Anonymous
12/11/2023 10:38
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
Anonymous wrote:Find a recent immigrant lady who caters from home, they are affordable and it helps them survive. Make simple sides yourself and buy breads.
You should do a whole post on this!! How do we find home catering operations like that?
Anonymous
12/11/2023 10:37
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Send the group an email ahead of time. “Looking forward to seeing you. Letting you know, there will be bread for toast, cereal and milk, coffee available for breakfast, sandwich fixings and chips for lunch, and we will make dinner Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Tuesday. The other 2 nights are up to you and your preferences.” Keep breakfast and lunch minimal and just focus on something cheap and easy the 2 nights that aren’t Christmas (chili and cornbread, lasagna or pizza, baked potato bar etc). Tell them UP FRONT they’re on their own for 2 dinners (a good guest will offer to take you out) and that if they want anything beyond what you’re providing for breakfast and lunch that’s on them too.
The benefit of sending this email is that they will immediately know you from your tone that you are dreading their arrival and likely cancel.
Telling people they will responsible to feed themselves 2 out of 15 total meals doesn’t convey dread but ok.
It would be better to tell people in the first day or two of the trip that they will be on their own for X lunch and Y dinner. The email posted above is crazy and weird. It would make normal people feel uncomfortable about visiting.
Eh I probably wouldn’t send such a detailed email, but there’s nothing wrong with OP letting everyone know what the plan is, especially for the passive older male relatives who expect to be served.
Anonymous
12/11/2023 10:35
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
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)
wtf!! this list would have OP in the kitchen 24/7 all week. She already said she isn’t a great cook. she can go to Aldis for some giant bags of cereal, a couple of loaves of bread, and PB/tuna, and let everyone make their own breakfast and lunch. For dinner she does 5 extremely simple meals like frozen lasagna, pasta and jarred sauce, honey ham. Done.
Anonymous
12/11/2023 10:22
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Send the group an email ahead of time. “Looking forward to seeing you. Letting you know, there will be bread for toast, cereal and milk, coffee available for breakfast, sandwich fixings and chips for lunch, and we will make dinner Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Tuesday. The other 2 nights are up to you and your preferences.” Keep breakfast and lunch minimal and just focus on something cheap and easy the 2 nights that aren’t Christmas (chili and cornbread, lasagna or pizza, baked potato bar etc). Tell them UP FRONT they’re on their own for 2 dinners (a good guest will offer to take you out) and that if they want anything beyond what you’re providing for breakfast and lunch that’s on them too.
The benefit of sending this email is that they will immediately know you from your tone that you are dreading their arrival and likely cancel.
Telling people they will responsible to feed themselves 2 out of 15 total meals doesn’t convey dread but ok.
It would be better to tell people in the first day or two of the trip that they will be on their own for X lunch and Y dinner. The email posted above is crazy and weird. It would make normal people feel uncomfortable about visiting.
Anonymous
12/11/2023 05:44
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
Are you working and/or working while they are here?
Anonymous
12/11/2023 04:02
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Send the group an email ahead of time. “Looking forward to seeing you. Letting you know, there will be bread for toast, cereal and milk, coffee available for breakfast, sandwich fixings and chips for lunch, and we will make dinner Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Tuesday. The other 2 nights are up to you and your preferences.” Keep breakfast and lunch minimal and just focus on something cheap and easy the 2 nights that aren’t Christmas (chili and cornbread, lasagna or pizza, baked potato bar etc). Tell them UP FRONT they’re on their own for 2 dinners (a good guest will offer to take you out) and that if they want anything beyond what you’re providing for breakfast and lunch that’s on them too.
The benefit of sending this email is that they will immediately know you from your tone that you are dreading their arrival and likely cancel.
Telling people they will responsible to feed themselves 2 out of 15 total meals doesn’t convey dread but ok.
Anonymous
12/10/2023 21:40
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
You don't mention the ages of these guests, but that may factor into it too. Old people eat less.
Leverage leftovers as lunch options.
What will they be doing all these days? Surely they'll venture out of the house sometimes? I usually plan food for every meal but only end up making half because leftovers, guest treats us to dinner, guests eat out while shopping etc.
Also, if your food options aren't great, they will start to find alternatives for themselves. 😈
Leverage leftovers as lunch options.
What will they be doing all these days? Surely they'll venture out of the house sometimes? I usually plan food for every meal but only end up making half because leftovers, guest treats us to dinner, guests eat out while shopping etc.
Also, if your food options aren't great, they will start to find alternatives for themselves. 😈
Anonymous
12/10/2023 21:38
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
^* Forgot to add that frozen shrimp is $5 a pound at Safeway. You could make shrimp cocktail as an appetizer, stir fry shrimp, rice and vegetables, homemade shrimp salad, shrimp tacos, shrimp enchiladas.
Anonymous
12/10/2023 21:34
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
Find a recent immigrant lady who caters from home, they are affordable and it helps them survive. Make simple sides yourself and buy breads.
Anonymous
12/10/2023 21:28
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
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)
* 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)
Anonymous
12/10/2023 21:25
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Send the group an email ahead of time. “Looking forward to seeing you. Letting you know, there will be bread for toast, cereal and milk, coffee available for breakfast, sandwich fixings and chips for lunch, and we will make dinner Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Tuesday. The other 2 nights are up to you and your preferences.” Keep breakfast and lunch minimal and just focus on something cheap and easy the 2 nights that aren’t Christmas (chili and cornbread, lasagna or pizza, baked potato bar etc). Tell them UP FRONT they’re on their own for 2 dinners (a good guest will offer to take you out) and that if they want anything beyond what you’re providing for breakfast and lunch that’s on them too.
The benefit of sending this email is that they will immediately know you from your tone that you are dreading their arrival and likely cancel.
Anonymous
12/10/2023 21:23
Subject: Re:Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
10 people are staying in your house for 5 nights?
Anonymous
12/10/2023 21:10
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
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.
Anonymous
12/10/2023 21:08
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
Anonymous wrote:Send the group an email ahead of time. “Looking forward to seeing you. Letting you know, there will be bread for toast, cereal and milk, coffee available for breakfast, sandwich fixings and chips for lunch, and we will make dinner Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Tuesday. The other 2 nights are up to you and your preferences.” Keep breakfast and lunch minimal and just focus on something cheap and easy the 2 nights that aren’t Christmas (chili and cornbread, lasagna or pizza, baked potato bar etc). Tell them UP FRONT they’re on their own for 2 dinners (a good guest will offer to take you out) and that if they want anything beyond what you’re providing for breakfast and lunch that’s on them too.
The benefit of sending this email is that they will immediately know you from your tone that you are dreading their arrival and likely cancel.
Anonymous
12/10/2023 21:01
Subject: Guests coming for 5 nights - do I need to feed them the whole time?
I always assume im making 3 meals a day. Usuallt guests (cousins) will take us out for one meal.
We do easy breakfast. Sandwiches and home made tuna salad or egg salad and hummus for lunches. I also make chinese food one day. Get bagged dumplings if im out of homemade ones. And dona big dish of fried rice with eggs and vegetables. If its meat eaters, i can add chicken sausage. It goes a long way, kids like it and its easy to make.
We do easy breakfast. Sandwiches and home made tuna salad or egg salad and hummus for lunches. I also make chinese food one day. Get bagged dumplings if im out of homemade ones. And dona big dish of fried rice with eggs and vegetables. If its meat eaters, i can add chicken sausage. It goes a long way, kids like it and its easy to make.