s what OP means about “eating like a child” - kids often just eat what they want without considering if it’s bad for them.

@Serrates a milkshake here and there won't kill you. But then again this is MN, the home of teeny tinies and disordered eating.

I don't think it's horrific but if you would like to makes changes as you feel uncomfortable it's easy to do. N

I tend to mirror what others are doing, if everyone is having coffee and cake and I fancied something savoury I'd choose a cheese scone rather than a burger. I don't like coffee, sometimes avoid tea so I'd order an orange juice etc. It
can change the dynamic is if someone if having a full meal whereas the rest are having a snack and a chat.

I'm a slow eater and often end up leaving food I would still like to eat if others have finishes ages before. I would try and pace yourself during a meal. Make more conversation, put down your knife and folk for a couple of moments then start eating again etc. My DH has a tendency to avoid conversation and just hoof food which is rather impolite.

I wouldn't judge the number of creme eggs but wouldn't eat sweets belonging to anyone else. If I buy my children something I would not eat it, it belongs to them.

Come back when you have something intelligent to add to the discussion.