Guest's unfinished food-do you ask?

[shootingstar]

I have lots of food issues, but no specific allergies. When I go to someone's house for dinner, if they don't ask, I keep my mouth shut and make the best of it............................................

I mean, yes, I get it if you are vegan or are allergic to shellfish - but you want me to accomodate all of your pickiness? I don't think so. You are an adult. Eating lightly at one meal isn't going to kill you. We eventually stopped inviting them over for meals.

Encapsulates what I feel also: There is a point as a full-grown adult , one should be reasonably be flexible enough to eat lightly for stuff that doesn't meet personal specifications/demands. Unless the food results in a medical disorder/threat.

In watching my sisters and their hubbies raise their children, they are trying to expose each child's palate to a broad range of healthy foods and flavours. It can be challenge on parents at times in terms of patience. The sister who is a physician and mother of 2 now recommends (even more confidently now that she has become a mother) try the same healthy veggie/fruit on child....20 different times. Even if it means cooking it different ways, etc. Yes sure, her 2 yr. old is helping herself to cooked butternut squash, bok choy,etc. in her mouth on her own.

Of course, it can mean a mess on the child at times as they play around with the food or take extra time to eat.

Hence, my oldest niece who is now 25 yrs., she is nonplussed about eating all sorts of unusual foods and spiceness: no problem. She's beeen acculturating her boyfriend who had been raised in a tiny Ontario village. He didn't even eat Chinese food...which I find strange since most small Canadian towns do have at least 1 Chinese-Canadian restaurant, which may not be authentic cuisine..
He's only 26 yrs. So not born..100 yrs. ago. Doesn't even like ANY soups. None. He has no allergies.

He sort of reminds me of my partner's mom who had a friend who didn't like and never ate any vegetables. Friend was raised on Cape Breton Island off the coast of Nova Scotia. It was strange to see to 70 yr. old woman (who was quite sick after a heart stroke) not wanting any veggies in her meals because she never/rarely ate veggies as a child and onward. Yes, the woman became abit overweight for various reasons, but that food omission probably didn't help.

And for Lakerider on mega-family dinners: For me, a family get-together means 25 people. We just know to avoid making stuff with shrimp and peanut butter for 3 children who have strong allergies to these foods that can become life-threatening. Then the rest is potluck where most people just offer and bring what they want. With this number of people, alot of potluck dishes get consumed most of the time. No one tries to figure out other family members' food preferences. Chaotic, isn't it? But it's fun.

The only thing that unites all the hodge podge of potluck dishes is: in our mega-family if your dish is healthy/moderately decadent/moderately spiced, it'll get eaten at least 80% or more. If there is 8 bottles of wine...I guarantee only 3-4 bottles will get consumed for said same 25 people.