Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What's the etiquette of sharing food with neighbours?

74 replies

Munchcrip · 07/03/2022 03:35

Do you give them food in a container or on a serving plate?
Do you call them prior to dropping off the food?

OP posts:
SayCheeseBoris · 07/03/2022 09:08

I wouldn't do this now in my own home but definitely would do it at my parents house with their neighbours as we grew up together and often borrowed butter/egg/milk etc as times were tough back then. If having a party or occasion we'd often send them in plates of food and they'd always be happy to accept.

KatherineJaneway · 07/03/2022 09:16

Where do you live OP?

FantasticFebruary · 07/03/2022 09:20

@Munchcrip

The context would be a normal day, you just made a lot of food for dinner and want to share with a neighboor
Are they elderly/vulnerable/disabled/recovering or something? Unless it a cultural thing, it's not normal (well, not in England anyway).

If I had the urge to do this (which I don't as I hate cooking & live alone, so that's not left overs it's tomorrow nights dinner) I'd put it in disposable/takeaway type containers.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General relationships
caringcarer · 07/03/2022 09:20

In the summer I grow a lot of strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb and cooking apples. I sometimes pick strawberries or raspberries and put in a margarine tub and give to a neighbour with young children. She always seems happy with them. I tell them to help themselves to a few cooking apples and rhubarb. Best to pick just before you want to use them. I used to take in to staff room and leave on table with note to help yourself. If you don't pick ripe fruit it just rots on the bush.

CorpusCallosum · 07/03/2022 09:23

Sharing produce from a garden/allotment: any old box or bag & thank you very much!

Sharing leftovers from dinner: Don't?! It's weird.

TheVolturi · 07/03/2022 09:23

I grew up in an area where most of our neighbours were Asian. There was hardly a day went by when we didn't get a knock at the door with someone bearing freshly cooked food. It was very welcome and rarely wasted. It was usually brought on a normal plate or bowl, with tin foil or a towel on top. We washed and returned when done.

INeedNewShoes · 07/03/2022 09:23

I send baking over the top of the fence to my neighbour in a plastic box.

Also excess home grown veg that is too much for us to eat.

I wouldn't just take dinner around unannounced though as most people will already have bought/made food for that day surely?

WouldIwasShookspeared · 07/03/2022 09:25

The etiquette (so to speak) is to know them well enough to know what food they like and to know that they welcome gifts of food

SprayedWithDettol · 07/03/2022 09:29

If I didn’t know you, it wouldn’t matter what it came in, in would be in the bin.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 07/03/2022 09:50

It's nice to be nice.
A quick"i have made masses of shepherd's pie, would you like some?" Is nice.
The recipient could easily keep it for the next day, or say no.
Either way, it's nice to be thought of.

Halllyup17 · 07/03/2022 09:52

Do you live in the UK? Just that this was posted at 3am so, if you do, it's something you've already done or something you're planning to do.

Topseyt · 07/03/2022 10:01

It's something I would find unusual, and would probably politely decline.

I just haven't grown up with this happening around me at all.

Wallabyone · 07/03/2022 10:03

@MrsDrSpencerReid This has made me smile, as they are the same background as my family and we are much the same Grin

I often bake extra for my neighbours. Share cakes and savoury bakes, and drop them off with a text to let them know if it's around bedtime. My neighbour on the other side is recently widowed, and really appreciates a chat and something dropped off-I invite them in for coffee too sometimes!

I just use whatever-plates which are returned or baking paper and foil if appropriate.

saraclara · 07/03/2022 10:05

My elderly (but independent) aunt's neighbours bring her a meal twice a week. It started after she had an accident, and then returned from hospital. The man of the couple is a very keen cook, and tells her that he loves to be able to cook for others too, and to my astonishment (she's a very proud and independent person) she is very happy to receive them.

I think it's lovely of them, to be honest. And they must have pitched it well in the sense of the guy getting pleasure from catering for her, for her to accept. I didn't think to ask her whether they bring it on a plate or in tupperware though!

MrsSkylerWhite · 07/03/2022 10:07

They might not want it, have you asked?

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 07/03/2022 10:09

Extra dinner I would text first and ask. Cake or bread I'd just knock and offer it to them and have a chat at the same time. I usually put it in a plastic container.

theemmadilemma · 07/03/2022 10:09

I have a set of plates I rotate with my neighbour when I take him cakes. That way he knows they're the spares and he doesn't have to fuss about returning them quickly. (I tried paper, he wanted to return them for reuse too...!)

JTK392 · 07/03/2022 10:16

One neighbour enjoys baking but not always eating and likes feedback on her baking so brings us baked goods - lovely.

Also, years ago a few of us got into a habit of packing up excess food before leaving on holidays - fresh fruit and vegetables and unopened fresh foods to give to neighbours (often keyholders so they knew we were going away) and this has continued through the years.

Malibuismysecrethome · 07/03/2022 10:35

I think it’s a lovely thing to do.

icelollycraving · 07/03/2022 10:43

If a neighbour I barely knew brought me food,I’d thank them and bin it. When I was in my first studio flat, a neighbour used to bring me homemade dips that he’d made. He was creepy, and I suspected something unsavoury about the offerings as he’d always asked if I liked the taste Envy. I never ate them and stopped answering the door to him.
My neighbour occasionally gives me flowers though, as she’s allergic and so if given them, gives them to me. Marvellous. Flowers are one of my favourite things.

icelollycraving · 07/03/2022 14:16

Sorry. I killed your thread Blush

EricScrantona · 07/03/2022 14:29

Are you friends with them? Don't you just put it in the fridge to eat later?

This feels very stepford.

ThreeRingCircus · 07/03/2022 14:32

@icelollycraving

If a neighbour I barely knew brought me food,I’d thank them and bin it. When I was in my first studio flat, a neighbour used to bring me homemade dips that he’d made. He was creepy, and I suspected something unsavoury about the offerings as he’d always asked if I liked the taste Envy. I never ate them and stopped answering the door to him. My neighbour occasionally gives me flowers though, as she’s allergic and so if given them, gives them to me. Marvellous. Flowers are one of my favourite things.
That made me shudder!

OP I think in most circumstances I'd need to know my neigbours well enough to have their phone number and then would message them to ask if they'd like some before dropping it round.

If it was unsolicited and I knew them, it would be very kind of them but I'd still prefer them to have asked.....we may have too much food ourselves already.

If it was unsolicited and I didn't know them, there's no way I'd eat it.

BelleNoir · 07/03/2022 14:45

My mum's neighbour is always bringing food for her, she uses those reusable plastic takeaway containers and my mum washes them and returns them. I think it's a lovely kind gesture to share food with your neighbours

New posts on this thread. Refresh page