In laws are picky eaters but act like they are not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After dealing with difficult inlaws for half a lifetime, I'm to the point that they get tough love. If they cant figure out what they want to eat after a half hour, I shut them down fast and tell them I'm going to order something because we aren't going to wait.

This. “Ok let us know what you decide. I’m going to go pickup the sushi that DH and I like.”

Why are you letting yourself be held hostage? Retiree boomers love to hem and haw over everything. They don’t have anything else going on (work/kids’ activities/etc.). Just keep living your life. Who cares if they are picky.

JFC are you always so over the top dramatic? I feel sorry for the mature adults in your life who have to interact with you.

“Mature adults” don’t eat like 6-year-olds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

We do thus, but were finding something from a specific geographic location as DH was dropping off DS at a friend's house 25 min away and picking up on his drive back. And I had hoped a diner would suffice but my FIL complained that the food wouldn't travel well.

Come off it. You know what’s always around? McDonald’s.

Plus, DH was returning to your house, correct? You don’t live in a food desert, do you? And if for some reason (I’m sure you’ll list a quickly made-up excuse) you couldn’t pick up food yourself, it’s called DoorDash.

You wanted to complain about your ILs. Fine. But admit this was just a vent and not actually a problem. Because feeding picky people is actually quite easy when they are picky in a predictable, never-changing, “all-American” way. As if you can’t make spaghetti at home. As if you can’t use Uber Eats. Come off it.

OP is extremely annoying.

You posters who think women should be doormats to their ils are the worst.

+1

And I think they are boomer ILs themselves.

Drama llama DILs are also a common trope for a reason. Congrats on being the problem, princess.

Entitled, childish MILs are FAR more prevalent, granny.

[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!

But OP and her family don’t want to eat garbage!

Picky, picky!

[Anonymous]

My MIL was a lovely person, but was such a creature of habit and her environment. She wasn't picky, but it was very, very easy to totally blow her mind. She was Italian-American and never cooked from a recipe, ever - she only cooked food that her mother or other family members taught her how to make. When I didn't know her well yet, my family invited her to our Christmas dinner and served roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy and broccoli and had cheesecake for dessert. She was completely baffled by the meal and kept asking if we liked potatoes, etc. We still talk about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After dealing with difficult inlaws for half a lifetime, I'm to the point that they get tough love. If they cant figure out what they want to eat after a half hour, I shut them down fast and tell them I'm going to order something because we aren't going to wait.

This. “Ok let us know what you decide. I’m going to go pickup the sushi that DH and I like.”

Why are you letting yourself be held hostage? Retiree boomers love to hem and haw over everything. They don’t have anything else going on (work/kids’ activities/etc.). Just keep living your life. Who cares if they are picky.

JFC are you always so over the top dramatic? I feel sorry for the mature adults in your life who have to interact with you.

“Mature adults” don’t eat like 6-year-olds.

If you don’t get that many adults today are simply carrying the best they can as undiagnosed neurotypical people, you’re not very mature, yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I beat you at the picky ILs.
My ILs will select items off a menu, then specify changes and substitutions to actual item. E.g. Hamberger entre - no bun, no lettuce, no tomato, just the beef patty, medium rare. And they carried their own cans of Diet Coke. At a high end restaurant, FIL ordered Miller Lite. These are people who have no problem spending any amount of funds on a meal but they really somehow need to control the event. Even the grandkids found it noticeable.

It’s funny that you don’t get it that the “high-end restaurant” *had Miller Lite in the first place.*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I beat you at the picky ILs.
My ILs will select items off a menu, then specify changes and substitutions to actual item. E.g. Hamberger entre - no bun, no lettuce, no tomato, just the beef patty, medium rare. And they carried their own cans of Diet Coke. At a high end restaurant, FIL ordered Miller Lite. These are people who have no problem spending any amount of funds on a meal but they really somehow need to control the event. Even the grandkids found it noticeable.

It’s funny that you don’t get it that the “high-end restaurant” *had Miller Lite in the first place.*

Agree plus if it’s a high end restaurant that has a burger and charges $32 they can make it the way someone wants it. That’s why you pay so much more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I beat you at the picky ILs.
My ILs will select items off a menu, then specify changes and substitutions to actual item. E.g. Hamberger entre - no bun, no lettuce, no tomato, just the beef patty, medium rare. And they carried their own cans of Diet Coke. At a high end restaurant, FIL ordered Miller Lite. These are people who have no problem spending any amount of funds on a meal but they really somehow need to control the event. Even the grandkids found it noticeable.

It’s funny that you don’t get it that the “high-end restaurant” *had Miller Lite in the first place.*

Agree plus if it’s a high end restaurant that has a burger and charges $32 they can make it the way someone wants it. That’s why you pay so much more.

True, FIL should ask next time to have his steak ground up and placed between bread, with lettuce and tomato. That would make more sense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My MIL only wants to eat chicken. My FIL refuses to eat any chicken that's on a bone. So that leaves us with with one meal option: boneless, skinless chicken. Then guess what? It's too dry.

So yeah, I hear you.

Brine the chicken breast. It won't be dry, I promise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I beat you at the picky ILs.
My ILs will select items off a menu, then specify changes and substitutions to actual item. E.g. Hamberger entre - no bun, no lettuce, no tomato, just the beef patty, medium rare. And they carried their own cans of Diet Coke. At a high end restaurant, FIL ordered Miller Lite. These are people who have no problem spending any amount of funds on a meal but they really somehow need to control the event. Even the grandkids found it noticeable.

It’s funny that you don’t get it that the “high-end restaurant” *had Miller Lite in the first place.*

Agree plus if it’s a high end restaurant that has a burger and charges $32 they can make it the way someone wants it. That’s why you pay so much more.

True, FIL should ask next time to have his steak ground up and placed between bread, with lettuce and tomato. That would make more sense

A steak burger is a thing so let the man eat what he wants and get off his back.

[Anonymous]

I think it just comes off a little xenophobic. Like what you are used to is normal and all the other food in the entire world is crazy. My MIL grew up eating foods that are typical for her parents heritage, including some that I, a relatively adventurous eater, do not care for. She will also eat very standard American type foods like sandwichs and chicken breast type foods. She considers those two types of foods “normal” and all other cuisines very strange. She thinks it’s so wild that my husband and I love Thai food (my favorite and my husband has grown to enjoy it too). Like it’s a fun wacky fact she tells people about us “Larla loves Thai food! She will also eat Indian food! Now my son Larlo is eating Thai food too!”
She sees nothing incongruous about this attitude towards “ethnic food” while simultaneously serving meals of the cuisine she grew up with.

Anyway it’s fine and we know how to deal with it now but I was really thrown for a loop when my husband and I started dating. It does take more effort to host them and I end up cooking more than I would like because the only restaurants that they really enjoy are expensive formal restaurants that are a bit much for our kids. So we do one or two diner/fast casual meals and I end up cooking the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After dealing with difficult inlaws for half a lifetime, I'm to the point that they get tough love. If they cant figure out what they want to eat after a half hour, I shut them down fast and tell them I'm going to order something because we aren't going to wait.

This. “Ok let us know what you decide. I’m going to go pickup the sushi that DH and I like.”

Why are you letting yourself be held hostage? Retiree boomers love to hem and haw over everything. They don’t have anything else going on (work/kids’ activities/etc.). Just keep living your life. Who cares if they are picky.

JFC are you always so over the top dramatic? I feel sorry for the mature adults in your life who have to interact with you.

“Mature adults” don’t eat like 6-year-olds.

If you don’t get that many adults today are simply carrying the best they can as undiagnosed neurotypical people, you’re not very mature, yourself.

Sorry, this excuse card is tired and played out. Get a new one.

[Anonymous]

I had this happen to me in bizarro fashion. A luncheon that I paid for but don't get to choose the choices- it's different each week.

This week they set out white and wheat bread, tuna salad/chicken salad, lettuce, tomato, american cheese. The soup was manhattan clam. I think the boomers and in-laws would have loved this lunch. I don't eat any of that stuff.

Somebody pointed out that I was picky and could just make a cheese sandwich. Of course I didn't raise a fuss and ask for my fee back. The lunch will probably be better next time!

But I felt like bizarro in-laws. I'd rather have a grain bowl or any combination of roasted vegetables and just a vegetable soup maybe with barley or potatoes. Not expensive choices, certainly not picky- I like all grains and all vegetables.

I think we all just eat differently now from earlier generations and we think our "simple" preferences really are simple!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So? Is this your first time meeting them or something?

Stop being nasty and move on if you have nothing to contribute.

The questions are sincere. Nothing nasty about asking why on Earth someone would care about what other adults choose to eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

We do thus, but were finding something from a specific geographic location as DH was dropping off DS at a friend's house 25 min away and picking up on his drive back. And I had hoped a diner would suffice but my FIL complained that the food wouldn't travel well.

Come off it. You know what’s always around? McDonald’s.

Plus, DH was returning to your house, correct? You don’t live in a food desert, do you? And if for some reason (I’m sure you’ll list a quickly made-up excuse) you couldn’t pick up food yourself, it’s called DoorDash.

You wanted to complain about your ILs. Fine. But admit this was just a vent and not actually a problem. Because feeding picky people is actually quite easy when they are picky in a predictable, never-changing, “all-American” way. As if you can’t make spaghetti at home. As if you can’t use Uber Eats. Come off it.

OP is extremely annoying.

You posters who think women should be doormats to their ils are the worst.

+1

And I think they are boomer ILs themselves.

Drama llama DILs are also a common trope for a reason. Congrats on being the problem, princess.

Entitled, childish MILs are FAR more prevalent, granny.

Show your work, dear.