To wonder if I am greedy or do some people serve really small portions?

[TheHouseOnTheLane]

I don't think I'm greedy....I'm a slim person...size 10-12 UK and 5 foot 6.

I don't binge or anything but when I eat a roast dinner, I do want more than 2 potatoes!

When MIL cooks anything she always seems to underestimate amounts....so there's for eg 2 potatoes per adult and one per kids...not a lot of meat and two other vegetables....curry...she'll do enough rice so people get two dessert spoonsfull.

That's not enough is it?

I am always hungry at DP's parents' house. Dreading Christmas. the portions are insanely small.

His mother always serves turkey rolls on boxing day for dinner - but this consists of half a burger bun-style roll each (yes just one half of it) topped with one very thin slice of turkey and a couple of sprigs of cress.

I don't think its even them getting older that does this - DP considers it normal! I think its because they have always done it.

Dp is just as bad, having learned the habits - he thinks a portion of pasta is a fist sized handful. Maybe it is, but I am still hungry after that and end up eating cake or biscuits to fill me up, which isn't helpful! He isn't allowed to cook pasta now. Stupid thing is, he needs to lose weight and I don't.

I think a lot of people don't realise what a normal serving is anymore. I'm not surprised people are overweight. Two potatoes is plenty! Then meat and lots of green veg. The world has also forgotten what an average size person is.

I agree with Mermaid

I'm also surprised about the number of people who seem to want to eat until they feel sick. I aim to eat just enough and am very interested in food. Sadly I am full long before I have tried everything I wanted to eat.

There's a long way between meagre portions and eating so much that you can't move.

This was our meal on Sunday, we shared the extra yorkie, dd had another spoonful of mash and I had more green beans and gravy, no more meat as I had it earmarked for another meal.
Neither of us are overweight.
I'd probably serve twice as much for guests though.

Making lots of roasties is essential! It means fried left over potatoes the next day (with whatever takes your fancy).

I'm Irish btw, and glad there are others here who understand...

is your mil in her 70s? My mother always reacts to my (or my daughter's) hunger as though it were greed. It can annoy me, especially as we're going there for xmas eve.

I'm Irish and so's my Mum by the way!
She's the push a few lettuce leave around type. SHe's had an elegant sufficiency after those 5 lettuce leaves.

My dad does get a bit panicky though, if there's no potato served with his rice (or pasta)

Wow. I'm drooling at these photos!

Formerbabe Hate small portions...It makes me anxious.

Went to a friends house and she served one chicken between 10 people!

I get anxious at small portions too! I bet the gravy was served in an eggcup.

OP I would start taking extra food with you. You know those ready-meal portions of mashed potato, rice etc? When it runs out and she says "oops, should've made more" you can whip it out.

Your MIL might be mortified, of course, but she probably won't under-cater again.

I do think some people have lost sight of what a portion is.
However I have an aunt who will under cater to make sure she has no left overs. We round round for a meal recently, there were 8 of us in total. She had cooked exactly 16 baby potatoes and enough for four green beans and 4 bits of carrot each, bizarre. IMO.

I find however many roasties you cook there will always be none left! Me and dp made the most enourmous roast with billions of roasties loads of everything else left. No roasties! They are the best bit.