Small appetite in restaurants

I rarely eat out because I find portions so enormous, I certainly can’t manage more than one course and I would probably just have a starter.

I don't mind about how many courses someone I'm meeting for lunch has. I did have a friend who would order 3 courses & only nibble at each. I hate wasting food & the time she ordered a lovely chocolate dessert & didn't even taste it because she didn't like the look of it was torture! I so badly wanted to say "if you don't want it, can I have it?" but that would have been totally non-U but it distracted me terribly until the waiter took it away.

Restaurants! What’s wrong with predictive text today!

Or even a dessert!

A lot of restrictions are happy for diners to have one or two starters as a main, then perhaps you could have a light desert.

I have a few friends who I have given up on eating out with because they don't eat. Over the years I have learned that some people prefer not to eat much and I find it frustrating, especially when they buy me a drink before I've even looked at the menu.

I cannot drink on an empty stomach but some of my friends don't seem to understand and I have to buy snacks like crisps and nuts because they don't want to order any food and look at me as if I'm greedy for wanting to eat even a small amount.

Now I have learned to eat before I meet, as I do want to see my friends but not go home feeling ill.

I really don't understand why people ask you out for lunch and then don't want to order any food. Maybe it seems it might just be me?

I also think it is also because people resent spending money on food too.

So, from the opposite side of the fence, being a big fat glutton of a human I would rather just go for a drink rather than pretend people want to be seen to be eating when they don't really.

I also find meals too large.. My friend and I usually split a main and a dessert between us. As it's usually at art galleries people don't seem to mind..

I am going to be rather blunt here and say.......your friend sounds a bit of a glutton and they know they eat far too much but give you the guilt trip to make themselves feel better!

It is your choice how little you wish to eat, simply don't let them spoil your meal.

I can hardly eat a main meal and rarely go out for food these days.
Have you thought about catching up over coffee and cake?

They probably feel they overeat when you manage with just one course. And maybe they feel uncomfortable eating when you haven’t got anything in front of you.

Assuming cost isn’t an issue, i.e. splitting the bill when you don’t have much, to me it’s quite reasonable for you to only order what you are happy to eat.

Very wasteful to leave half a plate, and also to be paying for uneaten food.

Politely but firmly stick to your guns.