In laws with tiny stomachs

That's why i said people like me have to remember that other people are normal!

Looking on the bright side, no need to think you have to diet/cut down in the New Year - I'm dreading hearing about all the diets, zzzzzzzzz

What is normal? Not a single aspect of her stepmother's and father's daily eating that poster describes is normal as far as I'm concerned.

If you mean it's very common for older people to eat less, yes, of course that's normal. Unfortunately it also seems to be quite common for some of them to forget that others eat more and cater accordingly.

I’m significantly older , healthy weight and normal height and eat 3 meals and snacks and a little pudding

admit I only have one round of sandwiches at lunch these days - used to be 2

please don’t under feed me because you think old people don’t eat much !

In a normal house, not it's not rude and the host wouldn't take offence.

But many people would take it as a criticism of their hosting, how dare you say we don't provide you with enough food, do you think you are better than us, how rude, etc etc.

What is rude about explaining that you're hungry and need more food? What's rude about going to buy more food when you're hungry?
Strange rules.

Thoughts OP, but your descriptions have made me laugh.

I think it's true your appetite diminishes as you get older. I'm 52 and am now a 2 meal only person. I am still a fat fuck though so it's not performative undereating. But you have to remember that others are normal- particularly kids. I actually write down mealtimes for my kids and tick them off because if I personally am not hungry it sometimes slips my mind!

Hope you have a terrific takeaway.

This is normal isn't it?

Do you also forget that not everyone is the same and children need food? It's plain rude to do this to guests tbh

It also is very much a matter of generation differences.older people think most of the younger generation are overweight and obese, which scientifically, is correct.

But it means, what seems 'normal' for one is going to look very differently to the other.

As someone in the 'small appetite category', I struggle when I visit my parents with the constant pressure to eat more, have doubles, etc... and having to deal with the constant references to 'the skin on my bones', 'I need to stop starving myself', and the best 'I need to bri g some joy in my life', which I'm expected to accept with good grace because they mean well.

Unlikely these days. I’m 72 and I don’t even remember rationing. The only effect it had on my parents was an abhorrence of waste. The population was far healthier when rationing was in force.

That’s not the case for all older people - they may eat less than when young but it still depends on how active they are

just in case anyone starts underfeeding their old folks

My ex used to call them horses' doobries and 35 years later that's still what I hear in my head when I read it.

We live near my Mum but when my sister stays with her she takes over the cooking completely. She always leaves her with a freezer full of leftovers as well.Maybe you should just take over the catering.

Yes I do and no that wouldn't offend me.

Why does he tip toe around his own parents so much? He sounds like he’s staying with royalty or someone he barely knows. I would tell him he can get his own food then and you and the kids will get stuck in to the croissants 🤣

I bring stuff for my kids (and us!) to eat at my parents all the time. Also means they don’t have to do so much work!

People do eat less as they get older. My parents barely eat a thing and exclaim often on how much other people eat and how fat they are (my family and I are all slim/normal size with the exception of one adult child who is slightly overweight). They have a slice of toast for breakfast, no lunch, and a small dinner the portion size of which would be considered child-sized. They are in their 70s/80s but have been like this for years.

I don’t think I eat loads but if I’m hungry I just ask for more food when I’m at theirs.

Separately, I am adopting “horses doofers” into my family lexicon. I’ll be offering some horses doofers to my parents when they come over later.

Would you Iike a medal? ;)' m glad you don't say this to them. Because it would be extremely rude and unkind! If you are hosting people, you cater (within reason) to their tastes. Not your own)

This thread shows how one dire toon the intolerance sways. It's so much more prevalent amongst people with bigger appetite than the other way around. You post mentioning a medal is a good example of it.

It's all very well to say you cater for guests' tastes but it's hard to know how much you need to buy. My parents eat so much more than my husband and I. Years ago, we bought so much to cater to them but typical, they were on a diet ( and sow coming to us as the opportunity to eat more reasonably), their own words), and we ended up with such a waste of good food, it made me cry. I refuse to do it again, so we now wait until they come and do meal planning together. We all go food. shopping and we share the costs. It works well for us.

I'd be horrified if behind the scene, they refer to my husband and I the way posters do here. Thankfully I know they don't.

I'm grateful my inlaws always have a house bursting with food after reading this thread! My mother in law though has a fondness for sauv blanc and then goes off her food and eats small main meals but she does snack.
I tend to only eat twice a day but if ive guests I'd say eat whenever you want.

Never be a guest at a skinny persons house. They rarely have enough food for hosting

I assumed you were going for hoarderves - snacks you keep in a hoard, I thought it was quite clever!

Do you warn your guests in advance? I'd be really put out if I was staying somewhere else and was just offered 'picky bits' for lunch. Would you be offended if they then went out for lunch?

I do breakfast and tea/dinner. Lunch isn't a thing in this house, if anything it's some snacks or picky bits only.

Sounds miserable. Do they eat any veg or fruit at all?