Guests wasting food

Wanton waste of food really makes me mad. I’d probably feel obliged to say, ‘This time, could you please not take far more than you’re going to eat? The waste really bothers me.’
And if she’s offended, so be it. (Serve her right!)
In some cultures, it’s considered acceptable to do this. I was once at a wedding where the man sitting next to me (Mediterranean culture) took masses of lovely roast lamb from the buffet - and left most of it!
IMO it’s obscene - particularly nowadays, when food prices have soared.

There is no any other way. That woman is disrespectful and thick. The OP has every right to expect to be respected in her own house with the food she bought and prepared.

“You’re never going to manage all that surely Majorie!”

”puddings are on their way folks but Marjorie hasn’t finished her mains yet!”

”Are you feeing unwell, Marjorie? You must have been hungry to take all that food but you’ve hardly touched it. Can I get you anything - a taxi home maybe?”

I wouldn’t actually say any of this but I’d be tempted.

And again this is not going to avert the bad feeling that the OP says they want to avoid......

So you’re being all airy about how you just couldn’t bring yourself to be bothered about food waste… before saying you don’t actually ever waste food, and use party leftovers for lunches etc.?

Maybe the OP would like to use leftovers for lunches. But not when it’s been sat mushed up on someone else’s plate.

It's not the same. Eaten is one thing. Wasted is another. Respecting food comes from how you were raised.

It's like a buffet. I was always horrified how greedy some people are, putting so much on their plate and then throwing half or even more. I would always take a little of something I might like and then go for more if I did and if I'm still hungry.
In that case I would just suggest saying something like this:
'Oh you know, we bought/made some new sausages this time, take a little and come for more if you like it. I know there's a lot of sides too, may I suggest you just do a spoon of something you like and come for more if you do. That way everyone can try everything.'

And if it doesn't go - "Sorry hon, we are not happy to dispose food and I would appreciate if you only taje as much you can eat. I am teaching our children to respect food and be grateful for it and I would expect any adult who comes to my house to be respectful too. Thank you for understanding!"

Haha I once had a friend who hosted some neighbours and left out treats buffet style with little signs saying ‘eat me’, ‘drink me’ - she called me horrified that ‘they ate and drank it all’ 😂😂😂. Some people are just not innately generous enough to be hosts.

Well yes, but the OP doesn't want to set off Armageddon for some reason.....

Particularly when it’s my poor mum that’s been slaving away and then the food can’t be left for my dad to have for his lunch because it had to go in the bin!

See, that's where she should plate up a few sausages and burgers or whatever and put them to one side out of sight before inviting everyone to dig in.
That's what we do.
So if my Dad's like "don't mind me, I'll have some in a bit after everyone else has had some" then comes back three hours later going "there's nothing left!" 😭🙄😁 (well duh, you snooze you lose 😁) you can just whip his plate out.

My sister and her other half do this. Eyes bigger than their bellies and it really winds me when I see how much they waste between them. Particularly when it’s my poor mum that’s been slaving away and then the food can’t be left for my dad to have for his lunch because it had to go in the bin! They do it at restaurants too, order a meal and loads of sides between them and hardly touch anything (they never pay either). I have taken to telling them every-time we eat together and I notice it now to make them feel awkward. No idea why they do it, they must know they will never finish. I just think some people are bloody greedy to be honest.

I would tell the woman straight ‘the last x amount of times you’ve been round, I’ve noticed you filled your plate and most went in the bin. Please feel free to eat as much as you like, but can you just make up a smaller plate and go back for more, so if you don’t want it someone else can eat it or I can save it for the next day’

Awwh, bless.

@latetothefisting
head tilt.

A lot of "All you can eat for £X" buffets will now charge you if you leave too much food, and you are warned in advance of this policy...

“Big meaty BBQs” 😆😆

That's a good idea or ask guests to select food the day before they arrive -then you won't over-buy.

And, as others have suggested have plenty of jacket potatoes, bread buns, coleslaw to fill them up...

Make it clear they buy their own booze.

As for Ms Fussy-tumtum, ask her if there is any food she really likes. Say that you noticed she didn't eat all the food, so maybe there are some items she would prefer? 🙄

i think you need a bit of perspective here. It’s one single plate of food, and trying to control and micromanage your guests’ eating habits is a bit over the top.

I would let the group know that you hate food waste, please be mindful, by all means have a second helping.
I would be embarrassed to waste food that someone had provided, if I filled my own plate. just got a flashback to FIL's servings, a weeks worth of food, I had to leave most of it

Same. I know two people who did exactly this and both have raging EDs. They would gush about how amazing the food looks, pile their plates high but literally eat two bites and leave the plate. One was also bulimic because she would drink a huge glass of water with the meal and then disappear to the bathroom for ages, then come back reeking of perfume. It's sad that they don't realise how transparent the behaviour looks but still put on a show at every social event.

There was also a Youtuber I used to watch who clearly had an ED. She would spend so much time in vlogs raving about food and stockpiling sweets, chocolate and advent calendars. However when it came to actually eating the food on camera she would only take the tiniest nibble and you could tell she was struggling to even get that bite down. Or she would spend the entire day cooking, serve herself a huge portion and then only eat half a penne noodle in front of the camera. Then she would make her partner and mother eat the rest claiming she was already full.

I'd find it very annoying but I don't think you can do anything really.

Your comment is making me think you’re either the rude greedy self absorbed food waster who turns up empty handed or you do the same yourself!!
She does it EVERY time so she knows what the foods like, if it’s a case of not liking her food then she wouldn’t take it in the first place never mind over fill her plate every time then dump most of it!! It’s something kids do, eyes bigger than their bellies and waste it all because they’re not the ones out of pocket paying for it!!

Where I live quite a few of the more expensive hotels have started with much smaller breakfast plates. I think it’s good.

I haven't had potato salad with salad cream for years!
Sit me in the corner, big bowl. No waste.

I suppose it's annoying like the all you could eat fusion places were. People getting platefuls, don't like it... Another plateful.. Don't like it... I know they've paid and that's the concept, but my manners kick in at some point.

Which is rare.

Many BBQS seem to feature coleslaw , potato salad and worst of all pasta ‘salad’ .

But whatever it is the OP is serving, the guest piles it up and leaves it do I dare say she would do the same with rocket and pomegranate. Which is more expensive than potatoes in salad cream.