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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

"Serves 2" - Does it Fuck.

180 replies

MarmiteMakesMeHappy · 04/08/2016 19:27

Or are me and DH pigs? possibly, yes

About once a week, we have a 'ready meal'. Usually a 'naice' Waitrose/M&S/Charlie Binham type thing - so a Beef Sroganoff, Moussaka type thing.

There's never enough.

I am not sure if it's because we don't do 'starters' and 'pudding' on a Tuesday night, or stuff our faces with bread and olives first, but we are always left feeling a bit hungry and a bit ashamed that we want more.

Even when DD, 11 and I shared a Waitrose meal for 2 the other week, we weren't quite full so maybe I'm the pig

I have come to the conclusion that they probably do serve two, IF YOU'RE A HAMSTER.

Or is it just us?

OP posts:
hollyisalovelyname · 04/08/2016 19:29

I agree OP.
I thought it was just our family and their big appetites. However it probably is the amount we should be eating Smile

LifeInJeneral · 04/08/2016 19:29

Serving suggestions are hilarious, I take them with a pinch of salt. And some bread. And butter.

IcaMorgan · 04/08/2016 19:30

I regularly say the same thing and so does a friend so not just you

ElsaAintAsColdAsMe · 04/08/2016 19:30

I find this with birthday cakes.

Serves 8 - fucking liars.

It's a conspiracy, I tell you.

mamapants · 04/08/2016 19:31

I haven't had a ready meal for years but did eat some one person ones as a student and just after having dd1 and they are tiny. Definitely not a real portion.
Side dishes might be the way to go.

Jezabella1 · 04/08/2016 19:32

Pad it out with a massive salad and sometimes bread. Yanbu they're never enough.

Idliketobeabutterfly · 04/08/2016 19:32

I thought they were a single portion..... And a 20 portion cake serves about eight or ten as a dessert.

upthegardenpath · 04/08/2016 19:32

No way are you BU.
I can happily put away a moussaka for 2, from M&S, entirely on my own, on the evenings my OH is working a night shift.
What's more, i don't give a damn.
I scoff the lot.
Obviously I add some nice greens which I have steamed myself, as well.
Lush.

DinosaursRoar · 04/08/2016 19:32

Sadly, what officially counts as a portion of something and what most people would plate up is very different - was a bit shocking a while ago when I weighed out some pasta to get a visual on what the portion being quoted for the "calories per portion" on the front of the packet meant. Most people would serve a lot more than that.

sadly, it probably is for 2. I'd assume you do need the starters and pudding to avoid being hungry (are you just having a main without the sides?), or get more.

MyBreadIsEggy · 04/08/2016 19:32

DH and I had cheesecake for dessert the other night: "Serves 4"......yeah. Four starving sparrows maybe! Hmm

Captainkanga · 04/08/2016 19:32

Same here! I generally chuck in something along the lines of stuffed mushrooms and more carbs to bulk it out, but then me and DH are both piggies

toadgirl · 04/08/2016 19:33

I never think it's enough, but then I look at the calories and they always surprise me how high they are. The food must be quite rich, so you don't get much bang for your buck, as it were.

KatharinaRosalie · 04/08/2016 19:34

I'm in France, it's even worse here. I swear an average 'serves 1' portion is about spoonful and normal dinner for 2 serves 6-8. Explains why they're all skinny.

gamerchick · 04/08/2016 19:36

Well they're a proper portion. We've lost sight of what a portion is imo. Maybe you're supposed to have a starter.

ARichVernacular · 04/08/2016 19:37

Conversely, I got an M&S curry deal for £10 yesterday and it was way too much - two mains and three sides, even after a long active day we couldn't finish it.

Original poster
MarmiteMakesMeHappy · 04/08/2016 19:37

I almost always add a big salad or some veg (depending on what we are eating) but I just want to scoff the whole fucking thing and so does DH. I don't even pretend to give him a bigger portion than me because otherwise I'd wither away and die.

OP posts:
Playduh · 04/08/2016 19:38

I came on here because I knew you were going to mention Charlie Bingham.

I reckon they serve two of you include a starter, pudding, cheese and a bottle of wine on the side.

Owllady · 04/08/2016 19:39

I think the curry deals ate way too much too
And I think the serves two ones are fine :)

NoCapes · 04/08/2016 19:39

Me & DP always get one that serves 4, and have sides and dessert Blush
YANBU

Sparklesilverglitter · 04/08/2016 19:40

You are not being unreasonable.

Me and dh have ready meals for dinner once a week when DH works late and me always need one each and we add either salad/ veg

Serves 2 😂

Original poster
MarmiteMakesMeHappy · 04/08/2016 19:43

You may be right.

I may need to up my game and do:

Starter
Sorbet to clean palate
Charlie Bingham Serves 2 with side of vegetables and garlic bread
Pudding
Full Cheese board
Plus
Wine
Water
and Petit Four

That might cut it.

OP posts:
Original poster
MarmiteMakesMeHappy · 04/08/2016 19:45

The first time I bought a Charlie Bingham thingy, I got the Chili Con Carne and Rice and bought one each because i didn't read the packaging properly. After we'd eaten it, DH said "that was actually surprisingly sufficient for a single serving" and I agreed that yes, I felt pretty full.

Then as I was throwing the packaging away I saw the 'serves 2' and our shame was complete. Blush

OP posts:
AnotherPrickInTheWall · 04/08/2016 19:49

I find the Waitrose curry deal for 2 serves 4. I seldom buy ready meals but I couldn't make that for £10.

ATrumpIsAFartCalledDonald · 04/08/2016 19:50

I'm on the fence with this. I do think people have lost sight of what a 'normal' portion looks like.

maddiemookins16mum · 04/08/2016 19:54

Those vacum pouches of rice are the same, serves two, yeah right - one pouch is not enough (but that said, two pouches for two people is too much). I bought a shop cake yesterday, a basic kind of jam, cream sponge and it said serves six - no bleedin way, four yes but six never. But I do remember "back in the day", my mum using one tin of tomato soup to feed 2 adults and three kids - with bread and butter naturally so I think our appetites have increased also.