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Original poster

Dinner guest who won’t eat homemade food

571 replies

AnneLovesGilbert · 11/02/2020 18:00

We’ve got a friend and his partner coming for dinner soon, this is the first time we’ll meet her. She doesn’t eat homemade food at other people’s houses so he suggested a takeaway or ready meals. We can’t go out as we’re rural as there isn’t anywhere close enough and we have a baby.

We love having people over and both really enjoy cooking so I don’t how to approach it. Money is a bit tight and we can only get takeaway from one place. If we got ready meals should I check what they like first? Would providing nibbles before the meal be okay if I open the packets in front of them?

Any advice?

OP posts:
74NewStreet · 12/02/2020 18:51

MacBlank. This guy isn’t op’s son... He’s a random ex colleague of her dh that they’ve only very recently renewed contact with Confused

MB246 · 12/02/2020 18:53

Just cook dinner and wak a couple of frozen ready meals in the freezer. When she turns up, ask her which one and chuck it in the microwave. Serve dinner and dump her crap on a plate and stick it in front of her.

Falkross · 12/02/2020 19:00

@BrightYellowDaffodil
Having had major issues with my someone doing this to me more and more over the last year, I think I will take a leaf out of your book going forward!

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GlitterMagicPompom · 12/02/2020 19:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MarvellousMonsters · 12/02/2020 19:09

20 pages and still no explanation as to WHY she won’t eat ‘homemade’ food. Shock

I need to know, and I doubt I’m the only one! Grin

BrightYellowDaffodil · 12/02/2020 19:14

@Falkross It’s the way forward! I love cooking for people and I put a lot of time, effort and sometimes money into it. I’m not having that wasted by people who decide at the last minute that they can’t be arsed to drive over or some such.

Alpal1 · 12/02/2020 19:14

I wonder if it is some sort of OCD/anxiety? If so, she deserves a bit of understanding.
I think you should ask them to clarify her needs. It would not be too expensive to get a family sized ready meal at Tesco’s/Asda. Add some fancy home prepared veg (which she can turn down) to make it seem a bit more special.
Plenty of inexpensive ready made pudding out there.

Oldandwise · 12/02/2020 19:18

Forget her.You dont need this.
She will soon realise invitations will dry up!

murakamilove · 12/02/2020 19:20

Tell them to come after food then - rudest cf I’ve heard for a while!

TheMsMurphy · 12/02/2020 19:24

I haven’t read the full 20 pages of replies but I wouldn’t me meeting them for dinner in that case. Maybe just evening drinks and nibbles and she can bring her own bits.

Original poster
AnneLovesGilbert · 12/02/2020 19:34

20 pages and still no explanation as to WHY she won’t eat ‘homemade’ food.

Pretty sure most people still posting have missed that they’re no longer coming so I’m not responsible for the 20 pages. And I don’t have a clue why she will or won’t eat what she does Smile

I also still don’t have a microwave to the people suggesting I used one.

Anyway, I’ll be home Monday night cooking a normal meal if any of you want to stop in and join us. I’ll even clean my hob first.

OP posts:
luvabellawilleatme · 12/02/2020 19:50

My BIL is the same, he won't eat anything that any of the family or his friends have touched (so we can't cook anything for him, offer him a sweet from a bag (unless they are individually wrapped) or open a bag of crisps, if we share something he has to open it, take his portion then we are allowed to have some) He will however happily eat from takeaways, fast food joints and even buffet type restaurants where anybody could have sneezed (or worse) on the food. He has been like this for over 25 years now I think.

Frownette · 12/02/2020 20:01

Wow that made ME feel stressed just reading this thread and I don't even know any of you.

Glad they cancelled, please don't arrange any more meals with them

74NewStreet · 12/02/2020 20:02

That is incredibly odd, luvabella, I don’t know how you’ve indulged that nonsense for 25 years Confused
Does he think you’re all mucky mingers?!

MerryDeath · 12/02/2020 20:09

jfc!. i recently found a sainsbury's own brand frozen lasagne in the depths of my freezer. it was absolutely rank. get her one of those and serve a homemade one for everyone else.

kasmac · 12/02/2020 20:16

Wow seems quite strange ....unless someone else has poisoned her once lol. I don’t think it’s allergies....we have allergies in our house and wld just say so and take some food with. Maybe she has a fear of the unknown hygiene in other folks kitchens or something like that.....in which case I wld have said, hey why don’t we bring takeout with us to save you cooking 🤷‍♂️

onegiftedgal · 12/02/2020 20:17

Well I've heard it all now. Wtf is wrong with people? She sounds demented.

Barney60 · 12/02/2020 20:27

Im about to be shot down in flames, do your worst we are what we are... but as a fussy/picky eater due to IBS/veggie/ OCD I can totally agree with the visitor. Just maybe once met, she will relax but prefers to eat out untill seen how you are before eating your food. So would it be more rude for her not to eat it than just say lets eat out? give her a chance to explain first please. could be due to health reasons.

rosesandbees · 12/02/2020 20:27

Read the update very sensible to suggest lunch instead. We live in a rural area and it’s difficult to get take away so we never really do. For future if this occurs again or there is a night you don’t want to cook from scratch the company ‘cook’ does excellent ‘home made’ ready meals you can have in the freezer. They can be quite pricey but as an occasional treat they are delicious. They have a huge range www.cookfood.net

cherish123 · 12/02/2020 20:28

Does she need to come? It may be that she has social hangups about food. She might be relieved of the excuse not to come. Is she his business partner or girlfriend? Could she bring something she likes.

purplebunny2012 · 12/02/2020 20:30

As I suspected, she's not asked everyone eat takeaway or ready meal, just that that is what she'd require.
The OP read that she wants everyone to not eat homemade, so you carry on with cooking for everyone else.
Contrary to almost everyone's abhorrent disgust on here, there's actually some rather nice ready meals you get in a supermarket. I rather like the steam ones

luvabellawilleatme · 12/02/2020 20:30

74NewStreet - if it was just us I would be offended but it is everyone! It does get annoying because we are close with him and go away on self catering holidays with him and everything has to be separate, separate butters, tomato ketchup, tea bags...

EmpressJewel · 12/02/2020 20:35

Does anyone get visions of the show Dinner Date, where you see the 'losers' eating a rank looking ready meal, whilst the date involves a restaurant meal.

lboogy · 12/02/2020 20:37

At first I thought maybe she has a hygiene issue but then a takeaway is often less hygienic than a a friend's kitchen. Do you have pets OP?

lboogy · 12/02/2020 20:40

Why don't posters read the OP's updates FFS?
@Ginfordinner because those of us using the app can't see the updates without scrolling and scrolling and scrolling looking for the op highlighted in green

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