Guest says I starved her <shock>

[stringsoup]

Had a relative to stay for a few days, she just wanted to eat all time which we did not expect. I had cooked and baked which she ate (way more than us) then she said she wanted to get up in the night as she was so hungry!

Agree.

I feel the eggs make a big difference to the breakfast. Although they weren't mentioned initially.

I agree, but there's nothing listed that the eggs would naturally go with... I wonder if OP just means that there were eggs available in the fridge, as opposed to her actually having cooked any?

Really? I have Greek yogurt and granola with coffee for breakfast, fruit/toast, or often just skip lunch if I’m not in, chocolate bar or biscuits for afternoon snack, dinner could be anything from cheese on toast to a full roast. Don’t really eat anything after that except maybe fruit. I’d be perfectly happy with OPs hosting!

I get hungry when staying with my elderly parents and they definitely eat more carbs and less protein than i do. But i just stock up on my snacks.

When someone is a guest, youre inviting them to share in your life and meals. If your guest has a much larger appetite than yours - that’s her responsibility. I think your guest was really ungracious.

I find people's views on here quite interesting. Some people are underweight and would eat more than that but I'm overweight and 5'11 and eat less than that. My nan eats 2 toast for breakfast, a light sandwhich for lunch, a biscuit around 3 and then a light dinner (you mentioned relative is 70) so really I guess it depends on what your relative usually eats, do they have a big meal at lunch time?

Also, if you dont want to host her - i would say no. She’s been exceptionally rude to say that to your sister. You’re not a free hotel - she’s expected to be pleasant to you!

Served with bread but also cheese and salami, so there was definitely protein!

If this is going to be a regular thing, and you're simply a convenient place to sleep, maybe they should cater at least one dinner. You don't have to be a family guesthouse

This sounds like a lot of catering? She’d be properly starving at mine 😆 I’d make you a cup of tea and you’re welcome to help yourself to whatever breakfast foods I have. On a weekend might pick up pastries. Beyond that, you’re on your own and can go to the shop

Depends on portion size though - people saying it's plenty are assuming generous portions or what they would generally eat.

Toddler sized portions of that menu would leave you hungry.

Yes the phrasing is odd. You'd naturally say eggs and toast. It doesn't give us a clear idea of how this breakfast really looked.

That’s a lot of food OP -clearly it’s someone who massively over eats - also I would never dream of saying it to a host even if I was hungry -

She's clearly off her rocker - it sounds to me as though you provided a huge amount of food - if I had been staying I wouldn't have eaten at all of those occasions and I still would have put on weight! If you want to double check your sanity you could work out roughly how many calories you were providing and check it against the standard number you're recommended to eat as an adult so as to maintain your weight.

When she comes again, as you are being used as a 'convenient' place to stay, and she has complained so much, I would simply cook what you normally cook and then, at the start of her stay, indicate that you will be catering in a way that you normally do for the household but that if she is hungry she can make herself toast and here is the jam / marmalade/ marmite as she wishes.

id be starving too tbh

You are some woman.
I'd be sending her the local hotel numbers.
How rude!

This is so mumsnet 😅

It’s hard to know if enough was provided or not as it also depends on portion sizes.

ive got friends and they don’t serve a lot but would probably think that they have provided loads. but an example would be they order a takeaway and for 4 people would order 2 curry’s and 1 portion of rice. They would probably describe it as an Indian takeaway buffet for 8 including sides.

@stringsoup

Love your username.

I think PP advice to actually ask in advance what your cousin would like you to get in for her is the best way, then there can be no unnecessary comments.

I think your guest was rude to comment.

I think your menu sounds lovely and perfectly reasonable.

maybe just have a few help yourself snacks around - crisps/ biscuits/ bananas etc. It could also be that the quantity of food was fine but that it was served later than what they’re used to so we’re hungry waiting for it.

It’s hard to tell if she is unreasonable or not - got to ask her weight ?

WTF??

I'd hate to see the size of the birds if you think that's a very small amount of food! 🐦

I provide a bottle of chilled water and a big tin of really nice biscuits for the bedroom.

I'll do a choice of full English, crumpets, toast and nice preserves.

We have lunch out generally to give me a break. I encourage them to fill their boots.

Supper is a light easy to prepare meal. Then cheese and biscuits.

I watched my mother run herself ragged with guests baking up a storm and thought na I'm not doing it.

Soup's not a meal. You need some carbs.

Hopefully she never has to stay in hospital, then she’ll learn what hunger looks like.