Tackfully tell family member to stop bringing lousy food to potlucks

[Anonymous]

If your mom’s food is not getting eaten, it is probably because either:
A) It tastes nasty and she’s generally known to be a bad cook
B) She has disgusting kitchen habits and people know that she licks her fingers, doesn’t wash her hands, and has a cat walking around getting fur, paw prints and butt dust everywhere.

Pass the Crab Rangoon.

[Anonymous]

OP could be talking about me. I was always the youngest adult at our family events so I got to sit at the kids table for years since I wasn’t married and didn’t have kids. I watched for years as those kids were constantly judged and fussed at for not eating at the potluck buffets.

I heard what they wished grown ups would bring, and a couple of times I got them together to make a fruit platter with powdered sugar dip. But the older adults didn’t like that because the kids weren’t perfectly hygienic in their fruit placing.

So I decided to always be the one who brings food the kids want to eat. I do usually plate it, often in the back of my car right before we walk in. I do this mostly because the kids love using my silver tongs and crystal platters. We pretend to be very posh.

Now I have kids with special needs, so I am a pro at plating things so the foods don’t touch and bringing less allergenic things. It is amazing how many adults also appreciate this sort of food.

So go ahead and judge me and try to tactfully get me to stop. But I will remember the kids.

[Anonymous]

Here's the best way to handle this. Stop having potlucks.

[Anonymous]

OP I hope this doesn't come across as untackful, but you are petty AF.

[Anonymous]

I would “tackfully” tell you that no one does potlucks anymore except in a church basement.

Also, learn to spell if you’re going to insult someone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. Yes, a typo. The issue is she isn't putting any real effort. She is picking up stuff from a store or restaurant. Everyone else is taking the time to cook food and plate it. She literally stops on her way over. Can't even put on a real platter or bowl. She agrees to bring items but can't bother to make things. Her own family is only worth a quick stop at the grocery store.The rest of the family says how good the soup is or such but they are only being nice. It is so dismissive of her. She eats everyone else's real food.

Wow, you’re just a bad person who knows what is going on in her life. Even if she did t bring anything, I’d be happy a family member just showed up. I hope you’re not the host because you’re really mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now this is an actually decent trolling attempt.

I agree. OP, you get A+ for creativity

[Anonymous]

Can you imagine being this judgmental about a potluck? If I knew people were judging me on how much perceived effort I should be putting in, and had expectations beyond a category or quantity of food, I'd be really put off. Also I generally find potlucks to be gross and unhygienic, but I keep that to myself I don't complain about them.

[Anonymous]

A lot of (I would even wager to say most) people these days aren’t comfortable eating random homemade food from people whose kitchen/hygiene habits they don’t know well and will gravitate to prepackaged/store bought foods. Your family member is doing everyone a favor by making sure these foods are available.

[Anonymous]

Op what did she bring today? I’m curious!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now this is an actually decent trolling attempt.

+1 I was entertained by the details and it was just believable enough.

[Anonymous]

Soup is a weird thing to bring, but besides that, who cares? Everyone knows she brought it. It doesn’t reflect poorly on you as a host.

Some people are weird about germs and don’t eat potluck food. Maybe she has pets that shed and doesn’t want to risk hair in the food.

I’m from the rural midwest. Multiple people bring a bucket of KFC or Popeyes hot from the drive-through and plop it in the buffet. You can be thankful she hasn’t done that - yet! Maybe she can top even the chicken bucket with a pyramid of burgers or Krispy Kreme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP could be talking about me. I was always the youngest adult at our family events so I got to sit at the kids table for years since I wasn’t married and didn’t have kids. I watched for years as those kids were constantly judged and fussed at for not eating at the potluck buffets.

I heard what they wished grown ups would bring, and a couple of times I got them together to make a fruit platter with powdered sugar dip. But the older adults didn’t like that because the kids weren’t perfectly hygienic in their fruit placing.

So I decided to always be the one who brings food the kids want to eat. I do usually plate it, often in the back of my car right before we walk in. I do this mostly because the kids love using my silver tongs and crystal platters. We pretend to be very posh.

Now I have kids with special needs, so I am a pro at plating things so the foods don’t touch and bringing less allergenic things. It is amazing how many adults also appreciate this sort of food.

So go ahead and judge me and try to tactfully get me to stop. But I will remember the kids.

I really hope you're the family member OP is complaining about. Thank you for sharing this. Keep doing what you're doing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If what she brings isn't fancy enough for you, why don't you host a party that isn't a potluck?

+100

+1 making it a potluck and then being so picky and judgy about what ppl bring is what's actually tacky here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop having potlucks.

Why can’t people cook for others?

+1