# Slightly unusual eating habits you (or someone you know) has **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 17, 2026, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370 "2026-08-17T01:07:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/81 "2026-08-17T22:14:51Z")
I am getting increasingly intolerant of getting juices on my face and of taking big bites of food as I get older. So I like to cut up fruit into bite-sized chunks before eating it, I will cut large hamburgers in two, I will snap a cob of corn into two shorter segments, etc. I’m not insistent on it, it’s just my preference. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/82 "2026-08-17T22:33:13Z")
Okay, here’s mine - this is a safe space, right? Right? Anyway, I picked this up from my dad - scraping the pan. You know, after you have cooked whatever meat and it has been removed for serving, and what’s left behind in the pan, the drippings - well, that’s where all the flavor is - grab a spoon! Cheeseburgers cooked on the stovetop in a cast-iron pan - crispy burger bits with burned cheese and all that burger fat - yum! A whole chicken cooked in a large pot atop some rice, and the rice around the edges is overcooked and crispy, and full of chicken fat - awesomely satisfying! Meatballs cooked in the oven on a baking sheet, bits of flavored meat left behind and floating in meatball fat - woo-hoo! I am usually a healthy eater and consume a mostly plant-forward diet, but when the pan is sitting there cooling down before being washed, I cannot help myself - if I don’t leave the room I will descent on that f-ing pan! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/83 "2026-08-17T22:39:03Z")
I didn’t think that’s especially odd. Most pan sauces get their flavor from the “fond”, the cooked bits stuck to the pan. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/84 "2026-08-18T02:41:33Z")
I prefer cookie dough (made with Egg Beaters to avoid salmonella, though I take my chances with the flour) to baked cookies. I like what I call “M&M Water.” I put some M&Ms in a small glass or paper cup, then pour in ice-cold water a couple inches higher than the top of them and let the candy coating melt off into the water. Then I eat the whole thing kind of like soup. I’ve done it ever since I was a little kid, and I still enjoy it! (I think my childish logic was that I liked to suck the coating off the M&Ms, so this saved a step. 🙂 ) Never met anybody else who does it, so I guess that makes me a weirdo. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/85 "2026-08-18T03:07:21Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > For example: one of my brothers never let different meal items touch on his plate. I mean, stew? He’d eat that happily. But if the meal included steak and roast potatoes and peas? Had to have moats keeping each from accidentally touching the others. Why? Ghod knows. OMG, we must be related. My brother was the _exact same way._ He would get grossed out of existence if I mixed my corn with my mashed potatoes and ate them that way. I once had the idea of getting him Army mess trays for Christmas, with the little compartments to keep his mashed potatoes from his green beans. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/86 "2026-08-18T03:26:10Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I eat every item on my plate individually. I’ve found that living up here in Baja Frostbite Falls, you have to eat quickly before your food gets cold. So, the waitress plops down a big plate of Breakfast, you’ve got to do some triage: Are cold biscuits as bad as cold eggs? I’ve gotta eat those eggs first. I can deal with room temperature bacon, warm toast, very warm sausage, but my eggs have got to be hot. And then I realize I’m eating one food at a time. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/87 "2026-08-18T03:56:58Z")
This may be somewhat common - I get obsessed over a food, and eat it at least a couple of times a week for a few months, and then one day just lose my taste for it. I still may kind of like it, but not enough to bother buying or making it. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/88 "2026-08-18T04:09:37Z")
Man, all you people are weird! How is it that I’m the only normal person in the world? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/89 "2026-08-18T04:13:13Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > This may be somewhat common - I get obsessed over a food, and eat it at least a couple of times a week for a few months, and then one day just lose my taste for it. Somewhat similar. For a week i ate a chicken pot pie for lunch, then a ceasar salad for dinner. But I can go back to that, after a break. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/90 "2026-08-18T04:44:11Z")
I don’t care if I eat the same thing over and over. Got a small ham one weekend, I had ham for the next 6 meals. Cooked a lasagna, had 1/3rd, told Inna that I can have the other 2/3rds over the next two nights. I also drink an extraordinary amount of milk, about 1 gallon every 2 days. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/91 "2026-08-18T04:56:10Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > OMG, we must be related. My brother was the _exact same way._ He would get grossed out of existence if I mixed my corn with my mashed potatoes and ate them that way. I once had the idea of getting him Army mess trays for Christmas, with the little compartments to keep his mashed potatoes from his green beans. I’m very much reminded of the cousin in “[Toys](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105629)” who was second-generation (at least) career military, who goes on a rant in the toy factory cafeteria (copied from the IMDB entry for the movie) - - Patrick Zevo: I can’t even eat. The food keeps touching. I like military plates, I’m a military man, I want a military meal. I want my string beans to be quarantined! I like a little fortress around my mashed potatoes so the meatloaf doesn’t invade my mashed potatoes and cause mixing in my plate! I HATE IT when food touches! I’m a military man, you understand that? And don’t let your food touch either, please? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/92 "2026-08-18T05:26:39Z")
I worked with a fellow who ate the exact same meals every week after week after week. I found this out when he complained one day that his grocery bill had gone up a surprising amount the previous week. I asked how he could tell. He said it was because he bought the exact same items of food every single week, so his grocery bill was virtually to the penny. The 7 apples he bought could vary the total cost by a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/93 "2026-08-18T05:31:51Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Nobody has ever said anything to me about it, but I tend to use a spoon to eat much more than a fork. > > Mashed and baked potatoes, vegetables, even a straight hamburger without a bun. I just prefer to use a spoon. Heretic! Forks only, unless a spoon is absolutely necessary (runny soups, ice cream, etc). ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/94 "2026-08-18T05:41:51Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > For those of you that like to eat foods separately, do you like sandwiches with lots of toppings? Like, I love a south Jersey or Philly style hoagie-- ham, salami, lettuce tomato, onion, mayo, mustard, hot peppers, etc. > > Do sandwiches like this turn you off? Also, would you have a thanksgiving style hoagie? That’s turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce on a roll. WAY better than the plated kind for me! 🙂 Nope, by my logic, the sandwich is the food, to be eaten all at once, no different than a pizza. The whole is more than the sun of the parts, in other words. I also make thanksgiving casserole with the leftovers from the meal, which is Right and Proper. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/95 "2026-08-18T06:15:48Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > Clearly I’m not as “weird” as I thought, since mine have already been mentioned; foods not touching (though I have relaxed on this now in my forties…) and eating one thing at a time (I still do this, and can’t imagine why I would do it another way). The only other thing isn’t likely weird, just rarer than normal; I like “burnt” things. Like, growing up, when my grandmother made cookies, she would burn one batch for me… I prefer my cookies to be slightly burnt. Chocolate chip cookies should be brown, not golden brown. Gingerbread should be burnt as well. Any candy like Skittles or M & Ms are arranged into linear symmetrical patterns. The extras get eaten first. I eat cereal dry. i’ll drink milk from a glass as I eat but milk never goes in the bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/96 "2026-08-18T06:52:04Z")
I eat my porridge, soup, and any soft desserts (e.g. icecream, custard etc) with a teaspoon. I prefer that serving size. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/97 "2026-08-18T12:04:58Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > > [@pkbites](#): > > > > Nobody has ever said anything to me about it, but I tend to use a spoon to eat much more than a fork. > > > > Mashed and baked potatoes, vegetables, even a straight hamburger without a bun. I just prefer to use a spoon. > > Heretic! > > Forks only, unless a spoon is absolutely necessary (runny soups, ice cream, etc). If the ice cream is cold enough, you can eat it with a fork. Sometimes i do. I rather like the precise feel of using a fork. I eat my soup and my milky cereal with a spoon, though. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/98 "2026-08-18T12:27:28Z")
Me: “Honey, do I have any unusual eating habits?” SO: “Well, you do eat all the carrots out of pot pie first because you don’t like them.” True. I like raw carrots just fine, but I dig around for minutes to get all the cooked carrots out of any pot pie before I actually start in on the good stuff. This includes any shepherd’s pie or stew that has carrots. SO: “Then why do you always put carrots in your pies and stews?” Me: “They add color.” ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/99 "2026-08-18T12:45:37Z")
I’m thinking the whole eating quirks thing must be another reason military boot camp is hard on new recruits. I mean they clearly cater to the “Don’t Let Stuff Touch” cohort, but I bet for all the rest the recruit gets “Eat what we give you or starve.” ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370/100 "2026-08-18T12:56:39Z")
Mine is more of a dishes and utensils thing. I will set a used (but not dirty) cup or plate or whatever on the counter next to the sink, thinking I can reuse it later. But if it winds up in the sink, then nope - now it’s dirty and I need to get a clean one out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slightly-unusual-eating-habits-you-or-someone-you-know-has/1032370.md?page=6)