Summer students disrespectful of my home.

No, not with the comments in your OP indicating the clear preoccupation with the non-issue of 'someone else's food'.

Their behaviour is normal. Yours is not. It’s nasty to have started this thread about them and you are obviously projecting to blame them.

They obviously would feel awkward to say that to you they are only kids for goodness sake. What's wrong with them getting food somewhere else they arnt your prisoners. Just ask them nicely not to leave food In the room you really don't need to get so worked up over it.

That is an opinion, not a fact, sorry to point out.

You can't prevent them swapping lunches. You can't even tell them off for swapping lunches. Just ask them to please bin food they don't want.

Your food is obviously quite shit. Step up your packed lunch game or quit whining.

Host mum of 15 years here ... you're massively over reacting! You just need a breezy "please remember to put unwanted food in the bin" comment.

Just a simple - girls can you pop any food rubbish in the bin please and not leave it your rooms - will suffice. Not sure why you want to make a huge uncomfortable drama out of it, or why you are policing what they chose to eat.

Err..?

Fine to remind them to put uneaten food in the bin but really odd to be pissed off because they are having food from outside of your house.

Just be lucky that you didn't have the problem a friend of mine had after the departure of a German exchange student. A strange odour developed in the room and eventually it was discovered that there were 2 German salamis hidden under the bed - purchased in Germany before he came to the UK. It was unclear whether they had been meant as a "gift" or whether they were something for him to eat in the UK.

I think as it's such a bizarre thing to be remotely bothered about to begin with, that 'wit' was easily believable

Next time round have the no food in bedroom rule from the start.
This time ask them to bin the rubbish - reminder of the bin. Then remind them that food waste plates/cups/bowls should be brought out promptly.
Leave it at that.
As PP has said food is a matter of taste. Have you asked them what they would like? Or asked them to cook with you - show you their favourite meal.

I'm expecting their parents to think they will come back with some new life skills as well as language ones. Maybe don't do all washing- educate them how to use the machine 🙂

Just cheerfully say to them, "hey you guys, Let's make sure we throw out any food we have left over so we don't get bugs. Cool? Great! Good job!"

Don't make it a thing. Everything is already excruciating for teens and they're overseas in the house of a strange lady.

I'm with the PPs. It's not a big deal if they're otherwise nice kids. Just remind them with a smile to put their food waste into the bin, or into your kitchen waste bin. No need to then give it another thought.

I think it's fine to remind them to bin food and not leave it in their bedroom. I wouldn't make a huge deal out of it, though, it sounds like pretty standard thoughtless teen behaviour.

I think you're being controlling to complain about them having food other than the food you've given them, though.

Ha. I remember being in France for 2 weeks as a summer student with a friend. 15 as well. We were homesick and did not get enough to eat so we went to buy pastries and sneaked them into our room to eat😊 I do think we threw everything the garbage in the bin though.. If I were you I would tell them nicely that you did some cleaning up and please throw leftover food etc in the bin. Stop. Don't say anything about them having food you haven't prepared! You don't know why they have it and frankly it's none of your business. You might be a great cook but 15-year olds are no experts on the matter. They probably miss their ratatouille and crème brûlé😉

I was a summer student myself, don’t take it personally but they probably don’t like your food, it’s probably something they’re not used to.

I had two Italian girls with me and they really struggled with simple things like baked beans on toast, none of us had ever eaten it before.

but, oh the joy of discovering Wimpy! 😂

Also they may just be enjoying the freedom of being able to go to a shop and buy what they like of “foreign” food. I really wouldn’t make a big deal about that (however fabulous your packed lunches are). Note that if the entire contents of the packed lunches aren’t in the room then chances are that they are that first

They are allowed to eat whatever food they choose.

the only issue you can address is proper disposal of refuse.

It is a problem with some teenagers. I am constantly nagging my 15yo to get trash out of her room. She has ASD and likes to eat in private. She also struggles with certain executive function issues. She is exactly the kind of child who does things like go on language exchanges, high achieving and well behaved. I’ve seen the other students in her groups. Many of them are just like her.

all you need to do is a one sentence reminder that trash, especially food waste, needs to go in the bin. Then stop or you are the one who will be disrespectful.

I had Nigerian students.

They hated my food - well, most of it anyway. English food they found far too bland and unpleasant.

I cooked curries and they taught me how to cook some Nigerian food. I bloody love a fried plantain now.

I like to think I'm a good cook - I've travelled quite a lot and done cooking courses in places as far flung as Marrakech and Laos.

Food really is a matter of taste.

As others have said, mention about throwing food away properly, but don't mention about bringing other food in! I'm a grown woman and I don't think I would be able to tell you I don't like your lunch in their position! I would do the same - try and swap

Wind up merchant

What a ridiculous overreaction! You might think you food is fabulous but they clearly prefer other kind of food. Who are you trying to impress? They are 15 year old French students, not some judges in a cooking competition