Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?

[Anonymous]

I set expectations right up front - I tell guests I'll cook and serve family-style dinners but breakfast and lunch are on their own & they're welcome to help themselves to anything in the kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I set expectations right up front - I tell guests I'll cook and serve family-style dinners but breakfast and lunch are on their own & they're welcome to help themselves to anything in the kitchen.

PP adding that the kitchen will be fully stocked with standard breakfast & lunch items, they just have to make/assemble it for themselves.

[Anonymous]

I would not expect to be fed more than once or twice if someone let me stay at their home for five days. If anything I would be planning to take them out or order dinner. Also, a hearty soup with a baguette and some cheese is a meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not expect to be fed more than once or twice if someone let me stay at their home for five days. If anything I would be planning to take them out or order dinner. Also, a hearty soup with a baguette and some cheese is a meal.

Out of curiosity, what would you expect to do for all the other meals? Go out all the time, bring in groceries, or are you just saying that you don't expect the hosts to cook 3x meals a day but you'd still anticipate they have stuff available you can DIY?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, OP. If you invited them to stay with you, you will need to provide food. Hopefully, as others have said the guests will offer to buy some food and also take you out to dinner. Otherwise, you need to think of frugal options. I grew up with 8 kids in my family, so I know how to make cheap meals for big groups:

* Breakfast casserole s....prep the night before each morning
* Bananas are the cheapest fruit..buy them green so they last a long time
* Make your own pizza dough, shred your own cheese + have pizza night
*Buy whatever meat is on sale ( ham, for example, is 99 cents a pound now at Giant + Safeway)
*You already mentioned lasagna -- good, cheap idea
* Make meatloaf
* Get canned vegetables
* Make your own desserts- Christmas cookies, homemade pies
*Make your own breads/rolls
* Spaghetti night
* Mexican casserole night
* Make homemade popcorn for snacks
*Make peanut noodles for snacks
* I like someone's idea to make tuna and egg salad for lunches. I would add cabbage and pasta salad
* Make chili and soups for lunch

* Make large quantities of iced tea and lemonade - (super cheap)

Nothing like having 10 guests farting in your house at Christmastime!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you belong to Costco? 5 days, or which Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas brunch/dinner is included is really doable. I agree about croissants, cereal, fruit and yogurt to just put out for breakfast. Ask people how they take their coffee. Sandwiches and maybe soup (you choose 1 type, heat up 4 cans of the same type). Do you have any traditions for Christmas Eve and Christmas meals? The 3 other dinners can be pizza, take out Chinese, tacos, or whatever.
I don’t think you can get away with just lasagna for Christmas Eve. Maybe that’s the main part, but it’s a special night. You can get frozen appetizers, saute green beans, buy a Costco dessert, Costco rolls, Costco sausage or meatballs, etc.
Can you ask guests to bring beer and/or wine?

Canned soup?

Yeah, that's pretty bad. As a guest I'd go out to lunch before eating canned soup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not expect to be fed more than once or twice if someone let me stay at their home for five days. If anything I would be planning to take them out or order dinner. Also, a hearty soup with a baguette and some cheese is a meal.

Out of curiosity, what would you expect to do for all the other meals? Go out all the time, bring in groceries, or are you just saying that you don't expect the hosts to cook 3x meals a day but you'd still anticipate they have stuff available you can DIY?

DP. I would expect to go out and purchase some groceries for any breakfast/lunch at the host’s home. it’s really only my sister’s house where I expect to get fed and provided with snacks 😈

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you belong to Costco? 5 days, or which Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas brunch/dinner is included is really doable. I agree about croissants, cereal, fruit and yogurt to just put out for breakfast. Ask people how they take their coffee. Sandwiches and maybe soup (you choose 1 type, heat up 4 cans of the same type). Do you have any traditions for Christmas Eve and Christmas meals? The 3 other dinners can be pizza, take out Chinese, tacos, or whatever.
I don’t think you can get away with just lasagna for Christmas Eve. Maybe that’s the main part, but it’s a special night. You can get frozen appetizers, saute green beans, buy a Costco dessert, Costco rolls, Costco sausage or meatballs, etc.
Can you ask guests to bring beer and/or wine?

Canned soup?

Yeah, that's pretty bad. As a guest I'd go out to lunch before eating canned soup.

perfect! goal achieved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not expect to be fed more than once or twice if someone let me stay at their home for five days. If anything I would be planning to take them out or order dinner. Also, a hearty soup with a baguette and some cheese is a meal.

Out of curiosity, what would you expect to do for all the other meals? Go out all the time, bring in groceries, or are you just saying that you don't expect the hosts to cook 3x meals a day but you'd still anticipate they have stuff available you can DIY?

DP. I would expect to go out and purchase some groceries for any breakfast/lunch at the host’s home. it’s really only my sister’s house where I expect to get fed and provided with snacks 😈

But would you try to cook in your host's kitchen? As a host, that would drive me nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not expect to be fed more than once or twice if someone let me stay at their home for five days. If anything I would be planning to take them out or order dinner. Also, a hearty soup with a baguette and some cheese is a meal.

Out of curiosity, what would you expect to do for all the other meals? Go out all the time, bring in groceries, or are you just saying that you don't expect the hosts to cook 3x meals a day but you'd still anticipate they have stuff available you can DIY?

DP. I would expect to go out and purchase some groceries for any breakfast/lunch at the host’s home. it’s really only my sister’s house where I expect to get fed and provided with snacks 😈

But would you try to cook in your host's kitchen? As a host, that would drive me nuts.

Are you a control freak in general?

[Anonymous]

Yes, this is integral to the notion of hosting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
To be fair, they weren't invited, but said they were coming for christmas.

This is totally different. No need to feed.

Offering one meal would be nice. After they arrive, I'd say something like this: "So glad to see you! I won't have the time/ability to cook for everyone, but you are free to use our kitchen as needed. The closest grocery store is _______." Offer coffee and some fruit in the morning. Beyond that, you should not feel obligated to purchase and cook for them.

And if the email doesn’t do the trick, this warm welcome will - and they will turn and go home.

I’m not sending an email saying any of this. I will feed them just looking for ideas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you belong to Costco? 5 days, or which Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas brunch/dinner is included is really doable. I agree about croissants, cereal, fruit and yogurt to just put out for breakfast. Ask people how they take their coffee. Sandwiches and maybe soup (you choose 1 type, heat up 4 cans of the same type). Do you have any traditions for Christmas Eve and Christmas meals? The 3 other dinners can be pizza, take out Chinese, tacos, or whatever.
I don’t think you can get away with just lasagna for Christmas Eve. Maybe that’s the main part, but it’s a special night. You can get frozen appetizers, saute green beans, buy a Costco dessert, Costco rolls, Costco sausage or meatballs, etc.
Can you ask guests to bring beer and/or wine?

Canned soup?

Yeah, that's pretty bad. As a guest I'd go out to lunch before eating canned soup.

I'm not the canned soup poster, but most hosts do appreciate guests who will get out on their own and get themselves a meal on occasion (thus giving your host some much needed downtime in their own home) so yes, definitely go out to lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you need to plan to feed three meals a day. Wtf?

This. WHY the F did you invite all these people over if you had no plan to host them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you need to plan to feed three meals a day. Wtf?

This. WHY the F did you invite all these people over if you had no plan to host them?

Did you even read the thread? They told her they were coming for Christmas.

That would get a whole lot of "figure it out" from me.