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Original poster

Family coming to stay, how to organise food?

96 replies

Sunnydayimindoors · 15/04/2023 15:57

Family are coming to stay at our house for a fortnight 🙈What would be the right thing to do about food? Do I get a big food shop in for the two weeks got everyone? A bit worried about the added costs. What do you do if people come to stay for a fair while or you stay at theirs?

OP posts:
SensitiveB · 15/04/2023 18:48

We had my in laws for 6 weeks once and I was worried too and had to develop a degree of tolerance as I get used to things being a certain way . I certainly would never charge as they are as close family as can get and were most welcome. I didn’t stress much about the food as they would understand we were working etc but tried to look after everyone well all the same .

i think just do what you can meals -wise without it causing too much strain and focus more on just being welcoming . My MIL died very unexpectedly from an undiscovered illness not long after and I miss her to this day and glad I did manage as ended up treasuring that time .

Crazycrazylady · 15/04/2023 19:19

Honestly these are your husbands parents. How much could they possibly eat. Are you planning on handing them an itemised billl
Show some class here ( unless you're on the bread line of course)

Original poster
Sunnydayimindoors · 15/04/2023 21:10

@Crazycrazylady What?

OP posts:
summerhillgang · 15/04/2023 21:18

Two weeks?? That seems really excessive.

I can barely handle two days

Murdoch1949 · 17/04/2023 05:08

They're your guests, you provide the food. If they offer to buy a takeaway or treat you to a meal out, lovely.

Matchymatchylemonscratchy · 17/04/2023 06:06

They are immediate family and just two extra people. I’d do a bigger shop and get on with it.

EyesOnThePies · 17/04/2023 07:18

It depends on your relationship.

When we have family staying, or stay with family we see it as living as family rather than in terms of ‘guests and hosts’. We all help with everything and take it in turns to cook for everyone.

If you buy for and plan for the first week, would they not take over cooking for your work days in the second week? Are you able to say “FIL it would be great if you would do your famous lasagne / curry / made up special while you are here”.

Bayleaf25 · 17/04/2023 07:56

Agree with all the above comments that two extra people isn’t too bad.

Are they the sort of parents that would pay for a meal out each week? Or takeaway?

Or would they be happy to cook a meal on one of your work days?

The rest of the meals split between you and your DH don’t have to be anything hugely extravagant (spaghetti bolognaise, chilli, baked potatoes, curry, bbq etc).

Breakfast/lunch just a help yourself type thing.

Tourmalines · 17/04/2023 08:07

bussteward · 15/04/2023 17:06

Why is this your problem and not DH’s? He should have the conversation, make the meal plan, batch cook the giant lasagne, find the takeaway menu, make a “my parents are here for two weeks, we need a plan to stay sane” plan, do the food shop.

Oh FFS .

Tourmalines · 17/04/2023 08:10

RampantIvy · 15/04/2023 17:22

A fortnight is an awfully long time to impose on someone. Why couldn't you have suggested 4 or 5 days instead when they said it would be a fortnight?

How are his parents coming to visit imposing . ?

Tourmalines · 17/04/2023 08:11

I’m glad my DIL is not mean spirited like some on here . I’m not talking financially.

RampantIvy · 17/04/2023 08:11

How are his parents coming to visit imposing . ?

Erm, the fact that they want to stay for a fortnight?

Tourmalines · 17/04/2023 08:13

Not an imposition in my family . Glad we are more caring .

Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 08:22

Tourmalines · 17/04/2023 08:13

Not an imposition in my family . Glad we are more caring .

How peculiar that you can’t grasp different family dynamics

Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 08:23

It wouldn’t be an imposition in my family but I sure as heck can appreciate it we’ll be no other family scenarios

and that is an indictment on no one

but you @Tourmalines seem to think it’s a failing

Tourmalines · 17/04/2023 08:45

It’s the attitudes of some that are failing . That’s clear to see .

Cleoforever · 17/04/2023 09:06

Tourmalines · 17/04/2023 08:45

It’s the attitudes of some that are failing . That’s clear to see .

Which ones are you referring to? Where a players attitude is “failing” ?

marseille · 17/04/2023 10:07

Not really sure what you are asking, but home made pizzas are an absolute saviour. Everyone likes them . You can make the bases or buy nice ones . Put out toppings for everyone to choose, ( olives, salami mushrooms corn ham etc) and make a nice tomato sauce. Obviously a big pile of grated cheese. Done.
For 2 extra people I would just make a lasgane as there is always too much
Mexican style wraps - let everyone serve themselves salad and sauces , just need to fry up thinly sliced marinated chicken.

marseille · 17/04/2023 10:10

Also , just ask what they like for breakfast . If it;s not something you normally buy then suggest they bring it or buy it when they arrive.
I'd conveniently be out for lunch.

Hankunamatata · 17/04/2023 10:12

Breakfast cereals and toast - make your own, I usually lay everything put night before.
Tea and coffee - show them mugs etc and tell them to make their own any time
Lunches - I stick to soup (make big pot cheap) or sandwiches
Then I have meal plan for the two weeks on the fridge. Usually one pot meals like curry, chilli, bolo, stew etc

Hankunamatata · 17/04/2023 10:13

Pitta pizza can be good as cheap or use wraps. Pitta bread, passatta, grated cheese and toppings - bake for 10mins

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