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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want to be ravenously hungry at Christmas?

275 replies

Bubbinsmakesthree · 26/12/2016 11:29

Staying with DH's family who are a bit weird about food.

We had a one-course Christmas lunch yesterday about 3pm, after which everyone declared themselves too stuffed to contemplate pudding.

It is now 11:30am the next morning and not a mince pie crumb, not a chocolate matchstick has been available for consumption since. There has been some vague talk about breakfast which has been on-going for hours with nothing whatsoever being done about it.

I am so hungry right now I am shaking.

To make matters worse we've just watched Bake Off like some form of torture.

Xmas Angry
OP posts:
PurpleCrazyHorse · 26/12/2016 12:51

Help yourself to breakfast if none is forthcoming. I wouldn't sit and starve. Start making plans to go out and get supplies later too.

DollyPlastic · 26/12/2016 12:52

Why have you had a quarter of a bit of toast?

Heyheyheygoodbye · 26/12/2016 12:56

Mate, you're an adult. Help yourself to some food. Good heavens.

Parker231 · 26/12/2016 12:57

Why haven't you made yourself breakfast - don't need waiting on do you? If you don't want breakfast at their house, go out for breakfast. I don't understand the problem?

lljkk · 26/12/2016 12:58

I have new found appreciation for Inlaws rigid adherence to meal times. Maybe the same fodder for each meal day in and day out, but at least they never skip food.

Mindtrope · 26/12/2016 12:59

i have relative like this.

We went to visit with our two toddlers, after a 3 hour drive.

We were offered nothing all evening.

Luckily I had packed some snacks for our kids, rice cakes, breadsticks, dried fruit etc, so I had to break into that. It was plain that their own 2 year old daughter was hungry too as she was stuffing herself with the food that I had brought. Eventually at 9,30pm the host declared he was going to start making a lamb curry ( not the quickest cooking meat) by then were ravenous. I was ill tempered too by then.

When I host guests I pile on the food at every opportunity.

girlelephant · 26/12/2016 13:00

I would cry! Definitely go for a walk to find food!

I hope you are heading home soon!

Rioja123 · 26/12/2016 13:01

Why are you still pussy footing around? This is bizarre!

PuppyMonkey · 26/12/2016 13:03

Strange thread OP. Who provided the quarter piece of toast and was something preventing you asking for more and/or making some more for yourself? Confused

Also you say you are going to ground floor, is that because you have in fact been sitting in the guest bedroom upstairs rather than being downstairs where food may have been available for all you knew? Confused

HemanOrSheRa · 26/12/2016 13:04

God! I'd be so HANGRY right now if I were you OP Confused. Christmas or not.

GoneGirl1234 · 26/12/2016 13:04

I do feel for you OP, I've been in that situation of ravenous hunger in someone else's house & felt too shy to make myself something. My in laws are a bit odd with food, they will start talking about meals hours before they are ready (but always in a "right we're having lunch in a minute" sort of way) and then go totally, ridiculously over the top with the amount of food when it is time to eat. I now get myself a bit of toast or a small snack when I'm actually hungry but still to a chorus of comments of "oh don't eat that, you won't be hungry for the meal!" ( I always just smile and continue to nibble but am thinking "I bloody well will be, this meal isn't going to be ready for about five hours!" )

PebbleInTheMoonlight · 26/12/2016 13:06

I'm suffering with a food hangover. The thought of eating anything at all after our one course Christmas meal yesterday at 3pm makes me feel physically ill.

However everyone else in the house has had breakfast and lunch (and dessert last night). Just because my body cannot cope with rich food it doesn't mean I can starve everyone else. Hope you get something decent to eat soon.

BintyMcGinty · 26/12/2016 13:08

When people have form for this sort of crap why do you return and not take stuff with you ?. My in-laws were like this and I would bluntly say " You might not be hungry but I am", and eat food I'd brought with me. Utter madness to tolerate such behaviour Xmas Hmm

TheNaze73 · 26/12/2016 13:08

They're odd but, I can't get my head around the fact that at a grown adult who is hungry hasn't asked for anything

formerbabe · 26/12/2016 13:09

I know a family like this...it's a miracle to get a glass of tap water at their house. Fucking awful.

Floellabenjaminsearrings · 26/12/2016 13:10

I have similar issues with my PIL, although fortunately we are not with them this Christmas. They eat very healthily, which is of course to be applauded, however following every tiny bit of indulgence you are practically expected to self flagellate.

crashdoll · 26/12/2016 13:12

YANBU and I want to offer sympathies. My grandparents are just like this and it's a nightmare when we go to stay. My grandparents are lovely people; kind, warm and generous. My grandma gave me £1500 in November because she wanted us to have a "fabulous" Christmas. I'm 38 and my grandpa slips me £50 in cash every time I leave as "pocket money". They are nice people but my gawd, are they weird about food. When we stay, we take snacks and take the kids on long walks aka food hunts. Be prepared next time.

crashdoll · 26/12/2016 13:13

Having kids really helps. "Grandma, I'm just popping to get some more bread and milk. You know what he kids are like. They are growing and have stomachs that are bottomless pits."

formerbabe · 26/12/2016 13:15

The onus is on the host to either provide food regularly, offer or let the guest know they can help themselves. When my relatives come over, I will say 'help yourselves to anything from the fridge or cupboards if you want'. It's very awkward if the host doesn't say this nor offer food/drink regularly.

Families are all so different. In my family, life revolves around food Grin.

SquinkiesRule · 26/12/2016 13:15

I hope you haven't collapsed from hunger OP, I find this starving guests idea to be very odd.
Dh feeds people to the point of explosion.

I'd escape the house and go seek food elsewhere.

mowglik · 26/12/2016 13:16

OP why did you have to leave the house last year to get food, is there literally nothing in the fridge?

Your in-laws are bizarre! How can you have a house full of people staying and not have basics in the house Confused

OpalTree · 26/12/2016 13:16

I went to a bbq at 1 once when dd was a toddler. By 7 we'd been given nothing but crisps. The bbq was fired up by then, but we buggered off home because we were starving and dd needed to put dd to bed. Luckily had taken food for dd.

Electrolens · 26/12/2016 13:16

Why on earth didn't you eat a whole piece of toast?

GetTheeBehindMeSanta · 26/12/2016 13:18

Bloody hell, just ask for something. They're obviously crap hosts, so you need to use some initiative.

How on earth did a quarter of a piece of toast get handed to you? And why didn't you say that it wasn't enough?

MommaGee · 26/12/2016 13:25

We don't necessarily eat loads - dinner was pork pie and cheese cake - but if we had guests there would always be food available x