Anonymous wrote:They sound poorly bred.

This

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't sound like you're making enough food of everyone is fighting for it. Make more food or tell them before hand don't bring Tupperware as we're eating ALL the leftovers the next day.

OP here. There is enough for a full, multi-plate dinner; a full, multi-plate dinner the next day; turkey sandwiches; and then DH and I want anything else to stay in our home for us to enjoy, as we were the ones who bought all the food and cooked every dish.

If ILs want another meal of it, they should be making it at home, themselves. They are able-bodied, cook for themselves, and have enough money to feed themselves whatever they like.

We’re taking others’ advice and DH will be telling them ahead of time that everyone will have enough for the visit, but if there’s any leftovers after the visit, we are keeping them.

As you put the food out, fill your own leftover containers first. Place in an extra frig (if you have one).

I mean if for years and years they have been doing this and you haven't said a thing but ended up cooking another meal, why haven't you just roasted a larger turkey and additional potatoes or whatever?

Anonymous wrote:"Hey, put away that Tupperware . . . that's our dinner for tomorrow night, not leftovers for the taking. Thanks for understanding!"

Agree with above.

However, it's normal for old people to be weird. They act on norms and expectations from a long ago time.

At my family's house, my Silent Generation dad gets antsy about freezing some of the turkey leftovers. On Thanksgiving Day evening, he will take a large chunk of the turkey breast or a bowl of turkey meat pieces, put it loose into a plastic freezer bag and put it in the freezer. This is terrible because the meat needs defrosting to use and it usually gets ice crystals on it.

My whole family prefers to eat up the entire turkey as fresh leftovers vs. putting away any. We don't find Dad's ruining of the meat to "save it" helpful at all.

So we basically have to watch Dad every time we get the meat dishes out. And loudly say "Do Not Freeze Any of the Meat!" over and over again.

In your case, I'd just make extra for the in-laws. An even bigger turkey, more mashed potatoes, etc. I'm one of those people who loves ordinary Thanksgiving dinner with dry turkey. So I can kind of understand their weird hoardery urges. Maybe it would help if you made a rule like "No leftover box packing until Saturday". If it's an approved plan by you as the host, then it's okay.

It doesn't sound like you're making enough food of everyone is fighting for it. Make more food or tell them before hand don't bring Tupperware as we're eating ALL the leftovers the next day.

They sound poorly bred.

Have your DH to let them know ahead of time that there will be no leftovers. That any leftover food will be eaten the next day. I would not wait until they arrive to tell them this. better to get it out of the way.

Don’t wait until they pull out their containers to deal with this. Send them an email/text or call them now.

Hey meemaw and pop pop, we found a great recipe using leftovers from thanksgiving, we would prefer if you didn’t pack up the leftovers for yourselves so we can all enjoy these special shepherds pies/stuffing waffles or whatever excuse you come up with that may or may not work out depending on how you feel

But don’t attack them that day, please. Just pre-empt any problems. Buy an extra special pie to send them home with.

That is truly bizarre.
Perhaps send a grocery order to their home so they can make their own when they get home. I’d definitely hide the leftovers from them.

"Hey, put away that Tupperware . . . that's our dinner for tomorrow night, not leftovers for the taking. Thanks for understanding!"

You should put away the leftovers yourself.

It sounds like the in-laws are staying with you and want to hoard food for when they leave. Gross. Your husband needs to talk to his parents. It makes no sense to not eat turkey sandwiches on Friday so two people can gorge when they go home on Sunday. 🤢

Yuck

Anonymous wrote:I’m happy to give folks leftovers and don’t really consider my parents guests; they are family. Seems like you’ve let this go on long enough that they think it’s fine. I’d be embarrassed to have an issue now, after a long time; my parents would probably think we were having money troubles. However he frames it, they are going to find you stingy and rude. Sounds like a very awkward Thanksgiving.

These are overnight guests. No reasonable adult would think that hosts who just made a Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday would want to cook or buy a new meal on Friday just because of greedy older adults. Talk about “stingy,” let’s not just enjoy the full spread our hosts made, let’s bring our own Tupperware to take it home? Talk about perceived money troubles and being stingy and rude!

I’m happy to give folks leftovers and don’t really consider my parents guests; they are family. Seems like you’ve let this go on long enough that they think it’s fine. I’d be embarrassed to have an issue now, after a long time; my parents would probably think we were having money troubles. However he frames it, they are going to find you stingy and rude. Sounds like a very awkward Thanksgiving.

DH and I spend days cleaning, grocery shopping, decorating, prepping and cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Every time it is his family’s turn to visit, we have six adults and two kids. The four adult guests drive a few hours to be here, and stay overnight for at least 2-3 nights, so there’s extra breakfasts, lunches and dinners to deal with.

DH’s cousin and his girlfriend are lovely guests; they bring wine and sparking cider, they compliment everything, they ask how they can help.

DH’s parents are horrible guests; they do nothing, they complain if not every possible side dish is served, and worst of all, *before the visit even ends,* they bring out containers that they have brought to set aside “their” leftovers of our big turkey dinner. Now, of course we make enough food that there enough leftovers for at least one additional full meal. But we want that meal to be served to everyone the day after Thanksgiving, when our houseguests are still there, and we don’t want to have to cook yet more food!

Last year, I simply got into “their” stash and set out everything to heat up plates for the next night. They had the audacity to complain. FIL even said “you should cook another turkey breast and make more mashed potatoes so there are enough leftovers for people to take home.”

DH is aware of the problem and is ready to handle it directly this year. I just can’t believe there are people this rude in the world. What kind of guest expects and just takes leftovers, or “claims” them?!