In-laws and their kids eat all our food

[Anonymous]

Im 11:06 and I took it to mean that they are serving enough food and on top of that they’re helping themselves to her pantry without asking and that’s not OK. I wouldn’t do it and I have a feeling most of you would not either. It’s very rude.

Op needs to clarify if there is enough food at this picnic or if she’s just serving one hotdog per guest, in which case that would leave lots of people hungry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have a problem with any guests helping themselves to food that was not out/offered. I do think you have to realize the 16 year old boys eat a ton...so like 3 hamburgers is not unexpected. Be sure you are serving enough at the meal.

Eating 3 hamburgers is overeating.

NP. And? You know who overeats sometimes? Teens. At a PARTY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have a problem with any guests helping themselves to food that was not out/offered. I do think you have to realize the 16 year old boys eat a ton...so like 3 hamburgers is not unexpected. Be sure you are serving enough at the meal.

Eating 3 hamburgers is overeating.

Not for a teen boy athlete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have a problem with any guests helping themselves to food that was not out/offered. I do think you have to realize the 16 year old boys eat a ton...so like 3 hamburgers is not unexpected. Be sure you are serving enough at the meal.

You'd have a problem with your nieces and nephews getting enough to eat at your home? Your wierd!!! I hope my family is comfortable enough at my house to handle their needs without relying on me if I've missed something - like having enough food.

I would have a problem with nieces and nephews being gluttonous. Gross and rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the cost of hosting.

This is ridiculous. Guests are not entitled to lace into your freezer and start defrosting steaks. If you're still hungry, ask nicely for more. But don't help yourself.

[Anonymous]

What do you estimate the total cost is of the food they eat? And how much feels comfortable to your family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have a problem with any guests helping themselves to food that was not out/offered. I do think you have to realize the 16 year old boys eat a ton...so like 3 hamburgers is not unexpected. Be sure you are serving enough at the meal.

Eating 3 hamburgers is overeating.

Not for a teen boy athlete.

Then he should eat a snack before he comes over and not act like a starved Neanderthal. Rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t go on a Costco run before they visit. Take non-perishables and hide them if needed.

Serve an appropriate amount of food with sides and fruit and veggies - assume a 16yr old boy is like 2x of an active adult male’s portions.

If kids start rooting around in your cupboards and pantry for snacks just say “we didn’t get a chance to stock up because we were preparing for your visit.” Also teach them not to open any unopened containers. Half-filled box of Cheezitz? Fine. Unopened box of cereal in the pantry - off limits.

My husband is an ex-rugby player and isnt even a tall one and still houses 2-3 hamburgers. An active teenager who maybe woke up in time to have a quick cereal or smoothie....try 2-3 hamburgers, a hot dog or two, sides, chips, fruit, veggies, etc.

Gross

It also matters how long the family is there: 2 hours? 6 hours? If closer to the latter and there are activities like swimming or youre hosting 1-7 or 12-6 then plan to feed them two meals, lunch and dinner.

[Anonymous]

Lot of toddler parents chiming in here. I have teen nephews and we literally triple what we usually make for dinner (typical household: two active adults, a preschooler and senior citizen) when they're visiting. You have to FEED these kids, and they're starving again in an hour.

It's not poor manners, it's not gluttony, it's teenagers. People advising OP to starve them out by not buying groceries ahead of time are insane. None of you know how to host a party or even guests - there shouldn't be any chance of not having enough food.

OP if you cannot afford to host this party then tell your brother it has to be at his house. But if you're going to host a bunch of people including teenagers for a party that centers around food, then don't sit around snarking about how terrible they are for having large appetites. Feed them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the cost of hosting.

This is ridiculous. Guests are not entitled to lace into your freezer and start defrosting steaks. If you're still hungry, ask nicely for more. But don't help yourself.

This!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lot of toddler parents chiming in here. I have teen nephews and we literally triple what we usually make for dinner (typical household: two active adults, a preschooler and senior citizen) when they're visiting. You have to FEED these kids, and they're starving again in an hour.

It's not poor manners, it's not gluttony, it's teenagers. People advising OP to starve them out by not buying groceries ahead of time are insane. None of you know how to host a party or even guests - there shouldn't be any chance of not having enough food.

OP if you cannot afford to host this party then tell your brother it has to be at his house. But if you're going to host a bunch of people including teenagers for a party that centers around food, then don't sit around snarking about how terrible they are for having large appetites. Feed them.

Op, you should set up a food trough in the front yard so teens can go at it like cows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your pantry is filled with fruit, vegetables and baking supplies, then you won't have an issue.

Skip chips, soda, juice, and cookies. Now and forever.

+1 This. Many teens eat a ton, and you're providing them with junk food that they crave which means they're consuming a lot of it to feel full (soda, chips, candy, baked goods). As others have said, hide the stuff you don't want them to eat and put out a vegetable platter and fresh fruit and see if they actually feel full.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This reminds me of the classic DCUM thread about the woman feeding "dieting middle-aged lady" portions to her husband and teen athlete children and then wondering why everybody was hungry all the time.

How many burgers/dogs are you allotting per person at your cookout? Teens eat a lot.

That's a classic! LMAO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you host a Memorial Day cookout for your family. You guys grill out, and then the kids raid your pantry and fridge? Why are you allowing this? And you're obviously not used to having athletic teens. I have two; they eat way more than you think. You aren't serving nearly enough food at your Memorial Day cookout.

Your teens should learn some manners.

I'm the person you quoted. What are you talking about? My teens are borderline shy and would never open someone's pantry door or fridge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t go on a Costco run before they visit. Take non-perishables and hide them if needed.

Serve an appropriate amount of food with sides and fruit and veggies - assume a 16yr old boy is like 2x of an adult male’s portions.

If kids start rooting around in your cupboards and pantry for snacks just say “we didn’t get a chance to stock up because we were preparing for your visit.” Also teach them not to open any unopened containers. Half-filled box of Cheezitz? Fine. Unopened box of cereal in the pantry - off limits.

Wow you have a lot of rules for your family!

I like that my family doesn’t expect me to wait on them and will just help themselves. True guests are different, but this is her brother and his family. When I’m a guest at my brothers house I go in his pantry, as do my children. Of course my kids are usually accompanied by this kids looking for snacks. Same applies to my house when they’re all over here. I don’t want to have to make them coffee or whatever, they can just get their own nespresso capsule or glass of wine or whatever. The kids know anything in the bins within reach in the pantry is fair game - which is basically anything they could want because the higher shelves are flour, pasta, cans, etc.