Page 2 | Taking fridge food: sensible or rude?

RevoltingPeasant · 2011-05-27T08:04:36+00:00

We are going to DPILs' house this weekend and staying for a week with them and my DM (they live close together). We get a veggie box every week mid-week. I cancelled it for next week when we will be away but not this week - so we now still have most of a box of veggies in the fridge which will be wilted and bad by the time we get back. So I thought I'd pack them all into a coolbox and take them to DPILs': after all, they are fresh organic veg, seasonal, etc, and they will otherwise go to waste. It's kind of like a contribution to the food we will eat and also, why not? But when I mentioned this to a colleague she pulled a face and said, 'So basically you're dumping your old leftovers on them? What, do you expect them to start cooking your stuff when you get there?' She seemd to think I was really skanky to do this. I thought it was sensible [confused]. Who is right? Would you be offended if guests did this??

ChristinedePizan · 27/05/2011 09:36

Your colleague is the one who's weird

squeakytoy · 27/05/2011 09:37

It would make sense to me to take it.. much better than waste.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 27/05/2011 09:38

How odd. We're off to Cornwall tomorrow and I shall be packing the contents of the fridge in a coolbag to take with us. Why would I leave milk, ham etc to go off while we're away and buy identical stuff down there?

Some of you know some weeeeird people! :o

L8rAllig8r · 27/05/2011 09:39

I might not at a friends, but I definitely would, and do, with family. Agree with whoever said your colleague is a loon!

SenoritaViva · 27/05/2011 09:40

People are so keen to waste. I think if you cheerily arrive with it, explain the situation and even if some of it gets wasted because your In laws have already bought then it is better than it all going to waste. Your colleague is odd IMO.

diddl · 27/05/2011 09:59

I think that most people get in extra when expecting visitors so it would be a courtesy to let them know.

Can´t believe people would be offended though-especially as it´s family!

OTheHugeManatee · 27/05/2011 10:11

I hate wasting food and always take stuff with me when I'm visiting someone if it's decent quality stuff. Obviously turning up with a five-day-old, half-eaten roast chicken or some milk that's on the turn would be a bit (excuse the pun) off, but it's expensive feeding guests and I don't know anyone who'd begrudge a positive contribution.

Your colleague sounds very strange and precious.

emmanumber3 · 27/05/2011 10:13

I really don't see why that would be a problem at all . My sister keeps chickens & everytime she visits she brings at least a dozen eggs. Both my own DM & my MIL also turn up with things that "need eating up" when coming to visit. Where's the sense in leaving these things at home to go off?

Personally, I see it more as a nice thought than an offensive gesture .

IgnoringTheChildren · 27/05/2011 10:29

So basically everyone thinks that it's fine, except for the self-confessed control freaks whose objection is that they would end up with too much food in the fridge (fair enough!) Oh and we all think your colleague is a weirdo!

Onlyaphase · 27/05/2011 10:32

My MIL brings things around when she is off on a trip. And it pisses me off because I have other issues with her anyway.

If someone is coming I have planned what we are going to eat, so bringing some fruit and salad that needs eating within 24 hours when I already have all the food we need is irritating. Why can't she plan her food better so I don't get left with all her leftovers?

Bringing wine/eggs etc is something else entirely, as this doesn't need accommodating into the family's meals immediately.

I think part of the issue is that I wasn't brought up to do this, so see is as a bit odd. But mainly it is that I don't like MIL that much so, by extension, don't like her 2 tomato, half a cucumber and 3 apple offering either.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 27/05/2011 10:36

I don't know, Onlyaphase. It sounds quite straightforward to me. Do the yummy meals you'd planned for everyone else and give MIL a plate with 2 toms, half a cue and 3 apples. Everyone's happy :o

IgnoringTheChildren · 27/05/2011 10:38

Guess I posted too soon! Onlyaphase your MIL does sound irritating! I don't think the OP is planning on taking stuff that will instantly decompose in her IL's fridge though.

IgnoringTheChildren · 27/05/2011 10:39

Ooo - Onlyaphase you should definitely do what GwendolineMaryLacey said!

rookiemater · 27/05/2011 10:42

YANBU if you let her know in advance.
I'm happy to take food offerings, but not if I have things planned for a particular meal and I then feel beholden to have to try to include them, but as you are there for a weekend I'm sure they could fit them in somehow.

ibbydibby · 27/05/2011 11:02

My MIL often does this which is fine, I make a mental note that I will need to use it in the next day or so. However she gets really uptight if it is not served as part of the very next meal - eg "Where's that cabbage I brought" - that gets me really stressed.

Also brings half bottles of milk, that have sat in the car all day. (MIL and DP tend to make 3 hour journey to hours into a bit of a day out, stopping off at places en route). That's also fine, just put it in fridge and make (another) mental note to use it up quickly. However MIL would rather tip it into our milk, which I am not happy with, as think that her milk, being out for a while, will be deteriorating faster than ours etc etc

MIL also has tendency to bring loaf cakes, (yum) but she has a tendency to carry it around with her and carve off a slice whenever she feels like it, then announces it is too early for evening meal. Also tempts DCs with cake 5 minutes before tea time.

sorry has turned into bit of rant, not intended. MIL is lovely, we are just pole opposites when it comes to food/eating

ibbydibby · 27/05/2011 11:03

My MIL often does this which is fine, I make a mental note that I will need to use it in the next day or so. However she gets really uptight if it is not served as part of the very next meal - eg "Where's that cabbage I brought" - that gets me really stressed.

Also brings half bottles of milk, that have sat in the car all day. (MIL and DP tend to make 3 hour journey to hours into a bit of a day out, stopping off at places en route). That's also fine, just put it in fridge and make (another) mental note to use it up quickly. However MIL would rather tip it into our milk, which I am not happy with, as think that her milk, being out for a while, will be deteriorating faster than ours etc etc

MIL also has tendency to bring loaf cakes, (yum) but she has a tendency to carry it around with her and carve off a slice whenever she feels like it, then announces it is too early for evening meal. Also tempts DCs with cake 5 minutes before tea time.

Sorry has turned into bit of rant, not intended. MIL is lovely, we are just pole opposites when it comes to food/eating

Original poster

RevoltingPeasant · 27/05/2011 11:50

Thanks all :)

Ignoring since we have the same veggie box.... I wonder if you are also in Devon and use Riverford??

OP posts:

IgnoringTheChildren · 27/05/2011 12:15

Riverford - yes; Devon - no, our veg has to travel a little further from the farm to get to us! We had the asparagus last night - it was not a big hit with DS1 but at least he tried it without kicking up a fuss! I thought it was yummy.

takethisonehereforastart · 27/05/2011 12:50

Your colleague is being weird.

It's fresh fruit and veg, they will be really pleased.

2rebecca · 27/05/2011 13:34

I'd phone first as we would get in extra veg if folk coming and there wouldn't necessarily be room for loads of stuff as not a huge fridge.. If I knew someone was bringing some I'd buy less.
We usually phone each other and say "would you like me to bring up this cheese/ veg etc". My dad has an allotment so usually phones asking if his host wants various veg before he goes to save them rotting. If the answer is no you just make some soup and freeze it before going.