Eating with people you do not know

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I have a hard time eating with people I do not know. It is so uncomfortable I do not want to eat. If I go into a resteraunt with friends I keep my eyes fixed to the plate and do not talk or look around. Anyone else get this?

I can't hear the people I'm with over the people in the restaurant, so I don't really talk there, even if it's with my parents.

Eating with others I find to be an odd practice, and the "family meals together" promotional commercials are comical.

Eating alone only makes sense. No one wants to see you eat.

I don't get that. I get the opposite, where I start eating and can't stop.

I am the same.

Nope.
Put food in mouth.
Chew, swallow.
Smile and nod if someone talks to me. Or frown and nod, depending on what their face is doing.
So many things are just a matter of making my body move in the right way at the right time.

Yeah I get it. I don't often have to go eat with strangers any more, but I remember that discomfort. And they always ask questions when you have a mouth full of food, it seems. I hate anyone looking at me while I eat. I once confided this to a boyfriend- big mistake. We were in the military dining hall. He shouted out to everyone, "hey! look at this chick eat!". Well, he thought it was funny.

No, I don't mind it at all. I'll just ignore what they're talking about if the conversation topic isn't of any interest to me, but if they have interest in me or are discussing something interesting, then that's great.

I always feel very anxious when I eat around people I don't know very well, because I'm terrified that I'll start chewing with my mouth open. It's something I did initially because of dental problems, but continued to do for many years out of habit. I'm scared I still eat like that and one day someone is going to say something mean about it. Aside from that, I'm also a rather messy eater and I eat in large quantities, so I'm worried that people who watch me eat will think I'm a glutton/pig.

I used to be like that. I've grown comfortable with certain groups of people now, though, and don't mind eating around them. I don't necessarily know the people individually in common interest groups I go to, but because we have a common interest, I feel comfortable eating around them.

i find it hard to chew with my mouth closed and to not make unpleasant masticating noises. i sound like a dinosaur when i'm munching. i can eat with other folks but it is not fun, as i am paying 100% attention to my public manners, leaving no spare brain cells to register enjoyment of the food.

Last edited by auntblabby on 28 May 2010, 11:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I eat a lot, when I get nervous, or excited.

To me, the sign the food is really good is when it's all you focus on (or maybe the sign you are a glutton!) and your surroundings disappear. Which is why I don't have a problem with eating alone (although I enjoy having company too).

I get lost in food, especially supper. It's one of the few real pleasures in life, and nothing comes between me and my enjoyment of it if I can help it.

I grew up in a fairly large family, that's probably why it doesn't bother me. I have moderate to severe TMJD and have to keep my mouth slightly open when I chew, but no one's ever complained and or see anything (I've checked in the mirror). I don't mind chewing noises, or at least, no one that I've eaten with has been loud enough to get to me. Again, maybe I just don't notice anything...did I mention I get lost in food? I don't shovel it in, rather, It takes me forever to eat because I savor it. So overall, I'm pretty quiet, although I have to watch myself with the utensils in front of anyone but my hubby, as I might do something absent minded like pick up my asparagus with my fingers.

If I'm eating with people I don't know well, which doesn't happen very often, I would have to say I do enjoy it less, but I can zone out at times like these as well.