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?

Christ my 2yo usually has at least 4 roasties at a Sunday lunch. She eats like a bird the rest of the time but put a Sunday roast in front of her and she is a toddler possessed. If only one was on offer she would have been devastated.

Do you think its the money? Maybe they can't afford to spend loads on food.

I like at least 4-5 spuds with a roast plus yorkshires, meat, veg and smothered in gravy

If i have guests I would aim to do a lot more food than I think we will need, I would be mortified if anyone left mine hungry.

This thread makes me sad for I have no potatoes and I cannot roast them.

Years ago my dh and I went to stay with my auntie and uncle for a few days. They lived in the south and this was the first time we'd been to their house though they came north every year. They seemed to have normal appetites when they were up north. My auntie served up the tiniest portions every night. And there were no leftovers for seconds. She made stovies one night, we got one spoonful each!! Dh and I went for a walk every night, down to the chippie to share a fish supper.

I dont get why food waste would be issue? If I make too much I have the leftovers next day for either lunch or dinner. My mum and dad always make loads of food in one go that gets eaten for few days.

OH family is opposite. They make just enough for 1 portion for everyone and never keep leftovers if there happens to be any. That said there is good portion of food and everyone has 2 - 4 large roast potatos :D and a pudding after a roast and plenty meat. Always feel full after.

I don't like saving leftovers after they've been on someone's plate. They always put ketchup on it or something like that. I love saving leftovers to go in the freezer, but there never seems to be enough for that.

But why would they be on the plate? They'd be in a dish or they'd be mostly eaten?

I wouldn't save plate scrapings either. Yuck!

Yeah not from plate but from the serving dish.

I don't like a heaped plate - I think it's a bit vulgar. My ILs used to serve up a roast dinner in its entirety, and it would be vast - far too much. (They have stopped doing this)

We serve our food from dishes on the table, so there is no opportunity to pile up someone else's plate. I like to have an abundance of everything available, but hate the idea of giving anyone a plate crammed with food. If people want loads, they can decide that for themselves.

2 roast potatoes would be ok for me too. It would depend on the size of them. I'd prefer more meat or mash and gravy.

Why ever do some people serve potatoes both roast and mashed? You wouldn't do any other food cooked in two ways at the same meal. And who wants boring mash when there are roasties?

Because my family have eyes bigger than their bellies and pile heaps on a plate at once

Oh dear I only have one maybe 2 if they're small. Dh has 4. It's usually with 2 or 3 other veg and meat.

Awww...the arts centre on my road used to have a lovely cafe. Lovely food. Not too expensive. But it was exclusively run, and mostly frequented,by retired ladies. I managed to mortally offend them by asking for a bigger portion once...they just didn't get that their bird like portions were tiny for some people. (I was breastfeeding at the time, too. I think I also tried to wangle some bread on the side ).

Ah Bertie. Tricky!

Orange - my MIL does roast and boiled. Who wants the boiled? None of us! Just chuck em all in the oven.

I ate 12 today. I also managed all the trimmings along with a starter and a dessert. My excuse is that I'm breastfeeding.

I've never breastfed so I have no idea, but does it really make people eat a staggering amount of food?

I mean does it make people more hungry than usual?

Some people Worra.

Bit like some pregnant women get ravenous.

Oh yeah, BFing makes you hungry like a wolf. I was seriously starving the whole time (and I have a healthy appetite as it is, so it was really something).

Breastfeeding uses up about the same number of calories as doing manual labour. (Plus with a small baby you kind of are doing manual labour all day also!)

Does someone who digs up a road all day get quite hungry?

Ahh I see.

The only things I know about BF-ing are what I've learned on MN, but I wasn't aware it made people eat to such a massive extent.

And yes, the road diggers around here keep the high street cafes in business

Hate small portions...It makes me anxious.

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

I was a real carb field when BFing. But it dropped off very quickly after the first month. Not everyone is ravenous when nursing.

When I used to make Christmas dinner for the family, I'd make sure there was enough for seconds, grazing, and likely enough so I didn't need to cook the next day. The last few years I've not had the stamina, so the (adult) kids have cooked - they only do enough for the meal itself - DH was incredulous that there were no roasties left over (there were plenty for the meal, tho, tbh, and it was lovely)
I can't see why people who are skint would scrimp on potatoes - they're the cheapest part of the meal.