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.

That is odd, same here re healthier food. Brown rice and green veggies are far more appealing to me than they used to be and I have no idea why!

I am still doughy too. It is very frustrating. I eat less and more healthily than a decade ago, but I am fatter. Grr.

Your thought to make a post about how much you struggle to eat is fairly telling.

This.

I can only manage one small meal. Need a long gap to have pudding

I can eat it but my view is 3 courses starts with the best bit first and goes downhill. I'd quite like pudding, main, starter.
Or starter, main, starter to be honest.

I'm the same OP, I can barely manage the main meal these days. This has been the case for me since my late 40s.
I'm also conscious about putting on extra weight which I can't afford to do, as I can't shift it easily.
Also I think portion sizes have increased greatly in the last 20 years or so.

Yes. Im 46.

I’m lucky, I have a good appetite,

No I certainly can't eat a 3 course meal @Arlanymor When I go out for a meal, I have a starter and a dessert, OR just a modest sized main. (I'm middle aged.)

It seems to be quite fashionable on Mumsnet though - and a couple of other certain forums - to brag about how you can eat half an elephant as a starter, a tree between two hills as a main, and a 125 kilo bowl of ice cream served in a bathtub for dessert.

Anyone who doesn't eat massive portions, and is happy/satisfied with less food is royally mocked and derided. The irony in these posts is breathtaking. These people are clearly projecting, so I tend to not engage with them. And this will be my only post on this thread.

.

Same here but I'm 20 years older than you and have a hiatus hernia which doesnt help. It's the amount in a short space of time - so a decent rest between courses and I can mansgeteo courses. At home if we have a pudding we'll eat it at least an hour after the main so we can do justice to it!

Sweet 🥰

I’m 42, depends on the size of the courses! We often take advantage of the early evening set menu at Cote Brasserie and I can manage three courses there as the portions are just right. But in other restaurants I’d only ever have one or two courses.

Have been to restaurants- can’t remember which ones. They have the same dish which you can have a starter or main course size. So you can have an actual starter (one not available as a main) then a starter sized main.

There’s an Italian restaurant 10 minutes walk from me and their special menu on weekends is only £1.50 more for 3 courses v 2 courses. If I’m fairly full - get their homemade lemon sorbet. Very nice and refreshing.

What is the salad thread??

I can’t find it.

But it was a thread about someone who went out for a meal and only managed to eat 1/2 a salad as they were too full for the rest.

It was similar to this thread. But attracted a lot more derision.

I like places that cater for everyone's appetites. Somewhere locally will let you order a starter and then a starter as a main if you like, they also do a coffee and a small piece of pudding instead of a full portion of pudding, which always seems popular.

Not unless it was pretty light/small portions. Half the time I can't even manage two courses which is disappointing.

Unfortunately for my waistline, yes.

Yes I most certainly can eat 3 courses. I am not sure what age has to do with it, but if relevant I am 52.
My family has a vile habit of sharing starters. I am ok with sharing pudding though as I don’t have so much of a sweet tooth.

(Thanks)

I've only seen the threads where women eat oh so little but their sons/6'+ husbands eat huge amounts endlessly. I guess the middle ground is less loud on eating threads

If I have a starter I normally share it as otherwise I won't eat my main.
I rarely finish my main and very rarely have dessert unless it's a crème brûlée.

Depends on the restaurant. Posh ones, yes. High Street restaurants, nope.

Yes. And I'm a bit fat because of it! (I'm 40)

If I find anywhere that does 3 properly gluten free and vegetarian courses that I don't need a mortgage for then I'm going all out 🤣

I do find people utterly joyless to eat out with who either police others for eating so much, or eating too little, or make them feel uncomfortable about what they have chosen to eat. It is so rude and dull.