Light lunch for beige food loving in-laws

[Stickystitch]

The in-laws are coming over on Saturday afternoon before a big family get together meal at a restaurant near us in the evening.

We've invited them for a light lunch here but honestly don't know what to make. They're super fussy and only like beige processed foods - sausage rolls, ham, white bread. I'm vegetarian and they don't do vegetables at all, except basic salad. Any ideas for something nicer than a sausage roll or a ham sandwich?! (Would be open to prepping something involving meat as they don't consider it a proper meal unless there's meat...)

Quiche?

Quiche?

Soup and rolls?

A third one to say quiche!

Baked potatoes, quiche and salad - put in the middle, they can always decline the healthy stuff

I'd just put out a variety of ham / charcuterie if you're happy to do the meat part, cheese, basic salad if that's what they like, nice bread and butter. They won't need much with a big meal in the evening and you may as well give them what they like.

Defo quiche! I'd make a very boring cheese and ham one. I also make a homemade sausage plait for my fussy kids that goes down well. Easy but looks impressive and can be served cold. Add lettuce cucumber and tomatoes, a jar of beetroot and pickled onions and a tub of coleslaw. Feast!

If they like sausage rolls and ham sandwiches why not do that? My mam is super fussy and would much rather prefer something she likes and basic than “something nicer” she probably wouldn’t enjoy as much. And as you’re all going out for a meal it doesn’t matter what lunch is surely?

fishcakes. fried potatoes, from previously boiled ones.
oatcakes. welsh cakes.
toasted fruit bread.
falafel. or chickpea patties.
potato croquettes.
chicken kyiv.
macaroni cheese.
jacket potato with cheese

Just go for the easy life. Mature cheddar cheese and ham sandwiches white bread with some salted plain crisps to be fancy 😄 Don't stress if that's what they want.
my in laws would treat quiche with suspicion.

At their age this diet may be due to unknown medical needs. Upsettingly, growing up people would have described me as a super fusssy beige food lover. I actually have ADHD, which means I have a lot of sensory sensitivities.

I avoid eating at other people houses because of posts like this. If you known they struggle with eating lots of different types of foods going off and cooking whatever you fancy because you want to isn’t being a welcoming host. It might to make them feel anxious and uncomfortable, whether they let you know this or not.

Text them and ask what they’d like.

Why dont you just give them what they like, whats wrong with sausage rolls and ham sandwiches?

What is 'something nicer' supposed to mean if they think those items are nice?

I agrer - don't bring unnecessary stress. If they like sausage rolls and sandwiches, just do that.

If you want it to be a bit fancier - you could do it more like an afternoon tea with a few different sandwich fillings, scones etc

Picky bits - get a baguette cut into slices, ham, pate, cheese, mini sausages or pork pies etc. A small quiche, coleslaw, salad. They can help themselves to the bits they like, as can you.

Make your own sandwich
jacket potatoes with toppings (have a few sausages as one option)
variety of individual pies, some meat, some not

Quiche (tomato or ham/ cheese-don’t be tempted to go fancy)
scotch eggs
mini pork pies
simple salad
hard boiled eggs at a push

How about croissants and a plate of ham, cheese and salad for them to help themselves to?

If the croissants aren't too exotic for them then at least they are a slightly more fancy beige food than ordinary bread.

Would they eat vegetables in a homemade soup? Soup and some crusty bread would be my choice. With cheese and cracker for afters to fill up on.

I had a fussy FIL and to be honest I gave up trying to second guess what he might like and just made what he liked. Much less stressful.

Quiche and salad. Bingo! Easy, plus you can make some nice salads too so that it's appealing to you(they can leave the fancy ones)

Baguette
Sliced ham
Grated cheese
Pate
Kettle crisps
Pickles
Sausage rolls

Followed by trifle or apple pie

Ploughmans!
Crusty bread, cheese, ham, then you can add other salady bits round the table for people to choose or not.

Chicken schnitzel. Bash it thin, bread and fry it. Serve with chips and a chunk of lemon for the 'veg'.

You could make sausage rolls using Richmond vegetarian sausages. They taste just like cheap non vegetarian sausages anyway, and they probably wouldn't notice the difference.

Or just make sandwiches. They won't want a big meal if going out later.

I think the OP is being a good host tbh.

They must eat more than sausage rolls and ham sandwiches though. How about roast ham and dauphinois potatoes with a green vegetable?