Should I dump my boyfriend because he won't stop eating crisps?

[Spicyseniorita7]

I'm in a relatively new relationship (7 months) after over 2 years of being single with some dating disasters along the way. Everything seems great on paper, he is kind, has a good job that pays well, not bad looking, treats me well and never allows me to pay for anything. For context, I am 28F and he is 32M- we both live separately at present. I would like to settle down soon.

I'm unsure if I am self-sabotaging, but some of his eating/snacking habits disgust me, to the point that I think I've developed the ick. This came to light properly on our recent 2 week holiday-prior to this, the longest we had spent together was about 3 days. He eats at least 3 packets of crisps per day and not the sophisticated type i.e kettle chips, think more Skips/monster munch/Nik naks/cheesy wotsits/space raiders. He doesn't wash his hands after eating the crisps and requires prompting to do so. This often results in him having disgusting synthetic crisp dust all over his fingers and fingernails.

Even more disgustingly, after he's finished with a packet, he arches back his head and empties the remnants of the crisp crumbs into his mouth. It's almost as though he cannot bear for a single scrap to be wasted. But the most disgusting is sometimes, after finishing a packet, he will blow up the packet like a balloon and pop it. This has resulted in me being sprayed with crumbs. I've also found scrunched up crisp packets wedged behind his bed, almost as though he can't be bothered to walk to the bin.

We recently went on holiday to Spain and it was mortifying-he didn't try any local food and just wanted to eat British food, McDonald's and crisps. We went to the supermarket and he loaded up the trolley with crisps. I haven't said anything yet, he is keen to start looking for a flat to rent together, but I just can't help but thinking I would prefer a man who doesn't eat over 3 packets of crisps a day and doesn't smell like pickled onion Monster Munch or cheesy wotsits. Is eating all of those crisps a dumpable offence?

“I would like to settle down” is jumping out at me. You don’t even like this guy but he’s available

the dusty fingers, popping the bag stuff are disgusting but some women wouldnt notice. Hes not for you

Two of the OP's four positive qualities that she lists are about this man's money. That's more "ick" inducing than eating crisps of whatever brand.

I couldn't be with a man with such an unadventurous palate, especially on holiday. It wouldn't mean he's inferior to me, a foodie who loves trying new cuisines, though - just that we're incompatible. I wouldn't need to ask the internet to work that out either.

My arteries are quivering at the idea of 3 packets of crisps a day. I can't say I haven't occasionally got through that amount when I'm hungover though. And I've tipped my head back to empty the last bits into my mouth, though I probably wouldn't do that in company. I definitely wash my hands after eating them though.

It would be ok if he ate sophisticated crisps like Kettle Chips?

They're not that great and overpriced.

I think if you really liked this guy this would be a very small issue. Don’t dump someone because they have food restrictions/are fussy, but also don’t settle down with someone that you’re not that into. He deserves to be with someone that actually likes him.

Well if it’s that intolerable now I can assure you by the time you’re perimenopausal you’ll put him in a box.

Even not eating local cuisine abroad brings out the massive snobs. Dumping a bloke for eating crisps when you've got other women needing to access Clare's Law. Absolutely bonkers. Yes, there's a middle ground but leave the bloke in peace to eat his monster munch.

He couldn't branch out to Jamon Ruffles or even any of the wide range of Cheetos in Spain? That's poor form. Apparently they are better than Wotstis.

3 bags if they are from a multi pack is that much these days given endless shrinkflation. The hygiene/ manners would bother me more.

He can't clean up after himself, has poor personal hygiene, and wants to move in after 7 months. He wants Mummy, avoid avoid avoid.

YABU to talk about 'the ick'. Hideous phrase. And in this case trivialising some potentially big issues. You don't seem to fancy him ('not bad looking'), he's lovebombing you ('never allows me to pay for anything') and pushing to move in together quickly, but is also inconsiderate with the popping and inadequate disposal of the crisp packets.

Break up, move on. Not because of the crisps but because you don't seem that into him. At 7 months in you should be thinking he's the best man in the world.

This thread and this comment are a scream 😂I also have an affinity to the crisp gobbling boyfriend.

OP could dump him and then get herself £200 for the Take a Break article. “I dumped my crisp chomping bloke and bagged myself a new fittie”

I guess I could overlook the crisp eating as a quirk if i really loved him.

And if our relationship was good enough to say can you wash your hands afterwards and put the packet in the bin, i dont want greasy fingerprints and rubbish everywhere.
If he says oh shit sorry im used to living on my own i didnt think, and cleans up his act, fine and dandy. But any hint of suggesting youre nagging or controlling and its bye bye.

Like PP, I'm more worried about what him paying for everything says about his atttitude to women - this could escalate.

Yeah this post nailed it.

If hes the right person for you, you wouldnt get the ick.

I hate smelly crisps too btw....my kids eat some of the crisps you mentioned and I cringe 😂

I laughed at that as well. Describing Kettle chips as 'sophisticated'. 😂Almost as bad as the use of 'posh crisps'. Only on MN.....

His dies sounds atrocious. Is he overweight?

I think crisps are one of those things people can get addicted to. I personally would find this gross, especially him eating crisps non-stop, in his bed (!) and getting bits everywhere.

It makes no difference if they are "posh" or not - they are all crap UPF. One packet is fine as a snack - eating several a day is weird and would definitely annoy me. Also, not eating any food abroad - how boring.

Is never allowing her to pay for anything being taken literally here? Being considerate is different to being controlling.

If you have the ick now there is no future, these things become more annoying not less. Move on.

The lack of hand hygiene is concerning. I wonder how he handled the Covid years.

Agreed. This seems like a very basic thing to communicate about so that he can demonstrate some consideration (or not). Making a forum post instead... I feel a bit sorry for him investing so much effort in you. I hope you at least tell him you left him because of crisps so that he understands how you think and has the information to improve himself for the next partner.

The crisps wouldn’t be ideal but wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me but the refusing to eat anything except beige British food would really give me the ick!
Part of the joy of going on holiday is trying all the local cuisine.

You lost me at ‘sophisticated’ crisps. Old school crisps are the best! And pickled onion monster munch are the gold tier.

As for his other eating habits. Well, that depends. I have ARFID so don’t tend to eat local food when travelling and will always head to a supermarket for crisps and snacks to at least I have something safe to eat. I will also occasionally go to a McDonalds as I’ve found their fries are the same the world over.

I guess what I’m saying the reason why he’s not eating local food might be important and you need to decide whether that’s a deal breaker for you. My DH and DS are both very adventurous and love trying local food when we travel. I just eat what I can.

FFS this is ridiculous - you're not into him! Why is he looking for an apartment? If you were into him you'd find it adorable or at least funny. Just break up with him and let him find someone who likes him, not someone who wants to settle down and he happens to be available and has a job.

"he will blow up the packet like a balloon and pop it. This has resulted in me being sprayed with crumbs"
That is the behaviour of a teenage boy. Such immature, childish behaviour would bother me too.

Not wanting to eat only English food when abroad is not being a massive snob, for goodness sake.

It is a major part of why you go abroad, isn't it? I would find being with someone who only ate English food very boring unless there were health issues involved.

So your idea of "sophisticated" crisps are tasteless/stale tasting crisps. 😂
Anyway, if he makes you 🤑then set him free and don't waste anymore of his time.

“on paper, he is kind, has a good job that pays well, not bad looking, treats me well and never allows me to pay for anything”
You’re thinking of dumping him because he doesn’t eat ‘sophisticated crisps’ 😂 pops the empty bag, can’t always be bothered to put the empty bag in the bin stuffing in behind the bed, and doesn’t wash his hands? And he prefers a McDonald’s to a Paella.
You have done well to put up with this manchild for 7 months. Ugh. It could be worse though, a lot lot worse. What other disgusting habits will you discover if you rent a home together… 😱
Show him this thread OP, maybe he will changes his ways… don’t count on it though.