Last year's 'no food in this house' solution

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Awesome! We've done poptarts, granola bars and snack mix and kept it in our room for DH and the kids. Milk is the hardest because my kids just about go through a 1/2 gallon a day. Inlaws don't have room in their fridge and will buy 1/2 gallon for the week.

Buy a case or two of Horizon single-serve containers. Yes, it is more expensive this way, but it's only for the visit to the inlaws and worth the expense to make sure your kids have milk and you don't have to wage WWIII with your in-laws about it.

https://horizon.com/about-us/faq/

Horizon FAQ wrote:DOES HORIZON ORGANIC SINGLE SERVE MILK NEED REFRIGERATION?
Single serve milk is packaged in individual aseptic containers and will keep at room temperature, unopened, until the date code. This extended shelf life is possible due to ultra-high temperature (UHT) pasteurization. UHT pasteurization and special aseptic packaging keep single serve products fresh and safe without refrigeration. Once opened, the product must be refrigerated and can be expected to remain fresh up to seven days.

My in-laws buy one of those tiny single-serve gas station bottles and expect that it will last my toddler all weekend. I usually bring my own single-serve milks (like these).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this so much. My in-laws are pretty nice and never announce the kitchen is closed, but they never have enough food at meals. There's often no carb and very limited quantities. One year we were allotted 4 stems of asparagus, a small portion of fish, and an artichoke each. I was breastfeeding twins and literally ate almost an entire turkey alone the week before when visiting my family...

Even if that’s how they normally eat, are they unfamiliar with the concept of being hospitable to guests? Have they never been guests in anyone else’s home? Never watched a single Food Network show where food is prepared for entertaining? I was raised so differently that I cannot understand this. I leave snacks in my guest room when my parents visit, just in case they’re hungry sometime late at night and don’t want to bother me. What kind of monster doesn’t check in with a breastfeeding mother (to twins no less!) to make sure she has everything she needs? I’m experiencing second hand distress over this.

+1

This is not as uncommon as you’d think. I was breastfeeding and my parents served one ready-to-serve can of soup for lunch, split between 4 people! WTF? They also seemed annoyed when I sent DH to Panera for sandwiches because there was “plenty of food.”

+2 Old people lose their appetite and don't understand how much younger people need to eat. My grandparents ate very little in their 80s. My parents do this a bit too. They never did it when we were younger, and they don't do it for big dinners/official hosting, but if we're just ordering take out together or something, we do NOT leave the ordering to them. They significantly underestimate how much my DH and adult bro need to eat. My WASP FIL does not have that problem. He has a healthy appetite. Maybe it just depends on their own appetite and they assume that whatever is filling to them will be filling to others too. My FIL is always giving us huge portions. To the point that we will request a "FIL size piece" of cake, etc. if we want a big piece.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this so much. My in-laws are pretty nice and never announce the kitchen is closed, but they never have enough food at meals. There's often no carb and very limited quantities. One year we were allotted 4 stems of asparagus, a small portion of fish, and an artichoke each. I was breastfeeding twins and literally ate almost an entire turkey alone the week before when visiting my family...

Even if that’s how they normally eat, are they unfamiliar with the concept of being hospitable to guests? Have they never been guests in anyone else’s home? Never watched a single Food Network show where food is prepared for entertaining? I was raised so differently that I cannot understand this. I leave snacks in my guest room when my parents visit, just in case they’re hungry sometime late at night and don’t want to bother me. What kind of monster doesn’t check in with a breastfeeding mother (to twins no less!) to make sure she has everything she needs? I’m experiencing second hand distress over this.

+1

This is not as uncommon as you’d think. I was breastfeeding and my parents served one ready-to-serve can of soup for lunch, split between 4 people! WTF? They also seemed annoyed when I sent DH to Panera for sandwiches because there was “plenty of food.”

+2 Old people lose their appetite and don't understand how much younger people need to eat. My grandparents ate very little in their 80s. My parents do this a bit too. They never did it when we were younger, and they don't do it for big dinners/official hosting, but if we're just ordering take out together or something, we do NOT leave the ordering to them. They significantly underestimate how much my DH and adult bro need to eat. My WASP FIL does not have that problem. He has a healthy appetite. Maybe it just depends on their own appetite and they assume that whatever is filling to them will be filling to others too. My FIL is always giving us huge portions. To the point that we will request a "FIL size piece" of cake, etc. if we want a big piece.

My ILs are like this too, and my father is getting there, though he was generally a "put food on the table until it groaned" kind of guy. I do think WTF when my MIL serves one piece of filet mignon for 4 people, but you know, I may get there too when I'm old. Just like how my kids are older now and I don't remember how exhausting taking care of little kids is.

As for lack of food in the house and not serving enough food at gatherings, my MIL gets so anxious about having leftovers that she and FIL "can't possibly finish" that they significantly underserve the crowd. I don't know why that bothers her so much, but it does. Maybe something to do with Depression-era mentality of not wasting food? Anyway, she gets really anxious about people bringing more food than she planned, even if we assure her that we will eat it.

Well, thank goodness they're local so we've never been trapped there for days with nothing to eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this so much. My in-laws are pretty nice and never announce the kitchen is closed, but they never have enough food at meals. There's often no carb and very limited quantities. One year we were allotted 4 stems of asparagus, a small portion of fish, and an artichoke each. I was breastfeeding twins and literally ate almost an entire turkey alone the week before when visiting my family...

Even if that’s how they normally eat, are they unfamiliar with the concept of being hospitable to guests? Have they never been guests in anyone else’s home? Never watched a single Food Network show where food is prepared for entertaining? I was raised so differently that I cannot understand this. I leave snacks in my guest room when my parents visit, just in case they’re hungry sometime late at night and don’t want to bother me. What kind of monster doesn’t check in with a breastfeeding mother (to twins no less!) to make sure she has everything she needs? I’m experiencing second hand distress over this.

+1

This is not as uncommon as you’d think. I was breastfeeding and my parents served one ready-to-serve can of soup for lunch, split between 4 people! WTF? They also seemed annoyed when I sent DH to Panera for sandwiches because there was “plenty of food.”

+2 Old people lose their appetite and don't understand how much younger people need to eat. My grandparents ate very little in their 80s. My parents do this a bit too. They never did it when we were younger, and they don't do it for big dinners/official hosting, but if we're just ordering take out together or something, we do NOT leave the ordering to them. They significantly underestimate how much my DH and adult bro need to eat. My WASP FIL does not have that problem. He has a healthy appetite. Maybe it just depends on their own appetite and they assume that whatever is filling to them will be filling to others too. My FIL is always giving us huge portions. To the point that we will request a "FIL size piece" of cake, etc. if we want a big piece.

My ILs are like this too, and my father is getting there, though he was generally a "put food on the table until it groaned" kind of guy. I do think WTF when my MIL serves one piece of filet mignon for 4 people, but you know, I may get there too when I'm old. Just like how my kids are older now and I don't remember how exhausting taking care of little kids is.

As for lack of food in the house and not serving enough food at gatherings, my MIL gets so anxious about having leftovers that she and FIL "can't possibly finish" that they significantly underserve the crowd. I don't know why that bothers her so much, but it does. Maybe something to do with Depression-era mentality of not wasting food? Anyway, she gets really anxious about people bringing more food than she planned, even if we assure her that we will eat it.

Well, thank goodness they're local so we've never been trapped there for days with nothing to eat.

Sounds more like she has an eating disorder and doesn’t want extra food in the house to tempt her.

[Anonymous]

What a great solution! I am stealing this.

[Anonymous]

Stop being passive-aggressive. Just say, We are hungry. Either we eat here or we',re going to a restaurant." And, then, GO!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop being passive-aggressive. Just say, We are hungry. Either we eat here or we',re going to a restaurant." And, then, GO!

Wouldn’t that be a great solution if I hadn’t already found one that works for me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this so much. My in-laws are pretty nice and never announce the kitchen is closed, but they never have enough food at meals. There's often no carb and very limited quantities. One year we were allotted 4 stems of asparagus, a small portion of fish, and an artichoke each. I was breastfeeding twins and literally ate almost an entire turkey alone the week before when visiting my family...

Even if that’s how they normally eat, are they unfamiliar with the concept of being hospitable to guests? Have they never been guests in anyone else’s home? Never watched a single Food Network show where food is prepared for entertaining? I was raised so differently that I cannot understand this. I leave snacks in my guest room when my parents visit, just in case they’re hungry sometime late at night and don’t want to bother me. What kind of monster doesn’t check in with a breastfeeding mother (to twins no less!) to make sure she has everything she needs? I’m experiencing second hand distress over this.

Just stay tuned, there's a thread every year of in laws or relatives who pull this crap if feeding their guests next to nothing and shaming their guests for having a normal appetite

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this so much. My in-laws are pretty nice and never announce the kitchen is closed, but they never have enough food at meals. There's often no carb and very limited quantities. One year we were allotted 4 stems of asparagus, a small portion of fish, and an artichoke each. I was breastfeeding twins and literally ate almost an entire turkey alone the week before when visiting my family...

Even if that’s how they normally eat, are they unfamiliar with the concept of being hospitable to guests? Have they never been guests in anyone else’s home? Never watched a single Food Network show where food is prepared for entertaining? I was raised so differently that I cannot understand this. I leave snacks in my guest room when my parents visit, just in case they’re hungry sometime late at night and don’t want to bother me. What kind of monster doesn’t check in with a breastfeeding mother (to twins no less!) to make sure she has everything she needs? I’m experiencing second hand distress over this.

Just stay tuned, there's a thread every year of in laws or relatives who pull this crap if feeding their guests next to nothing and shaming their guests for having a normal appetite

It's true! It's very sad, as it is every year, and lots of people chime in saying, "Same!"

[Anonymous]

Or just stop stuffing your face constantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or just stop stuffing your face constantly.

My ILs serve a light breakfast when they wake up (usually around 7), and it never includes protein. They are the toast and tea types. They then claim we'll be having a big, early dinner, and that we don't need lunch.

Those of us with healthy metabolisms (it's called exercise) need to eat--and specifically need to eat protein--a decent amount of food. My CHILDREN need to eat more than a pice of toast at 7 and dinner at 7. Sorry, not sorry.

You do you. I feed myself and my kids normal amounts of food. We don't do the "stuff then starve" thing. Some of you can gorge yourself on three plates of Thanksgiving food and call it a day. Those of us who physically cannot gorge like that need to eat more modest meals more frequently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are awesome OP!

"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” --Albert Einstein (a personal motto)

+1

You get it. Bravo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this so much. My in-laws are pretty nice and never announce the kitchen is closed, but they never have enough food at meals. There's often no carb and very limited quantities. One year we were allotted 4 stems of asparagus, a small portion of fish, and an artichoke each. I was breastfeeding twins and literally ate almost an entire turkey alone the week before when visiting my family...

Even if that’s how they normally eat, are they unfamiliar with the concept of being hospitable to guests? Have they never been guests in anyone else’s home? Never watched a single Food Network show where food is prepared for entertaining? I was raised so differently that I cannot understand this. I leave snacks in my guest room when my parents visit, just in case they’re hungry sometime late at night and don’t want to bother me. What kind of monster doesn’t check in with a breastfeeding mother (to twins no less!) to make sure she has everything she needs? I’m experiencing second hand distress over this.

Just stay tuned, there's a thread every year of in laws or relatives who pull this crap if feeding their guests next to nothing and shaming their guests for having a normal appetite

It's true! It's very sad, as it is every year, and lots of people chime in saying, "Same!"

+1

OMG. There are more of us than not! Thankfully. Why do some people eat like birds (which is fin for you, but not everyone does)? Is it an old people thing?

[Anonymous]

It is an old people thing, metabolisms slow down.

It's also a disordered eating thing, which my mom also had. And, a perfect house syndrome thing, always worried about "messes" which my mom also had.

Holidays were "fun" <sarcasm>.

She would state at the beginning of the holiday, she would try to starve some of that extra weight off us, especially if we didn't have other transportation. Of course, we stopped that soon after. She would also try to starve any even slightly overweight friends who would come for sleep overs when I was a child, but that's a story for another time.

[Anonymous]

It can be a metabolism thing but I think in some families it becomes a control thing because they get do offended if someone wants snacks or a normal portion of food