eats like a bird
Picks at food
To eat like a bird is to eat very little, picking at food rather than consuming full meals: She eats like a bird—just a few bites and she's done.
The phrase refers to the small portions birds appear to consume, though birds actually eat frequently relative to their body size.
Small-bite eater or metal cutter
- grazerHerbivore eating low vegetation
- snackerOne who nibbles
- peckishMildly hungry
- morselSmall piece of food
tidbit · bite-sized · crumbs · nibble · graze · snack · meager · scant
Sparing with resources
- temperateMild, avoiding extremes
- moderateLessen intensity or preside
- restrainedHeld under control
- abstemiousPracticing restraint with indulgences
ascetic · disciplined · portion-control · health-conscious · calorie-conscious · measured · controlled · sparing
Excessively selective or particular
- fussyExcessively particular
- choosyOverly particular about preferences
- finickyExcessively particular, hard to satisfy
- particularSpecific or fussy
selective · discerning · fastidious · persnickety · pernickety · squeamish · discriminating · exacting
nibbler
Small-bite eater or metal cutter
morsel · tidbit · bite-sized · crumbs · nibble · graze · snack · meager · scant · minimal
frugal
Sparing with resources
- temperateMild, avoiding extremes
- moderateLessen intensity or preside
- restrainedHeld under control
abstemious · ascetic · disciplined · portion-control · health-conscious · calorie-conscious · measured · controlled · sparing · conservative
picky
Excessively selective or particular
- fussyExcessively particular
- choosyOverly particular about preferences
- finickyExcessively particular, hard to satisfy
particular · selective · discerning · fastidious · persnickety · pernickety · squeamish · discriminating · exacting · demanding
- Animal Idiomsblind as a bat, brave as a lion, busy bee, copycat, dark horse