Portion sizes (meat, fish and other protein)

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Can anyone advise me.
We don't eat meat but have an old friend of the family staying for a few weeks who does.
I have no idea as to what to expect for to serve as a portion when it comes to meat and although I am not mean I think our dear friend may be taking the mick and since we're footing the bill I'm a tad peeved.
As an example I cooked a 4lb chicken yesterday to make him a roast dinner,I served a leg and one whole side of the breast intending to make a curry for him with the rest.He sat after his dinner and picked the carcass bare.
Also when he has breakfast he likes four saugages and four slices of bacon with half a black pudding and the usual eggs ect.
I got a bit fed up when we went shopping and I picked up some rump steak for his dinner it weighed around 9 ounces and he put it back and picked up one that was just over a 1lb in weight saying that the other one was a wee bit small for his taste.
It's the same with sandwiches ect he has to have loads of meat in them and he'll only have roast cuts from the deli none of the prepacked stuff.
It's costing us a fortune (our food bill has doubled in this past few weeks) and although I'm not a mean person I feel our hospitality is being abused.
I feel like just buying a whole cow and telling him to get stuck in.
Any advice or am I just not being realistic since I've never had to serve meat before.
Only good thing to come out of this is I'm learning how to cook differently.

elf06

Oh Mrstittlemouse I am afraid to say it but I think your 'friend' is being incredibly unfair to you!! I am a meat eater (although admittedly I can do without) and I personally would say that 4 sausages and 4 bits of bacon is far far too much for breakfast!! If i am treating myself to a cooked breakfast I would maybe have 2 sausages, a slice of black pudding, an egg and maybe some mushrooms OR a bit of potato scone but this would do me as breakfast AND lunch. As for the roast chicken a leg and a breast would not have been put on a plate in my house it would have been one or the other - I am assuming that you served it with pots and veg????
Sorry I cant be of much help with what to do in this situation but I'm not sure you should be footing the bill. He should be greatful that you are putting him up for the few weeks and if I was him I would eat whatever was put infront of me (even if it was all veggie) and offer to help out with the cost of the shopping!!

ETA - I am quite cross on your behalf!!

building_with_lego

If you can get to a butcher you could ask for a portion for one- I think mine allow 4 to 6 ounces per person- and if your guest complains you can blame the butcher.

I think I'd make sure he gets plenty of veggie meals too though, possible let him "overhear" a conversation about the food bill doubling. It does sound like he's taking the pi55, frankly.

scotsgirl_3

He's taking the p*ss, frankly. I'd knock that on the head pronto. HUbby and I had chicken yesterday - I cooked a whole chicken, we had one breast between us and it was plenty: we both finished our plate, but 10 minutes later once our brain had caught up with our stomach we were both very very full! So he had more to himself than we had between two of us, and this really wasn;t skimping either. I wouldn't get away with it as hubby is a big guy who likes meat!

Could you maybe try serving more things with a meat content, rather than chunks of meat where you do tend to eat more? so instead of a steak, get some cheaper stewing/braising steak, and make a big stew padded with lots of veggies? maybe mince based dishes such as bolognese or chilli?
In terms of sandwiches, IF you decided to keep indulging him, could you consider making your own sandiwch meats? I have a meat slicer which does make this much easier, but it is generally a lot cheaper to buy a gammon, or a joint of beef, and cook it then slice. Given his gluttony I'd then split it down in to one or two sandiwch portions (reasonable ones, not ridiculously over-filled), put each one in a freezer bag and freeze, only taking one out the night before. This would stop him eating too much......

actually, even if you keep buying from the deli I'd maybe split it and freeze. Asda do quite big boxes of deli sandiwch meats for £5 which last ages if you freeze them

Oh, and 4 rashers of bacon and 4 sausages - erm, no. I'd cook two of each, maybe a couple of potato scones, some beans etc possibly to pad the plate out. What sort of sausages is he demanding - can you get away with value?

sammey90

Hi

it does seem a little excessive to eat a whole chicken to himself. I would normally get four roast dinners out of a medium chicken (@sd@ label them by size, and I just buy one that looks nice, so i've no idea of weight!), or two meals, then soup or stew.

You didn't say why they're staying, but if it's not because of some kind of crisis, perhaps they could contribute, even if it's only buying a Chinese takeaway. Just something that would make it feel a little less one-sided.

Perhaps you could talk to him, explain that you run to a budget, and you can't continue to spend a fortune on meat when it is only him that eats it.

Anyway, HUGS, I know it's a sticky one!

xx

jackieglasgow

What a rude man!!

I would give him what you think is sufficient for a meal, and no more. Put the rest of the bacon/sausages etc in the freezer, and don't let him come to the shops with you. A leg and a breast for dinner is just sheer gluttony, how rude to abuse your generous spirit like this. I would be inclined to say that all this meat in the house is making me feel a bit yucky and I would only be able to make vegetarian meals for the next few days. (Any visitor to my house knows I won't be making meat dishes, and is more than happy to eat what we do.)

andygb

He has without doubt taken advantage of your hospitality, which can happen, even with "friends". I would have to categorise this "friend" as a "glutton", because they are huge portions of meat.
Both my wife and I are overweight, but we would eat a fraction of what you have described. For example, roast chicken, we cook a 1.5 kilo bird, and then share one breast and one leg, leaving the rest for salads and sandwiches. If we have steak, then 4 to 6 ounces is the norm.
If I had a guest, then they would have to eat what they were given (unless they had special dietary requirements).
How long is he staying for, why not make him contribute to his food supply?

redlady_1

This is obviously not a normal sized human being! To eat that amount of food is very bad for his health as well as your wallet. How long is he staying for? Do not take him shopping with you or ask him to contribute as he is staying with you and you are therefore saving him B & B charges. In fact, if he were in a B & B he flipping well wouldnt get 4 sausages and 4 bits of bacon! Tell the fat knacker to get off his backside and start helping around the house and if he doesnt like the food you are serving to find somewhere else to stay. Friends do not abuse hospitality like this.

Cheapskate

I'm with everyone else - what huge helpings of meat for 1 person! A 4lb chicken would do us (3 adults, 1 toddler, 1 baby) for 2-3 meals, generously! If it were me, I would simply cook whatever I normally cook, but with the addition of a portion of meat, fish or whatever for the 'friend' - 4 sausages OR 4 rashers bacon OR 1 chicken leg OR 1 medium piece fish!! Suggest that, as non-meat eaters, you don't really know what you're buying & would he like to shop for himself & you'd be more than happy to cook it for him? Don't give him cash to go shopping though! I agree with the poster who said to let him 'overhear' a chat between you & DH about astronomical cost of meat, tee hee!
A x

redlady_1

He may overhear the conversation but I dont honestly think it would make much difference. Someone who is so greedy and is quite willing to abuse hospitality in this manner wouldnt give a toss how much more they are spending on food. He would just think of all the money he is saving so he can spend it on more burgers later! I wouldnt give him any option and dont leave food hanging around. Even if you have to buy daily whilst he is there. And if you are tempted to buy more than that daily allowance, just think about why you have had to resort to this and it will keep you on track. Also, freeze any leftovers asap (as in before you sit down to eat) so he cant pick them over. Or give him a sausage casserole, with lentils in to bulk it out and cut up the sausages so he doesnt know how many are in there. Same with lasagne or cottage pie. He wouldnt have a clue as he would be too busy shovelling it in. Also, pad it out with potatoes, small meat part lots of mash on top. Make some cornish pasties too as you can pad those out. Hope this helps a bit.

Im still in shock at the whole chicken thing!

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Thankyou for the replies everyone,you've actually made me feel better as I thought I was being bit of a mean skinflint before.
Our friend is here for a few weeks since he's doing some training for his work and did'nt fancy a hotel or a bed and breakfast place.
We'd feel bad asking for a contribution as his mum has put us up before and would'nt accept anything,but that was always for just a couple of days at a time.
I must admit I'm finding it a bit hard putting up with his expectations since he only seems to like the best,needless to say he will not be coming shopping again even if he is a bit bored again at the weekend.
I have been serving lots of veg,stuffings,yorkshire ect with his meals but he can certainly still put away a lot of meat.
I've decided to make vegetarian for all of us tonight,goodness knows how he'll take it but I feel I have to make a stand now before my food bill becomes even bigger.It might also make it easier to bring up the fact that the food bill can't grow any more.
Wish me luck on that one.
Once again thanks for your help,I'll let you know what happens.