Cooking for visiting family awkward

[Anonymous]

If your family's "meal culture" so important to you, then by all means don't cook anything special for their kids. But if you know that all it takes is making a box of Kraft Dinner to put your relatives at ease, why wouldn't you do that?

[Anonymous]

Look if they have been eating the process food for a while, they will not like non processes stuff. The texture, amount of sugar and salt will put them off other foods. Let them bring food they will eat and let it go. You are not better or worst them anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Make a combination of your normal meal with something that appeals to their kids. So make the chicken you would normally make with a veggie and some Kraft Mac and cheese on the side, for instance. And let your kids and yourself have some of the Kraft stuff so that it seems more like everyone is eating the same meal.

[Anonymous]

You could also do homemade pizzas one night. They can be pretty healthy depending on how you prepare them.

I think it's nice of you to look for a way to work with the "meal cultures" of both families.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe you made them bring their own food. You are the host, stock & cook what they like. A side dish of Kraft and a new attitude is all that is needed here.

Holy hell you are making this way harder than it needs to be.

[Anonymous]

If I were you I'd probably shift my menu a bit to be more hospitable. I'd make a menu like this:

Night 1: Burgers (beef, black bean for veggies) with whole wear and regular buns and a variety of fixings ranging from lettuce, tomato, yellow cheese, pickles, to caramelized onions and sriracha mayo. Regular fries and sweet potato fries (in the oven). Cut up fruits and veggies on a platter, raw.

Night 2: Lasagna with extra sauce on the side (veggie or meat or both depending on who eats what). A big green salad with a variety of dressings (I often serve this as a big bowl of lettuce next to a platter of cut veggies, cheeses, marinated veggies/olives, etc... so that picky people can choose what they like). A fresh baguette.

Night 3: Taco Bar. Flour and corn tortillas and hard shells. Chicken, beef, and or fish (fish sticks work in a pinch). Can of beans - pinto or black - seasoned or plain. Lettuce, tomato, onion, olives, cheese, jalapenos, sour cream, salsa, cilantro. Serve with a big bowl of corn or corn on the cob. Serve white rice with butter and cilantro and cumin (reserve some plain for the kids). Guac and chips.

These are all easy, and the hardest part about it is the prep and having 60 little serving bowls to wash each evening after dinner. But you can still please your guests this way AND have interesting options for you own family. Plus, honestly, it's a fun way to eat!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were you I'd probably shift my menu a bit to be more hospitable. I'd make a menu like this:

Night 1: Burgers (beef, black bean for veggies) with whole wear and regular buns and a variety of fixings ranging from lettuce, tomato, yellow cheese, pickles, to caramelized onions and sriracha mayo. Regular fries and sweet potato fries (in the oven). Cut up fruits and veggies on a platter, raw.

Night 2: Lasagna with extra sauce on the side (veggie or meat or both depending on who eats what). A big green salad with a variety of dressings (I often serve this as a big bowl of lettuce next to a platter of cut veggies, cheeses, marinated veggies/olives, etc... so that picky people can choose what they like). A fresh baguette.

Night 3: Taco Bar. Flour and corn tortillas and hard shells. Chicken, beef, and or fish (fish sticks work in a pinch). Can of beans - pinto or black - seasoned or plain. Lettuce, tomato, onion, olives, cheese, jalapenos, sour cream, salsa, cilantro. Serve with a big bowl of corn or corn on the cob. Serve white rice with butter and cilantro and cumin (reserve some plain for the kids). Guac and chips.

These are all easy, and the hardest part about it is the prep and having 60 little serving bowls to wash each evening after dinner. But you can still please your guests this way AND have interesting options for you own family. Plus, honestly, it's a fun way to eat!

I'm coming to your house. Be there at 6:00

[Anonymous]

Maybe you should try some more traditional dishes. This might be nice. It's Japanese!

[Anonymous]

As a host, I would stear away from seafood (too many people just don't care for it) or spicy. I would take into account any specific diet or religious issues.

Other than that, a good guest knows they should sample what is served, tell the host it's great, and thank them for their efforts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Other than that, a good guest knows they should sample what is served, tell the host it's great, and thank them for their efforts.

I would say that's true for a dinner party, where people can nibble at foods they dislike and then get something more to eat at home, but the rules are slightly different when someone is staying in your home for several days, and especially when there are children involved. (Food is all tied up with comfort, and children generally need more reassurance/comfort than adults.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get what the awkward part was. The kids didn't eat your food one year. So the next year you told your family to bring food for them. They did, and everyone was happy. Did I miss something?

Exactly what I was thinnking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe you made them bring their own food. You are the host, stock & cook what they like. A side dish of Kraft and a new attitude is all that is needed here.

Holy hell you are making this way harder than it needs to be.

I agree, and I think YOU are the one who made it awkward by forbidding your child to eat what they were eating. It makes it obvious that you disapprove, and that's the height of rudeness. It won't kill you all to eat it a couple times a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe you made them bring their own food. You are the host, stock & cook what they like. A side dish of Kraft and a new attitude is all that is needed here.

Holy hell you are making this way harder than it needs to be.

I agree, and I think YOU are the one who made it awkward by forbidding your child to eat what they were eating. It makes it obvious that you disapprove, and that's the height of rudeness. It won't kill you all to eat it a couple times a year.

Yes, she also made it awkward for her son, who basically was guilted into her side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could also do homemade pizzas one night. They can be pretty healthy depending on how you prepare them.

I think it's nice of you to look for a way to work with the "meal cultures" of both families.

Meh. If you have a picky eater who will eat pizza, they won't eat just any kind. My DD will eat mac and cheese, but not boxed mac and cheese -- only the kind I make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could also do homemade pizzas one night. They can be pretty healthy depending on how you prepare them.

I think it's nice of you to look for a way to work with the "meal cultures" of both families.

Meh. If you have a picky eater who will eat pizza, they won't eat just any kind. My DD will eat mac and cheese, but not boxed mac and cheese -- only the kind I make.

I am the burger/lasagna/taco PP. This is why I vote for a "lots of fixings" approach. Because even if the kids are crazy picky, they'll eat something, be it fruit, cheese, bread, meat.

Also have a few boxes of mac and cheese on hand and some bland snacks like goldfish, applesauce, bread and peanut butter, and juices.