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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

536 replies

Spicyseniorita7 · 29/06/2026 23:26

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?

OP posts:
Error404FucksNotFound · 30/06/2026 21:18

I wouldn't give a shit about him eating crisps but the crumbs, bag popping, not putting the packets in the bin and the lack of handwashing would make me walk.

I sure as shit wouldn't move in with him!

tttigress · 30/06/2026 21:19

You can't beat Pickled Onion Monster Munch!!

cinnamontroll · 30/06/2026 21:20

I hate that you’ve made me stick up for a man… you sound absolutely insufferable!! Who the hell cares if a guy enjoys his crisps? Poor man, hopefully he’ll find someone else to be with.

Jc2001 · 30/06/2026 21:20

Spicyseniorita7 · 29/06/2026 23:26

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?

7 moths in and you're disgusted by him? I don't think this relationship is going to work.

Musney · 30/06/2026 21:24

Spicyseniorita7 · 29/06/2026 23:26

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?

We give out about stereotypes about us relentlessly moaning . . . Crisps, like crisps is your complaint . . . Honestly you should dump him and save him from your neuroticism

Aluna · 30/06/2026 21:30

It’s not just the crisps, it’s the McDonald’s in Spain. He’s a proper bogan.

Livpool · 30/06/2026 21:36

I love Skips 🤦🏼‍♀️

Delphiniumandlupins · 30/06/2026 21:43

I like Skips

ARingtoit · 30/06/2026 21:45

This really made me chuckle 🤣

WilfredsPies · 30/06/2026 21:46

Sophisticated crisps?? 😂 you are so pretentious.

DallazMajor · 30/06/2026 21:47

What an absolute bastard!

PyongyangKipperbang · 30/06/2026 21:48

Just asked DD (15) and she said...."Yeah she should dump him, so he can find someone who isnt a knob"

From the mouths of babes

DallazMajor · 30/06/2026 21:49

It reminds me of that song “Chippy Tea” by the Lancashire hotpots.

WilfredsPies · 30/06/2026 21:53

Spicyseniorita7 · 30/06/2026 17:18

I personally think that eating kettle chips is more socially acceptable than wolfing down a grab sized back of monster munch in front of your girlfriend and barely coming up for air!

Would it be better or worse if he wolfed down a bag of kettle chips? Or delicately placed five pickled onion Monster Munch in a bowl and gently nibbled off the arms and legs one by one, dabbing at the sides of his mouth with a napkin each time? 😂

whereswilson · 30/06/2026 21:55

user67584329 · 29/06/2026 23:39

Hmmm. Does he like pre-prepared frozen gyoza?

Is that bad? I keep them in the freezer for emergency dinners!

Gamerlady · 30/06/2026 21:59

Sounds like me haha, he isn't doing anything wrong, you have the ick over eating crisps , do you actually like him

texmass · 30/06/2026 22:04

Oh I do love a bag of Skips or Salt and Vinegar chipsticks - but emptying
the crumbs into your gob and popping the crisp dust over someone else is pure savagery.

Scout2016 · 30/06/2026 22:08

Any ideas of moving in together after 7 months is far too soon.

Aside from that I think it's reasonable dumping material yes. It's only going to get more irritating.

JazzySeal · 30/06/2026 22:09

Yes, dump him! If everything else is great, I want to date him! I love Nik Naks!

Spicyseniorita7 · 30/06/2026 22:23

GreenFingeredClara · 30/06/2026 20:52

I find it hard to believe this post is genuine. But assuming it is:

Ideally, his eating preferences would more closely match yours, especially as you are planning to live together. I eat a fairly healthy diet and love to try new things so I'd find it frustrating to have a partner with very different views (tho obvs we wouldn't have to have the same likes and dislikes). It makes shared meals more complicated and possibly could develop into a battleground.

What worries me far more though is that the things you do like about him seem superficial (looks and money) and speaking for myself I could not be in a relationship with someone who 'never let me pay', while you regard this as a positive. While not everything has to be split 50/50, my feeling is that your arrangement queers the pitch in what should be a relationship of equals, could be construed (though obviously not necessarily, and each to their own) as smacking of meal tickets, and an unhealthy power dynamic. But maybe it's just me.

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with preferring a man to pay for me and having traditional values. I want the man I marry to be able to provide for me and our future family- I don't want to be penny pinching when I'm on maternity leave or begging him for pennies.

So many of my dates have consisted of men expecting that I pay for my own dinner and glass of wine or worse, wanting to go for a walk like I'm some sort of border collie. I don't make loads in my job in the public sector and it is nice to have someone look after me and treat me from time to time. His family are very well off too. But he has been incredibly mollycoddled his entire life, has never really cooked a meal for himself and I had to show him how to use the washing machine. His mum does it for him usually (I didn't realise this until recently).

OP posts:
notanothernamesurely · 30/06/2026 22:25

I HATE the smell of flavoured crisps. Especially the ones you talk about. My son likes quavers and the smell 🤢

WhatcakeshalIbaketoday · 30/06/2026 22:34

Oh what a crisp snob I must be then. Pipers, pop chips and good old m&s sweet chilli. I’m still partial to hula hoops and discos though.

sharkstale · 30/06/2026 22:41

SkippitySkoppity · 29/06/2026 23:29

Am I your boyfriend? I too eschew fancy crisps for delicious plebeian crisps. I don't explode empty crips bags though, but may have to explore introducing that to my repertoire.

Edited

This ☝️

Spicyseniorita7 · 30/06/2026 22:44

notanothernamesurely · 30/06/2026 22:25

I HATE the smell of flavoured crisps. Especially the ones you talk about. My son likes quavers and the smell 🤢

YES, especially the other smell of people eating crisps, it makes my stomach churn...

OP posts:
fireandlightening · 30/06/2026 22:54

He sounds about 12, as someone else said. You'll be picking up after him for the rest of your life - get out.

And, I really don't get why women speak admiringly of men not allowing them to pick up the tab?!!! What kind of paternalistic nonsense do you buy into? And what is he going to expect in return for all his money? Control? For gods sake learn to pick up a tab and get rid of man-child.