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 think if it was more accepted that some women (like me) struggle with their gut health from peri onwards, and sometimes following gynae surgery, then these women might be less inclined to enter into 'disordered eating' as a response.

I'm actually scared of being physically hurt by food but years with NHS services have been futile because of the piecemeal approach to gynae, gastro, rheumy issues. So the physical issue can become a psychological issue, and a cycle develops.

Edited to say: oops, far too serious ^^ sorry!

Yep. Me too 😍

Yes, but I’m not size French and I don’t start shaking and sobbing if more than one lettuce leaf appears on my plate.

I hope your plate isn’t one of those ghastly modern giant dinner plates. That’s plain greedy! Tut tut.

I can but usually have cheese rather than a sweet desert hence why I'm fat

Depends on the type of place. If it's a pub that does massive portions then maybe just a main. If it's the sort of place where the menu is more balanced for people to have two or three courses then I would have a starter and a main, and see how I feel about desserts- depends how good they look/sound.

But also when I know I'm going out for a meal I don't eat much during the day so I can comfortably then put away a big dinner.

My heart started to sink the other day when we were out in a really special place with MIL who doesn't eat much. The starters looked amazing and she started to say "I don't think I'll have a starter..." but the consensus in the group was for starters. Hurrah.

If it's the sort of place with a really boring chain pub menu I'll sometimes have two starters or a starter as a main course portion if allowed as they are often the most interesting thing.

I'm 48 and exercise regularly. My TDEE is about 2200 calories a day on average, even though my job involves a lot of sitting down.

When I was a kid it was a big treat to go to Berni Inns. I could eat three courses from being about eight years old.

Nowadays my stomach doesn't like too much rich food and would certainly complain if I really stuffed my face. But it would take a lot of calories to make me feel uncomfortably full.

Yes, because there’s so much other stuff on the plate and potatoes are really filling. I don’t have disordered eating, I just don’t like being uncomfortably full.

I used to be able to eat 3 courses happily, but am now 53 and cant eat nearly as much as I used to.

Sadly this does not translate into losing any weight, the opposite actually, which is all rather disappointing!

So I am 53, eat much less but am much fatter than when I was 23 😡

I suspect its got something to do with reduced muscle mass

I am the same OP. As soon as I hit perimenopause I couldn't eat as much and felt full quite early in the meal. Other friends have said the same. Don't know why it is. Sadly I don't seem to have dropped in weight! I wonder if you need less calories as you get older.

I'm 42 and can happily eat three courses. I'd be stuffed at the end and a bit uncomfortable, but I love food and have always had a big appetite.

I think as we get older people's food sensitivities can start to play up more, which might cause problems? I get bloating from lentils and chick peas now so avoid them, which I never did when I was younger. I have loads of friends who avoid dairy or gluten because it doesn't agree with them.

Makes a lot of sense actually. A bit like people needing less sleep the older they get. No sadly I haven’t lost any weight either, which seems a bit unfair!

The beauty of a doggy bag! I find if I'm out to eat I'm so busy chatting that I end up not really eating that much. I also eat incredibly slowly which can be annoying for other people. I really like sharing meals, like Indian/Pakistani food, tapas, mezze, Chinese, anything where you can have a little bit of a few things.
If it's individual meals, I tend to go for starter and main, but usually about half the main comes home with me. I always like a little bite of someone's else's pudding though!
I did used to be able to eat loads more when I was younger, but I guess I needed more energy and my weight was higher.

Not so long ago I'd easily get through a starter, a main with 2 sides (that were shared between 2 adults) plus a dessert and a bottle of wine.

Now I can just about manage a main and a dessert. I had some serious eating/weight issues back then though. I stopped all the extras a few years back due to wanting to lose weight and now only eat to stop feeling hungry. I don't eat till I'm full/uncomfortable anymore. I've lost over 4 stone (but used to weighed even more years ago).

I hear ya OP. I generally do 2 starters + pudding or starter + main.

Very much this for me a well.

Not unless I was stoned, in which case I could eat a twelve course meal!

I noticed recently that I was feeling less hungry than usual. It turned out I had h.pylori stomach bacterial infection.

I've always had a massive appetite. The only time I didn't was after abdominal surgery for a stomach infection. I would happily eat everything in sight but I would get stomach ache and heart burn. Then later bloating and other issues. In my 30s and younger I was totally fine, could eat the three courses no problem. Now in 40s I'd suffer for it.

I'm late 50's and will happily chow down a 3 course meal. I only have veggie options if I'm eating out (not a vegetarian, just a bit dubious about eating meat I haven't seen cooked or don't know the person cooking it). Maybe veggie dishes are lighter on the stomach than meat ones so that's why it's never been an issue for me.

I know what you mean, I'm a few years younger and can eat the same volume as before probably but not as rich, ie steak frites and a cheesecake for dessert would make me feel sick. Steak and salad and chocolate cake is fine though lol.

I still love to have 3 courses, but generally can't finish my plate anymore.

Deserts in particular are huge these days. I find it so off-putting to see this massive chunk of cake come out. Still order though - I just usually try to share.

I can easily if it is a home cooked meal by me or a family member. I can’t if it is a pub meal because portions (particularly main courses) are so big now. I don’t think I’ve been to an ordinary restaurant for a few years so can’t comment on those

I think you'll find portions have shrunk nowadays 😂

I could, but normally won't.
Unless the main is very good and very filling.

I can eat three courses with no problem as long as the portion sizes are normal.

A couple of weeks ago, we had pub lunch with friends - simple stuff, we ordered sandwiches as we weren't starving. What appeared, and I'm not exaggerating, were dinner plates loaded with chips, lettuce leaves, two slices of cucumber and half a tomato - and a sandwich comprising the filling between two slices of bread, each an inch thick.

One of the problems, I think, is the prices charged for pub food post-Covid; £12.00 for a roast beef sandwich is quite a lot. Maybe the idea is to load plates with cheap carbs in order to make people think they're getting value for money.