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?

Couldn’t live with someone like that. Sorry. Going abroad and not trying local food is a big no no for me. Sounds like my grandson who’s 11. At least my DGS will grow out of his doubtful eating habits…

I love unsophisticated crisps but the MacDonald’s and English food on holiday would be a no for me.

Considering moving in at 7 months is quite quick.

Everyone is different. I will never understand why some adults care about what others eat on holiday!

this has to be a joke?

A man who does not partake of sophisticated snacks such as Kettle Chips - I cannot believe you even let this man speak to you. Quickly, get the help to prevent him from calling and let it be known throughout society he is a cad.

Be thankful you escaped so early. a lesson for us all here I feel.

End the relationship you are not compatible. If it annoys you after 2 weeks think about 50 years of that.

Not necessarily… if he hasn’t by the age of 11, he probably won’t 😬

You can dump him for any reason what so ever.

It sounds like you simply have the ick though. If you have it now after a relatively short period, it won't get better. Those little bastards habits will eat away at you.

Crisps: fine, if he’s healthy who cares?

Being closed off about different foods: yeah, personally that would be a problem for me and would put me off

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.

I laughed at this ⬆

Eh, I was a very very picky eater until about 16 to 17 and then once I moved out and had to sort my own food I became a lot more curious. I love all sorts of food now.

The crisp snobbery has some logic to it. Ready salted crisps even an own brand only has potato, vegetable oil and salt. Nowhere near as bad as whatever’s in monster munch.

My first thought OP is that he would be difficult to parent with 🤣 building a child's healthy relationship with food is much easier if the parents have one.

You should probably talk to him about it before just ending the relationship.

You probably are incompatible.

I wouldn't mind the crisp eating or the tipping of the crumbs into his mouth. Or the brand of crisps he eats.

I would be pissed off to be sprayed with crumbs when the bag is popped. And I would be pissed off with sticky fingers not being washed. And would hate greasy packets stuffed in furniture. All that stuff is unacceptable and is really childish.

I'd be irritated by him not trying food on holiday as well.

The thing is you describe him as "not bad looking". You don't describe him as the love of your life. I don't think you are compatible.

The way you describe it you’ve the ick and you can’t come back from it, the more you see it, the more disgusted you will be.

i would be too, so no judgment here.

It’s a deal breaker in a few ways here- not trying food when abroad, a fundamentally unhealthy lifestyle and gross habits like leaving his crisp packets lying around. I need a man to be a partner and not even able to tidy his food scraps up is not a partner.

Report it then

@Anarchy99 wishful thinking on my part 😂
In his mother I trust...😀

Some people just have limited taste, and limited interest in the ins and outs of food. you grew out of it but I’m AuDHD and I have never eaten most of what constitutes ‘normal meals’ on MN

I don't wash my hands after crisps, never crossed my mind to. Blowing up bags, is he 6 years old?

he arches back his head and empties the remnants of the crisp crumbs into his mouth.

Oh my God I HATE this.

But the most disgusting is sometimes, after finishing a packet, he will blow up the packet like a balloon and pop it.

Why??? My kids are 5 and 11 and I stopped them doing this! As you say, it's messy and it's stupid and antisocial and immature.

Oh my God. This is awful.

Crisp snobbery? Your problem.

Basic hygiene, Grim.

McDonalds diet in Spain? Ditch.

Exactly. People have this really weird opinion that if you aren’t adventurous with food then you aren’t adventurous in other aspects of your life.
When I’ve discussed ARFID on MN I’ve been told I’m childish, boring, and uneducated. All because I don’t like food.
The reality is I’m educated to PhD level with a job that takes me all over the world. I regularly travel solo to places like Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan - so what if I live off Belvita biscuits, smoothies and protein shakes?!

I know this isn't a laughing matter but I did giggle a bit at the blowing up the package and popping it.
My husband is always stuffing himself with crisps which I don't care about. Maybe tell your partner to stop with the other silly stuff like popping the bag and stuffing behind the sofa

You're entitled to feel the ick but you list a fairly decent set of pluses:
he is kind, has a good job that pays well, not bad looking, treats me well and never allows me to pay for anything

Meantime you've been single for 2 years in your mid-twenties.

How does your balance sheet look? Is he overlooking some of your flaws?

I'm not saying settle, but I am saying think twice. Things like crisp eating change fairly easily - an adventurous outlook less easily - but a solid kind dependable partner is good.

He's kinda showing you who he is.

Whether you want to (potentially) wait until you're in your 30s before you find someone else vaguely decent is entirely up to you.

This answer is genius!