Anonymous wrote:Two older people living alone eat a lot less than a young family of six. That's not 'food issues', its math.

Except it’s not a straight multiplier which they can’t even seem to do.

PPs don't get it because they haven't read the other threads. I understand, OP, and I'm seeing this in real time with my parents. They're starting to calorie-restrict naturally, and are in shock when we come as a family of 4 and a ton of food. They don't have fits, thankfully, but do make comments, and my mother always finds way of saying my daughter and I are fat and eat too much.

Anonymous wrote:What’s weird about a couple splitting a chicken breast?? They’re already mammoth in size in the US. DH and I split a breast all the time when we bake chicken and we are early 40s.

Are you small people? I’m happy to eat half a chicken breast, but there’s no way that’s feeding my 6’6” husband.

What’s weird about a couple splitting a chicken breast?? They’re already mammoth in size in the US. DH and I split a breast all the time when we bake chicken and we are early 40s.

There were hundreds of posts about this from people in the “how you survive a no food house” from right before thanksgiving. Where are you shaming trolls coming from? This is a phenomenon from people in the next up generation who have lost perspective on the calorie needs of young people and are very controlling about their fridges, who gets to put food in them, how many meals are served a day, how much food those meals have, no snacking allowed, etc.

Had I not experienced this myself, I likely wouldn’t have believed it either. But it came to a head when my ILs bought one package of chicken (so 1 breast, 2 wings, 2 thighs, 2 legs) for 6 adults and 5 children, including my then very pregnant SIL. They also had one package of rolls (8) because the children can split them (still can’t figure the math on that one), and one can of green beans. It is not a financial issue. They were honestly stunned that the children were crying about being hungry after part of a roll, part of a piece of chicken, and 3 green beans each. But in addition to being stunned they were VERY upset when we loaded everyone up to go get take out.

Anonymous wrote:OP your post is offensive and unkind.

I don't see this at all. Is this sarcasm?

OP your post is offensive and unkind.

No- it's old people. My mom got really weird about bragging how little food she ate when she got older. It was like the only thing she could control.

Anonymous wrote:Two older people living alone eat a lot less than a young family of six. That's not 'food issues', its math.

Yes, and no to it being math.

My ILs, who I’ve known for 20ish years, now will share half or less of a chicken breast, where I would previously make them each a fully one. Their concept of “a serving” has certainly changed, and I know it’s hard for them to “get” that my 45 lb 5 year old will latest them at every turn.

It’s not judgement, it’s information. Knowing that these are normal changes helps people feel empathetic about it. That’s OPs point. It’s easy to go and feel like they’re trying to starve you out, but that’s not the case.

Please stop saying "old people!" That is so insulting. It's "older adults." Also, older adults are not a monolith.

Two older people living alone eat a lot less than a young family of six. That's not 'food issues', its math.

Anonymous wrote:NP. Anyone can exhibit this behavior, but it's certainly more common as people get older.

Yes! And people that weren't weird about food develop it as they age. Agree with OP. The DCUM perspective helps. It's like a window 5 years, 10 years into possible futures for me.

NP. Anyone can exhibit this behavior, but it's certainly more common as people get older.

Anonymous wrote:For explaining to me that it not unusual for people to have food issues. I immediately went groceries when I arrived at my in laws and thank god because my MIL said she’d “gone to Costco” and had “tons of chicken breast”. The quantity she bought was hilariously small. It makes no sense because they are very generous financially but so odd about food. But I was mentally prepared and it didn’t throw me off because of this board and the famous thanksgiving gift basket thread.

Cheers to DCUM!

Fixed that for you. The parenting and relationship forums are full of people asking for advice on food issues, no need to make it ageist.

For explaining to me that it not unusual for old people to have food issues. I immediately went groceries when I arrived at my in laws and thank god because my MIL said she’d “gone to Costco” and had “tons of chicken breast”. The quantity she bought was hilariously small. It makes no sense because they are very generous financially but so odd about food. But I was mentally prepared and it didn’t throw me off because of this board and the famous thanksgiving gift basket thread.

Cheers to DCUM!