<p>Okay, many of you will probably think this question is stupid or superficial or useless, but I am sure that there are also people out there who would be able to relate.</p>
<p>I totally don't like eating alone in the cafeteria. I'm a freshman in college and I'm getting used to the whole "Everyone has a different schedule and are sometimes hard to find during the day, so sometimes you'll just end up eating lunch or breakfast or dinner by yourself." </p>
<p>I guess I'm too proud or insecure or something, because I just hate the concept of having to sit by myself in the cafeteria to eat my food. It makes me feel like such a huge loner and people would think I have no friends or something. You know, during high school I always had my friends who had the same schedule and lunchtime. Now, my friends in college are at track practice or a science lab or are too busy studying etc. </p>
<p>Can anyone relate? I'm sure I'll get over it soon-- I see a lot of people who choose to eat alone and look totally fine with it (like they look really content to just eat or eat and read a book or something). But it's like sooo awkward and weird for me</p>
<p>If you think I'm being ridiculous or something, just don't reply. But can anyone relate?</p>
<p>I do it at lunch on some days because I have a class over the normal lunch time. I normally talk on my cell phone while I eat of bring a magazine. It works and I don't feel so dumb.</p>
<p>I don't like eating alone in a cafeteria. Usually I either bring my own lunch to campus or buy lunch at one of the fast food places on campus and then eat outside or in another building - just so I'm not eating alone IN the food place.</p>
<p>oh, i totally get it. last year, i was so paranoid that i wouldn't see anybody i knew, i started bringing a book to every single meal - so that if i had to sit alone, i could read and it would look like i wanted to be alone, instead of looking like i was a loser with no friends. </p>
<p>what i did was scan the room as soon as i entered to see if i could see anybody i even vaguely recognised, and if i did, i'd just go over to them with my tray and be all "hey, anybody sitting here?" it worked pretty good - it saved me from having to sit on my own to eat, and it was a good way to get to know people i'd never really spoken to before.</p>
<p>I feel the same. I know it isn't healthy, but I just wait until someone can go with me, even if it means only eating one real meal, and otherwise eat some of the trail mix or brownies or something we have in our dorm room.</p>
<p>yeah...i ate alone once at dinner because the friends i was initially eatting with left for a meeting. so i guess i was only alone for half the meal. i felt kinda weird since i didn't have a book, or my cell phone (oh bless the 'busy' illusion of the glorious cell phone). then, right as i was finishing up, another girl asked if she could sit down next to me. i said yes, but felt bad when i saw that there was basically no more food left on my plate. i started poking at the leftover lettuce in my salad, but then realized that she would be fine if i got up. she was nice and friendly, but i think she was more content with eatting alone than i was. afterall, she came in alone.</p>
<p>i usually avoid eatting alone by getting breakfast and lunch at the cafe's (they take meal points) around campus. then again, i do eat by myself on a bench or one of the patio tables, but it seems to be way more common. everyone is grabbing something real quick and scarfing it down between classes. </p>
<p>personally, i think i just need to get over it and realize that eatting alone does not equal having no friends. </p>
<p>I used to eat alone all the time last year and I still do this year except I don't go to the cafeteria anymore. Never really bothered me. It's not like people are analzying other people in there the whole time.</p>
<p>woah i thought i was the only person that felt this way. i dont think its unhealthy, it has forced me to talk to a lot of strangers and thus get to know a lot of different people. of course theres always the few who arent as friendly but i wont let them ruin my lunch. eventually you find a nice little group who all have free time when you do.</p>
<p>When I went to school this summer, I didn't know anyone for a week and a half or so, and I was forced to eat all of my meals alone, unless someone happened to sit at the same table. After the first day or two, I started bringing a book, like other people suggested. This makes you appear busy and less loser-ish than sitting alone without any diversion.</p>
<p>Well, I have a habit of eating alone sometimes cuz I feel like I have a busy schedule and I also eat late, so it's hard to eat with others. But I should change that. A couple people have recommended the book "Never Eat Alone"... it is supposed to stress about all the networking opportunities that you're missing out on every time you eat alone. </p>
<p>BUT if you have to eat alone once in a while, then it should be okay. I don't think people actually think you're a loser or whatever. This is college; I'm sure other people are either A) too consumed with their schedule or B) don't care. For the people who know you, then if they're a good friend, they will at least come by and say hi if not eat with you. If not, then... well... yeah. </p>
<p>I usually bring the campus newspaper with me to catch up on campus events when if I'm eating by myself during lunch.</p>
<p>Why eat alone? Just join up with some other people whether you know them or not. If your a freshman, as I am, the people around you have known each other for no more than 2 weeks at most and many people if not all are still very open to making new friends. You don't have to simply walk up another table and barge in. While in line for food, try to strike up a conversation with another student who is simply standing in line not talking to anyone. I know it is hard to approach a group or a pair in conversation but it is very easy to start talking to someone who is alone in line. Many times that person is sitting in a group and would most likely be happy to have you sit with them.<br>
Just in case, before lunch, call up all your friends and see who's free to eat. I'm sure after two weeks, you have a long list of cell contacts compiled so just call down the list and I'm sure somebody has to have a somewhat coordinating schedule. And don't let it frustrate you if you have to eat alone. No one and I mean no one is judging you. People aren't looking at you from far away and saying, "Look at that loser." As stated in past posts, people are simply too busy with their own schedules to notice and even if they are on leisure time, they simply will not care because it is of absolutely no importance. So just go out there, be social and don't let it get you down if you must eat alone.</p>
<p>after awhile, you can learn your friends' schedules and figure out who will be eating at the same time as you.</p>
<p>Honestly, well, 1. I don't eat breakfast, and 2. I usually just grab something quick for lunch. If I eat with people, it usually turns into an hour of conversation. There's nothing wrong with that, but I don't need that twice a day. Getting food quickly keeps me on schedule and not wasting time.</p>
<p>Yea i know how you feel. I sometimes feel like a loner too eating lunch alone. Reading a something or talking on the cell phone will keep you occupy. i go to community college and everyone there is busy. Not much of a social life so i do see a lot of people eating alone.</p>
<p>geez, that's sad. you can't enjoy your own company. i love spending quality time alone... i'm a loner by no mean though. sometimes you just have to be on your own... not a big deal. I feel sorry for those who constantly need people around them...like they can't make it in this world alone.</p>
<p>Who cares about what people think? This is a problem in colleges: students are becoming increasingly homogeneous in attitudes, conversation style, appearance, and behavior. Do what is comfortable to you, irrespective of what others think, but it goes without saying that you should do such insofar as you are not causing harm to anyone else.</p>
<p>College is about exploring the diverse attitudes and ideas of fellow students, not conforming to what they think is good. I just had an argument with knavish, where he so wisely taught me how to behave in an informal conversation. There is no law which states that I must be informal in an informal context. I am who I am, and if people do not like it, it is their loss.</p>
<p>I was uncomfortable with eating alone for about the first week, until I realized that for breakfast and lunch, it's amazingly common. No one will think you're a loser, but it will probably make you feel better if you bring a book...and you might even get some homework done in the process.</p>
<p>i know exactly what you mean, and i feel the same way. but the food in our cafeterias is only a small portion of the campus food, so i usually just pick up something at nearby cafes amd fast food places and eat really quickly for lunch, or microwave something in my room. i dont like eating alone AT ALL, but if i absolutely have to, i'll definitely make sure that i have a book or my cell phone on hand to occupy myself with</p>
<p>I totally understand. For the first week or so, I didn't eat a whole lot at college. I usually hung out in the lounge on my floor which is right next to the elevators, so when people would be going to dinner, I'd just tag along, but I would just eat breakfast and lunch from the stuff in my room: I had bought some snacks like peanuts, granola bars, etc. It's slowly changing though.</p>