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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I cooking shit or being stingy??

467 replies

Hydranga · 06/08/2026 13:44

Currently on holiday with my sister, her husband, their 8 year old DS Amanda 14 year old daughter

i had originally booked it for just me, DH and Ds (8) but I invited them last minute at no cost to them as sister was stressed about money and not being able to take the kids out.

They have complained non stop about the food. First evening we got a takeaway but first morning they asked what was for breakfast so I said I had porridge or Greek yogurt and fruit and nuts. BIL burst out laughing saying “so it’s either prison food or bird food?”. Sister said “don’t you have anything in for the kids?” So I said I’d got the porridge for the kids and I have honey, jam or Nutella to stir into it. Teen rolled her eyes and sister said “I’ll go to shop later and get something in”. Was it really so bad???

that evening I made spaghetti bolognese. 75g dry pasta each and a 600g pack of mince shared between us all with mushrooms, bacon and various veggies. When I served it BIL pulled a face and said where’s the rest of it? They all started laughing - teen dramatically pulled a bit up from her plate and let it fall back down slowly whilst pulling a face. Sister said “what’s up with you?” And teen said “it tastes funny”. They all laughed.

I was getting pissed off at this point and told them they’re welcome to buy and cook their own food if they’d prefer. BIL said “oh here we go, here’s the catch” so I said no I’m more than happy to carry on buying and cooking but not to be insulted and laughed at. DH then decided to tell everyone I’m always on weird diets which isn’t true, I have ibs so I do try and restrict certain things but he made it out to be about weight loss which it isn’t. DS said he likes the food and DN said “yeah but you’re used to eating crap”

So yesterday I refused to cook. They’d bought their own cereals but when it came to evening meal I told them I was cooking a curry for us 3 so they might want to pop to shop and get something in which they did and came back with dohnuts and loads of sweet food. Fair enough.

tonight sister had told me she can’t afford to go back to shop as they hadn’t budgeted for repeated shopping trips. I’ve told her I’m cooking paella and they’re welcome to join us without insults. She said she’d talk to them.

as of 10 minutes ago teen was still asking what was for dinner so she clearly daren’t tell her.

Am I really cooking shit or being stingy?? I’m starting to wonder if it’s me

OP posts:
Delatron · 06/08/2026 21:31

EmpressStorm · 06/08/2026 21:27

It’s not though is it, there is no obesity crisis because people eat a bit more on holiday. To think that is a gross misunderstanding of why we have an obesity crisis and it’s not holiday consumption.

No the portion control…the claims that 75 grams of pasta (plus all the bolognese) and 2 loaves of garlic bread isn’t enough. That breakfast must be a fry up every day and granola and porridge isn’t cutting it…but mainly the portion sizes.

Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · 06/08/2026 21:36

I don’t understand the hosting thing. Op rented a holiday house. Realised there’s extra room and invited sister and family to stay for free.
I’d expect sister to have chipped in with food.
A few years ago my sibling kindly offered for me and dd to share their holiday house as it had an extra bedroom. I contributed to food and helped cook/prep food. I certainly didn’t sit on my bum waiting to be served. They are vegetarian I’m not, I certainly didn’t complain it wasn’t meat based meals. It was very kind to invite us.

Goldenbear · 06/08/2026 21:38

It sounds fine and adequate,I think many people over eat. However, this is why I hate self catering.

DisforDarkChocolate · 06/08/2026 21:39

Justaquestionplease · 06/08/2026 13:56

They are being rude but 75g pasta each is a bit stingy imo

Really, I thought 50g was standard?

Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · 06/08/2026 21:39

I find this bupa healthy portion guide helpful. It recommends 75g dry pasta a person.
https://www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/portion-size-guide

justasking111 · 06/08/2026 21:39

Delatron · 06/08/2026 21:24

I was thinking the same thing…

It's sobering isn't it. The Bolognese sauce with all the extra ingredients sounds delicious. I love bacon in ours too.

TheOctopus · 06/08/2026 21:42

Blimey this is why I would never go on holiday with anyone else!
Your breakfast is almost my ideal. I would add some crusty bread and honey. I don't like pastry or cooked food for breakfast. In fact I'm away myself ATM with Adult DC and while I won't be cooking I have brought breakfast bits. Granola and toastie bread. If that's not enough they can go out for breakfast!
Your spag bol sounds lovely but I would always do more pasta than I think is enough.

Betterthatthan · 06/08/2026 21:42

Whether or not 75g of pasta is enough or if people do or don't like porridge, nothing excuses the bil saying 'prison food', 'where's the rest of it' and 'here comes the catch' when he has contributed nothing, and the teen making faces and calling the food 'shit'. They can eat what the OP provides, feed themselves or go home.

BitterTits · 06/08/2026 21:43

FeliciaFancybottom · 06/08/2026 13:55

Bonkers.

So you don't like cooking on holiday. Why is it bonkers that the op does?

TutTutTutSigh · 06/08/2026 21:48

I do 70g of pasta per person! With bolegnese, parmesan and garlic bread it's plenty and I'm not a competitive undereater by any stretch 😂

britinnyc · 06/08/2026 21:48

They are incredibly rude. Although that doesn’t sound like what I would want to eat on holiday (nothing wrong with it, just very normal and unexciting) they have some nerve complaining. That said, if I was cooking on holiday for a group I would probably try to plan something everyone would like and also split the costs between us.

Cardhey · 06/08/2026 21:48

600g mince for 6/7 people is ridiculously stingy!

your dd attitude is awful- spoilt, ungrateful, entitled. Bil is rude.

TutTutTutSigh · 06/08/2026 21:49

And tell your rude guests to piss off and feed themselves.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 06/08/2026 21:50

They sound very rude.

Yetone · 06/08/2026 21:50

EmpressStorm · 06/08/2026 21:27

It’s not though is it, there is no obesity crisis because people eat a bit more on holiday. To think that is a gross misunderstanding of why we have an obesity crisis and it’s not holiday consumption.

But anyone who regularly ate the right amount of food would probably not want extra on holiday.

Mmmm19 · 06/08/2026 21:53

Pinkflamingo10 · 06/08/2026 13:59

They’re so rude. And ungrateful.
however would serve way more than 75g pasta per person though and I use 750g mince for 5 people, so I think 500g mince for 7 people is a stretch especially when cooking for guests, there certainly wouldn’t be any seconds for anyone or enough for hungry children!

Edited

I agree - it’s terrible how rude and ungrateful they are and it shouldn’t matter if you are stingy, a bad cook or not to their taste they can be grateful and help or sort themselves out. But yes the pasta and sauce sounds very small (we do 500g pasta and 450g mince and for 2 adults and 2 children under 9 and there may be a portion left over depending on the day) - and we are slim / try to be healthy ish house

DeftGoldHedgehog · 06/08/2026 21:54

Though I have to say I tend to cook for an army and be generous when I don't know people's appetites, rather than ration out so much per person. People might be super hungry and want seconds.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 06/08/2026 21:56

Yetone · 06/08/2026 21:50

But anyone who regularly ate the right amount of food would probably not want extra on holiday.

I'm sometimes more active on holiday so want to eat more as I'm hungrier.

hoarahloux · 06/08/2026 22:05

BitterTits · 06/08/2026 21:43

So you don't like cooking on holiday. Why is it bonkers that the op does?

I genuinely can't believe how many people are saying 75g uncooked pasta is stingy. I think some people just have never made a really solid spag bol and are thinking miserable watery jarred sauce. With meat, mushrooms and vegetables - various veg the OP says, I'd use peppers, aubergine, maybe courgette too - it's such a filling meal. Garlic bread for dipping.

The breakfast sounded fine too. Again, as a big fatty, I don't eat breakfast but yoghurt with fruit is nice.

SouthLondonMum22 · 06/08/2026 22:11

Their behaviour is awful even if the food wasn't what they expected or wasn't quite enough for them.

Don't cook another thing for them and if they don't like it, they can go home.

Delatron · 06/08/2026 22:15

Yetone · 06/08/2026 21:50

But anyone who regularly ate the right amount of food would probably not want extra on holiday.

Well exactly.

BitterTits · 06/08/2026 22:24

gayestgal · 06/08/2026 15:00

She has purposefully rented somewhere with a big kitchen, and wants to bake lovely stuff

She. Is. Hosting.

Well no, she was going on holiday but then she invited her sisters family as an Act. Of. Generosity.

Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · 06/08/2026 22:24

When I stay at a nice hotel with a big breakfast buffet I’d go for yoghurt, fruit, nuts. That to me is a nice treat. I also have also ordered porridge a few times on recent holidays, one was delicious with strawberries and pecans so not prison food. It sounds like you are just on a totally different page food wise to them. But no excuse to be rude. If really not to their taste they can buy a toastie loaf and box of cereal for rest of week.

theneighboureatmysalad · 06/08/2026 22:36

CrapAbble · 06/08/2026 21:08

Someone's never heard of Italy.

I wasn't as serious as the waterypasta-gate poster was...

CrapAbble · 06/08/2026 22:38

theneighboureatmysalad · 06/08/2026 22:36

I wasn't as serious as the waterypasta-gate poster was...

Oh, whoops.

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