In laws are picky eaters but act like they are not

[Anonymous]

Anyone with in laws who are picky eaters but act like they are not? My MIL will say "I'm easy" and the she only will eat certain meals/flavors (American food) and anything I cook that isn't a roast/basic meat with a vegetable side, she goes on and on and on "oh that is so different" and I can see she is weirded out by it. Doesn't like food to touch on her plate.

We tried to get takeout last night. My FIL spent a half hour reviewing menus of various places my DH showed him. He turned down a chinese restaurant because he only orders boneless ribs and theirs had bone in (then agreed to order them after looking at other restaurant menus and being unable to find anything he would eat).

[Anonymous]

My DH is like that.

[Anonymous]

I think by easy they mean they eat (what they consider, and per their culture) just " regular food." Just as I'd assume an Indian MIL who says she's easy means she eats the standard Indian dishes.

[Anonymous]

So? Is this your first time meeting them or something?

[Anonymous]

Father in law is like that. I get so nervous about food before he visits.

[Anonymous]

Omg leave them alone!

[Anonymous]

It is “easy” to host people who like “normal” American things so I’m sure that’s what they mean. It’s easy to find TGIFridays, Applebee’s, a diner, a burger joint…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is “easy” to host people who like “normal” American things so I’m sure that’s what they mean. It’s easy to find TGIFridays, Applebee’s, a diner, a burger joint…

But OP wants to show off her superior culinary preferences, and they’re not cooperating!

[Anonymous]

My in-laws are like that and my mom is as well. My mom won’t eat any ethnicity food aside from Chinese.
My in-laws like Italian food and standard American fare, only eat one vegetable ( broccoli) and are very heavy on red meat.
I’ve invited them for dinner many times and they always have an excuse unless it’s take out from one of their regular restaurants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is “easy” to host people who like “normal” American things so I’m sure that’s what they mean. It’s easy to find TGIFridays, Applebee’s, a diner, a burger joint…

But OP wants to show off her superior culinary preferences, and they’re not cooperating!

No, just hungry while waiting to pick a restaurant for takeout out of offering a million options of foods, none of which were ethnic (all American) other than the Chinese option. DH was dropping our son off at a friend's house and trying to find something that he could pick up on the way home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is “easy” to host people who like “normal” American things so I’m sure that’s what they mean. It’s easy to find TGIFridays, Applebee’s, a diner, a burger joint…

But OP wants to show off her superior culinary preferences, and they’re not cooperating!

No, just hungry while waiting to pick a restaurant for takeout out of offering a million options of foods, none of which were ethnic (all American) other than the Chinese option. DH was dropping our son off at a friend's house and trying to find something that he could pick up on the way home.

Now you know you need to plan wayyy ahead with them. Like days. Have dishes queued up and order for them.

[Anonymous]

I think they're saying "I'm easy" as a way of saying "Don't try to seek out this foreign cuisine which in my small narrow experience is difficult to obtain". Or that they don't want a long conversation about food because they know they're picky and they're embarrassed.

This isn't complicated. Accept that they want boring-*ss food and give it to them.

[Anonymous]

My in laws are like this. We adjust to them when they visit. We love them so much it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.

I would be annoyed at the hours long decision of where to eat. Mine only stay a few nights so I typically just serve meals and have food around they like. We have only gone out to Italian restaurants with them, and a BBQ joint. You need to take away the plethora of choices. Give them two menus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they're saying "I'm easy" as a way of saying "Don't try to seek out this foreign cuisine which in my small narrow experience is difficult to obtain". Or that they don't want a long conversation about food because they know they're picky and they're embarrassed.

This isn't complicated. Accept that they want boring-*ss food and give it to them.

To be clear, we only offered up American options plus a chinese restaurant as we know they eat chinese takeout occasionally.

[Anonymous]

I get it, because my Dad is an extremely picky eater, but at least he “owns it” and we can plan around it.

That being said? You and DH know, by now, what they will and will not actually eat. So make a basic plan for their visits.

Think of the top 3 make-at-home meals you know they’ll eat, and think of the top 3 order-out meals or restaurant meals you know they’ll eat. Bam! You now have your plan forevermore.

Like, what are you even doing looking at different restaurant menus, etc.? You know by now. I can rattle off 3 takeout restaurants my dad will order from, and what he’ll order. Why are you playing games?

Do your thinking, do your research, now you have your plans.

You whining about knowing full well what will and will not work for them, despite what they say, is as useless and annoying as them saying they’re easy but then being picky.