Can you eat three course meals anymore?

[Arlanymor]

I used to be able to, but these days no way would I manage both a starter and a pudding and sometimes I can’t even finish my main. I don’t have any dietary issues and I’m not watching my weight (although probably should be!) but I just can’t manage it anymore.

I tend to eat tapas more and more because then I don’t run the risk of wasting anything. But even if I am really hungry, I just can’t manage much more than one course, unless the starter is a salad or something similarly light. I’m 45.

I kind of know what you mean and I think it's age. I prefer now having a lighter starter and lighter main and rarely have pudding unless it looks particularly lovely (though I've never really had a sweet tooth).

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Yes. Most of the time I can eat everything in sight and often things that aren't.

Thanks @BarrelOfOtters I think it’s age and relieved to say that I don’t believe any of those symptoms particularly apply to me.

I can barely find a good old fashioned 3 courser anymore. Everything is bloody small plates.

Portion sizes are much bigger generally. DD and I often share a starter if having a two course meal.
Gone are the days of 5 small prawns and lettuce or a small bowl of soup as a starter.

i often be have a starter, then another starter instead of a main so I can eat all 3 courses!

I'm a similar age to you and I find this. Christmas Dinner just makes me feel ill now. I often have a couple of starters, maybe a side, when I eat out. I can eat French type desserts (eg a mousse or a lemon tart or sorbet) but can't have British puddings which seem so much more filling to me

Depends on the restaurant. I find that places that are set up for 3 courses (eg by having a 3 course set menu) tend to keep portion sizes small enough that you can enjoy every course. Lots of places don't do this and basically design the main course to be enough food for the whole meal, so I definitely couldn't eat a starter or pudding on top.

I used to be able to eat loads but now I don't. Or as my son puts it, 'mum can't eat that because it's got food in it'.

I think it's a combination of getting older and health issues. I have to watch it doesn't slip into disordered eating though. I can easily go a day and a half without eating anything.

Do you remember the teeny tiny glasses of fruit juice as a starter?!

No, it’s very rare that I can do the whole 3 courses these days (I’m 57). DH and I often share a starter and can’t usually manage a dessert. Back in the day I could do 3 courses but now I’m just too full. Maybe it helps that I have enough willpower to stop eating when full, something DH can struggle with, even though he complains of being stuffed if he eats too much.

I can physically do it, but if it's in the evening I'll probably sleep worse as a result of having overeaten. In not really a dessert person so generally happy to go for starter and main.

I'm in my 40s and struggle to eat 3 courses now. I remember being constantly ravenous when I was younger though so I assume my metabolism is slowing. I often order a starter as a main now or I don't have a starter if having something filling like steak or pasta etc and even then its unlikely I will finish it. Sides are an absolute no. I feel genuine relief if a main comes out that is a small portion size now. I wish I could eat more, especially in buffet restaurants where I never get my moneys worth.

I always have 2 starters now. Sometimes a pudding, mostly coffee.

Recently went to a gorgeous Michelin restaurant - was stuffed to the brim after 8 tiny courses!

I’m fat af, so not a competitive undereater, just can’t handle huge portions anymore.

Yes this is also 100% me, Christmas Dinner just feels a massive effort, even when I have asked for only one roastie, only one slice of turkey etc. I can also eat crème brûlée, once in a while, but the idea of a sponge pudding would be impossible.

No. Portions have got so much bigger.

I was served a starter the other day that was almost as big as the main meal. Ridiculous.

They lost out on a pudding sale as a result.

I prefer little and often so if I think I will want dessert I order 2 starters (which tend to be more interesting anyway) and some interesting sides or dessert.
Or me and DH share a dessert

Me too. I think it's age (I'm in 40s to). I also can't eat later in the evening anymore as I'll just be so uncomfortable when I go to bed.

I do have a large appetite. I can easily eat more than my overweight DH in one sitting. However, even I struggle with three courses. If I go out I much prefer two courses - one being a light starter and one being a main. I just never feel like eating desserts. I don't understand desserts really - it's like you've already eaten a nutritious meal of 1000 calories (or whatever) and you're perfectly full then you're expected to eat another 700 calories of fat and sugar. Why?! When I do eat sweet stuff it's usually a little snack between lunch and dinner.

I love having a series of courses!
I've even introduced weekly-ish '3 course dinners' into our home lives for e.g. a Saturday night at home. Starter might be some prawns fried with parsley, garlic and lemon, or some halloumi pieces with honey and chilli - something like that that we all eat probably with cocktail sticks like a shared starter. Then some nice normal main course, followed by puddings, and here I do not cook from scratch but we buy these from Aldi (liking the little glass pots that are like Gu, but even the Aldi ones are pretty pricey unfortunately, so often some other thing).
I am very keen to have plenty of eating going on in our house at mealtimes - I have teenage children, who seem healthy, but some of the other teens we know and love have eating disorders. I really do understand that often there is nothing you can do to stop eating disorders developing, but just to try to fly in the face of it all I like to try to make sure that mealtimes are relaxed with no rushing, plenty of tasty food, good convivial conversation, and no thought at all about whether something is 'too rich' or 'too big' etc.

Luckily I exercise hard so can keep up with their young metabolisms at the moment, but if I'm not that hungry I might just put a bit little less on my plate, but will certainly still have all three courses. Seems like a joyful way to live.

I don’t beat three courses. I think it’s age related. DC and their partners (adults) have no problem stashing away a large breakfast and several courses for dinner. Maybe a pub lunch in between. All are fit and very active though .

Depends on the day!
I prefer a starter and dessert

But we went for an Indian meal on Christmas Day and I said to my dad I was hungry - he was oh you never finish the rice usually
One starter, Poppadoms, a main, a rice, a naan and half my dads rice later...
he was

Yes, depending on the size of each course and how much time is available. I can also make a reasonable dent in a hotel buffet.

pelatonaddiction am guessing from your username that you cycle? Cycling makes me so hungry!
Your meal sounds delicious. In case you haven't tried them, I also really love stuffed parathas - I'd recommend them!

I don't understand desserts really

I don’t understand that you don’t understand desserts.

What’s not to understand? A dish of delicious. Is this not the Mumsnet Salad revisited?🤣