AITA for getting McDonald’s drive through while my boyfriend was fasting for surgery?

Picture this: a car humming toward the hospital, the clock ticking toward a boyfriend’s wisdom teeth surgery, and the faint growl of a hungry stomach cutting through the silence. A woman, realizing she’s starving and facing a long wait at the hospital, pulls into a McDonald’s drive-through for a quick Egg McMuffin. Her boyfriend, fasting since dawn, gives the green light but soon sours, irked by the tantalizing aroma wafting through the car.

What started as a practical pitstop turns into a snarky spat, with the boyfriend calling her inconsiderate for eating in his presence. Now, she’s left wondering if her hunger pang was a relationship misstep. Reddit’s got opinions hotter than a fresh McMuffin, turning this moment of fast-food friction into a relatable tale of empathy, communication, and hangry vibes that’ll have you picking sides.

‘AITA for getting McDonald’s drive through while my boyfriend was fasting for surgery?’

My boyfriend was scheduled to have his wisdom teeth removed at 12pm, and he had to fast from 6am that morning. He got up at 5.30am to have breakfast, whereas I slept in until 10am, got up to have a coffee and a shower, and we were in the car at 11.30am to head to the hospital.

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As we headed off, I realised that not only was I hungry, but I was probably going to have to wait around with him before he went in for his surgery so I wouldn’t have any time to get food once we arrived (ended up waiting 3 hours with him). So as we went past a maccas, I told him I was hungry and could I quickly grab an egg McMuffin in the drive through, and he said yes.

As we drove off and I started to eat it, he wound down the windows a bit without saying anything but I didn’t take much notice. I then asked him a random question and he gave me a snarky response. I asked him what was wrong and he said it was inconsiderate of me to have complained about being hungry and then gotten food when he obviously would have been hungry and not allowed to eat, especially because it smelled so strong in the car.

I asked him why he said yes to us going through the drive through and he said he’s not going to tell me I can’t eat. I asked him if he expected me to fast with him and he said no but I could have made the effort to get up earlier and eat while he was in the shower or another room so it wasn’t tempting for him. I do understand where he is coming from, however not enough for me to believe I am in the wrong. AITA?

This McDonald’s misadventure is a classic case of hunger-fueled tension. The OP’s decision to grab a quick bite was practical—she was hungry, facing a long hospital wait. Her boyfriend’s agreement to the drive-through seemed like consent, but his irritation reveals a gap in empathy. Fasting, even for six hours, can make anyone cranky, and the smell of fast food didn’t help.

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This spat reflects a broader issue: miscommunication in relationships under stress. A 2023 study in Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that 67% of couples experience conflicts due to unspoken expectations during stressful events, like medical procedures. The boyfriend’s passive-aggressive response suggests he expected more consideration, despite not voicing it.

Dr. John Gottman, a relationship expert, notes, “Clear communication prevents small misunderstandings from escalating” . The OP’s boyfriend should have expressed his discomfort upfront, and she could have eaten discreetly or planned ahead. Both share the blame for assuming the other’s feelings.

For similar situations, experts suggest checking in with a partner’s emotional state during stressful times, like fasting. The OP could apologize for the oversight and discuss future considerations, like eating out of sight. Couples should prioritize open dialogue to avoid these hangry hiccups, ensuring small moments don’t turn into big fights.

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Here’s what Redditors had to say:

Reddit pulled up with a drive-through’s worth of opinions, dishing out support and a side of shade. From calling the boyfriend a baby to urging more empathy, here’s the crowd’s unfiltered order:

bfaw92 − NTA. He had to fast for 6 hours. Some of us just call that the time between meals.

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Sezeriously − NTA. Sounds like he was expecting you to fast with him, which is ridiculous.

[Reddit User] − NTA. You asked if it was ok and he said yes. He's just being a baby and wanted you to not do it even though he said yes.

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zck-watson − NTA. All y'all calling her TA are babies if you can't go 6 hours without stuffing your faces

mehhh_onthis − NTA you asked if he minded and he said to go for it. He needs to clearly communicate what he wants and not expect you to read his mind.

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Gavinmac − NTA. He's only 'fasting' for six hours.

Bienenmaul − NAH. Humans get weird when they're hungry. He was probably hungry, or just wanted some fastfood too but was angry he couldn't. I don't think he was really mad at you

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cardiodemon − NTA — this is absurd. You said he ALREADY had breakfast at 5:30 in the morning. . . does he seriously expect you to also have to eat/fast at his weird schedule? If someone goes on a diet and can’t eat junk food anymore, would it be reasonable for that person to throw a fit whenever anyone else ate junk food in their presence? No.

That kind of behavior would be childish and self-absorbed. You ate food at a normal time, when you were hungry. That’s all you did. The world does not revolve around your BF, and your own eating schedule certainly shouldn’t either.

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Man_of_Average − NAH - I don't think this is that big of a deal either way. He's probably just hangry and not actually mad. But it also wouldn't have been too hard for you to plan around not eating when he can't, because he's your boyfriend and couples do little things for each other like not eat for a couple more hours.

DinahDrakeLance − YTA, but only kind of. Fasting is not a fun experience and seeing/smelling food only makes how hungry you are worse. Even though you asked him, he probably felt obligated to say yes or feel like a jerk.

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Speaking from personal experience, anytime I have to fast for a test or procedure I try to do it as early as possible so I'm not miserable the whole day. The last time I had a colonoscopy a bunch of people brought breakfast into the procedure waiting area. I honestly thought it was rude as hell considering that ever patient in that room hadn't eaten in 24 hours and was about to have a camera uncomfortably shoved up their ass.

These Redditors served up a mix of cheers and critiques, debating hunger versus sensitivity. But do their takes fry the real issue, or are they just adding sauce to the drama? This fast-food feud’s got everyone hungry for answers.

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This story’s a tasty reminder that even a quick bite can stir up trouble when emotions are raw. The OP’s drive-through dash wasn’t malicious, but her boyfriend’s hangry reaction shows how fasting can flip a mood. It’s a small moment that sparks a big question about balancing personal needs with a partner’s comfort. Have you ever clashed with a loved one over a thoughtless moment? What would you do in this McDonald’s mix-up? Share your thoughts below!

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