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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think actually I do need more food than usual?

128 replies

DoubleAction · 21/03/2020 14:08

And loo roll!

I've stuck to my usual shopping routine and it's becoming clear I shouldn't have.

All of a sudden I have 4 adults in the house 24/7. 3 of them eat out at lunch 5 days per week and 2 of them are rarely here for dinner, in the usual course of events.

Two are 6ft young men! The bread and cheese already....

OP posts:
GetOffTheTableMabel · 21/03/2020 16:18

All these extra adults and teenagers in the house could also go to the shop and buy more food though couldn’t they?

Original poster
DoubleAction · 21/03/2020 16:22

Surely we're not yet at a point where normal healthy weight adults can't what what they fancy? They're all paying their way.

Really it was a comment on the fact that actually , shopping requirents will have increased substantially in a lot of households, which will be affecting the supply chain, as well as the panic buying etc.

OP posts:
adaline · 21/03/2020 16:27

YANBU, we're definitely consuming more. Home all day, can't go out to occupy yourself with anything so you eat...

midwestspring · 21/03/2020 16:29

We are eating more because we are at home more, it is fairly obvious.
DC are being more restricted about what they can eat otherwise I wouldn't have long life stuff saved for later if we needed it.

Zilla1 · 21/03/2020 16:33

May I recommend instituting a WW2 ration card system, OP. You can have a designated Spiv who will hang round an empty room late at night selling treats at inflated prices.

BMW6 · 21/03/2020 16:35

Surely we're not yet at a point where normal healthy weight adults can't what what they fancy?

Surely you can see that if EVERYONE has this attitude your family may not have anything to eat at all?

eurochick · 21/03/2020 16:35

I'm probably eating less overall (less active) but I'm eating more at home. I usually have my main meal at lunchtime, in the office canteen or entertaining clients, and most of my snacks. At home I have a slice of toast before work and then a light supper like cheese and biscuits in the evening. Same for my husband. Our daughter would have lunch and snacks at school. Now we are all having all three meals and snacks in the house.

Original poster
DoubleAction · 21/03/2020 16:36

Not really BMW6, I'm going with the government promising me there's plenty! They're not actually eating more, just buying it in a different way at a different place.

OP posts:
Tigger001 · 21/03/2020 16:49

The problem you have is absolute idiots stockpiling. If everyone just bought as normal or a little more to accommodate the increase of time spent at home there would be enough for everyone. However the #bekind motto didn't last 2 minutes, it was selfishness that took over.

But, due to said idiots stockpiling, now there is nothing left to do a normal shop with, as people have bought selfishly.

So there are the "withs" and the "withouts" vulnerable people are the withouts. It's a shame, we are lucky in our community we help the withouts or the struggling, but talking to others that is not always the case,

sadeyedladyofthelowlandsea · 21/03/2020 16:49

@Straycatstrut Both of my DC (high school) are on free meals. I got an email last night to say that until the govt sort out the vouchers, the school will issue a £10 food voucher each week for every child on Pupil Premium. I think quite a few schools are keeping kitchens open to provide breakfast & lunch too, even if the students aren't supposed to be in school. It may be worth checking out?

adaline · 21/03/2020 16:55

Surely you can see that if EVERYONE has this attitude your family may not have anything to eat at all?

Everyone would have access to enough food if people would stop stockpiling.

BlueJava · 21/03/2020 17:00

I know what you mean OP! Usually our two 18yo sons are out for lunch, me and DH are out for breakfast and lunch (working and leave early). I often eat my main meal from a cafe at midday so only have a small dinner. The changes now mean all for adults are in for all meals every day - I have done my normal shop but have to increase because clearly we're not buying meals from cafes etc any more. However, I haven't had any real trouble getting stuff - my Tescos order had a load of things missing last time. But I've really only used deliveries not actually been to a supermarket apart from picking up some milk.

TinyTear · 21/03/2020 17:08

@Straycatstrut my school is giving packed lunches to the FSM kids until a better plan is sorted... maybe check with your head

ChippingNortonGal · 21/03/2020 17:14

How does anyo?ne 'get in food for 2 weeks' when fresh milk doesn't last that long, and you don't have either freezer or the money to but up non perishable goods? Do'n't mind saying I'm pretty worried right now. 4 adults in the house (thankfully most still working to some degree - so far) but only so much cash to pay for food this week. I'd love to be able to get 2 weeks food in but actually I don't know how to or afford that right that right now. Frankly I'm really scared.

GabsAlot · 21/03/2020 17:15

makes sense if youre all in now-stil doesnt mean you need 200 loo rolls in one go

adaline · 21/03/2020 17:17

How does anyo?ne 'get in food for 2 weeks' when fresh milk doesn't last that long, and you don't have either freezer or the money to but up non perishable goods?

You can get long-life milk and packet/tinned food. Or you can ask someone to get food in for you and leave it on the doorstep. There's lots of people willing to help if you just ask.

bellabasset · 21/03/2020 17:17

Of course you need more food. My question is are you getting any help with the cooking, cleaning and dishwashing?😍

eddiemairswife · 21/03/2020 17:23

Long-life milk is vile. I have a milkman, partly for convenience, but I also object to supermarkets selling milk at ridiculously low prices.

fridgegrazer · 21/03/2020 17:25

Rockbird

Would they let you buy 3 packs of bananas? Asda allowed me to buy 2 pack in my online shop today.

Purplecatshopaholic · 21/03/2020 17:27

I am eating the same, just at home rather than in the office.

JoJothesquirrel · 21/03/2020 17:27

I was wondered about this. Surely going to the supermarket every couple of days or sending 3 adults from the same house isn’t the best idea. I bought what I needed for a fortnight. I didn’t over buy, I didn’t buy the more than 2 of anything and I didn’t buy toilet roll. But this means I don’t need to leave the house again for another week and I’m trying to get w delivery.

I think it’s more common than anyone realised to not have a weeks worth of food in at any one time, before you factor in everyone being at home full time.

Lippy1234 · 21/03/2020 17:30

I need to buy way more food than usual. Before the virus I needed food for one lunch a day and 2 dinners during the week plus fruit for one smoothie. During the weekend 2 smoothies, I lunch for two, one dinner for two. The other lunch and dinner my DH and I ate out.
Now I need food for 3 breakfasts, my smoothie, 4 lunches and 4 dinners 7 days a week now my two adult DC have returned from university, one will not return and the other will go back in September.

listsandbudgets · 21/03/2020 17:30

Agreed.

Normally we'd have 4 of us for breakfast and 5 for dinner (adult dss often comes for dinner). We'd also go out for lunch on a Sunday . So that would be 28 breakfasts and 35 dinners plus lunch on Saturday (64 plates of food a week)

Now children are home full time, dp is working from home as much as possible DSD is home from university as its closed down and will want dinners so we're up to 28 breakfasts, 28 lunches and 42 dinners - 98 plates of food a week plus snacks puddings etc.

DSD and DP seem to be totally hollow (I have to hide food from DSD if I batch cook as he's capable of eating his portion plus half of what I'd put aside for the next meal)

Our food consumption has gone through the roof and my carefully stashed supplies are starting to feel a bit meager

Lippy1234 · 21/03/2020 17:33

I think I’ve gone from 24 covers to 84!

Original poster
DoubleAction · 21/03/2020 17:37

Yes actually, bellabasset! They always wash up if they're in for dinner, the housework is always shared out here and DS1 made a lovely shepherd's pie this week. You could still buy meat here last weekend!

I was determined not to raise useless husbands Smile

OP posts: