OK, Have a Question

[sigmagrrl]

An observation...and question...


OK, so you're out to dinner with your usual group of friends. There is a friend in the group that is a "slow eater". Thus, always finishes last.

This is constant. And I'm not talking a 5 minutes difference, I mean a full 20-30 minutes slower....

I am not saying shovel your food down your throat. I'm not saying we haven't all been talking and eating at leisure.

This person proceeds to get mad when the group decides to order dessert. They believe you should wait for them to finish and then order

Now, I have been the slow eater and the first one to finish, but I would love the opinion of others out there...

How do you feel about the perpetual slow eater??

I see both sides...and would love to hear from others...

[ADqtPiMel]

I am this person. I'm a very, very slow eater. I get sick to my stomach if I eat too quickly. I also think that I would not be offended if the rest of the group wouldn't wait for me to order dessert.

Edited because I'm a dork and I forgot the "NOT."

[kddani]

If you know you have to eat at a slower rate, why would you punish other people because of your own problem? I'm of the school that if you have some sort of problem, you should be low key about it and not draw attention to it, nor let it affect other people.

[33girl]

Is she trying to lose weight? A lot of people recommend that if you eat slower you eat less (which is true). In that case I can understand why she'd be freaking about dessert.

[adpialumcsuc]

I am usually a slow eater also not for any reason but I just do. However, if I am out to dinner I either stop when everyone else is done and take the rest with me or I tell them to go ahead and order dessert with out me. I also tend to order items that are smaller in size so I have less amount to eat. I don't punish my family and friends for my habit of eating slow.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

I am usually a slow eater. I sometimes bring half of my meal home in a doggie bag so I can order dessert with the rest of the group.

[aephi alum]

I have been the slow eater (I'm talking about finishing 5-10 minutes later than everyone else) and I've been the first to finish.

I don't think the slow eater should complain if the rest of the group orders dessert while s/he is still finishing up dinner. S/he can either have what's left of dinner wrapped up and order dessert with the group, or just finish eating dinner (and possibly order a dessert to take home). But s/he shouldn't make everyone else wait for dessert and coffee.

[Dionysus]

I eat pretty slow. I get bloated and crampy if I eat too fast. I don't make everyone else wait though. I would only get offended if they rush me or leave the restaurant before I finish eating.

[BetteDavisEyes]

Hmmm...this seriously made me think b/c my future mother in law is a slow eater. I try to be courteous b/c I'm usually among the first to finish so I wait until she's done before either ordering dessert or cleaning up the table & doing dishes. My fiancee, his dad, & brother see no problem in starting to clean up while she's still eating. I have commented to him that it's rude to do this while she's still eating b/c they are effectively rushing her to finish or she'll end up doing her own dishes. Interesting topic.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that none of the men seem to think it rude to clean up before she's finished. They claim that she's never brought it up before so it can't possibly bother her.

[_Opi_]

I'ma slow eater too. But that's only cuz I can't eat and talk at the same time.....

[OtterXO]

I think your slow eating friend needs to either hurry it up, or expect that people will get antsy when they're with her. I used to have a friend like that and he knew that he would have to take half his meal home every time because no one wanted to wait for his slow-eating ass...