I mean, people in their 20s can eat a lot. That said, I was always taught to not order the most expensive thing on the menu and to generally follow the lead of the group. In other words, if everyone was ordering an appetizer, I could go ahead and do that. If not, order a heavier entree, or have a snack later on.

Yes it is annoying.
I would go with fast food when he is around.

It is not about how much he can eat; it is about manners. It is great if you offer an appetizer and a dessert, but add on his own if all of you are not? Um, no, that is tactless.

If the BF posted here asking for advice, I'd tell him to modify his order practices to fall in line with the rest of your family. But since you posted here, I'm going to tell you to get over it. If he's a nice guy and he is good to your daughter and she's happy with him, this is nothing in the scheme of things.

I thought it was common for them to hit the drive thru for a burger on the way to dinner at someone's house. Might just be the young guys in my family.

Anonymous wrote:But do you have sons? My 14 year old has the same order at Chick. If not, he’s starving.

Yet my own 21-year-old DS never order anything more than a spicy chicken sandwich meal. If I ask and offer, I will get him two and he will say, "mom, you shouldn't have, it is too much (money)." When he is hungry at night (college was from home, right), he will make eggs and turkey bacon on his own, or go get his own food from the money from his part-time/summer job. And no, he did the same at 14.

1. He's staying over during a pandemic?

2. DD is an adult, ask her to cover her food and her guest's food. I bet once she has to pay he'll order less.

My nieces and nephews were raised middle class, dad is now rich, but not then. They never ever ordered more than one meal or one dish, often they would share.
They are from Colorado. Do you think kids in this area are ruder?

Rich? Is the kid from a rich family? I housed some boys from NYC and Connecticut, and if we stopped by even Burger King this one kid would order three meals!
Knowing that I had cooked dinner as well, but teen athletes so I was trying to make sure they were full. He had money from parents a ton of money, and he knew we were not that well off based on our house! Never one offered to pay for his own.

I agree with the principle to be a polite guest but not your examples (you truly begrudge this kid an appetizer?? my kids always order fried wontons or soup). Those seem like typical teen eating patterns to me, and I think you should feel glad for the opportunity to get to know your kids’ friends. If truly cost is a concern (and you led with, “we order in often”, so I doubt it really is), then tell your daughter he is welcome to come over after you are done with dinner.

Do you only have daughters? I have two teen sons and a teen daughter and there is an incredible difference in the amount of food that it takes to satiate the boys versus the girl.

But do you have sons? My 14 year old has the same order at Chick. If not, he’s starving.

He probably never thought about it. His family probably has enough money that when they order, they just order, and he’s also a young man who could probably eat the entire contents of your refrigerator. At a restaurant, an appetizer, entree, and dessert aren’t that gluttonous, so it’s not the worst thing he could do. Your kind of expecting him to order like a perpetually dieting female.

But if the money is an issue, then direct the ordering like a PP suggested.

Maybe he's hungry?

In any event, if you don't want to spend the money then don't order when he's around, or have apps/dessert at home and say that you're just ordering entrees for take out. Use your words.

It’s rude but not as rude as inviting a young person to eat then tracking and judging his choices. Make pasta when he’s there.