ArcaMax

Dear Amy: Because COVID-19 has caused universities to close, my boyfriend's sister, "C," has moved into the house with us until further notice (perhaps until the university reopens in the fall).

C is a very picky eater and eats mostly bread, cheese, and fruit. My boyfriend and I are mostly vegetarian and vegan, but we've been able to find at least one meal a week we can all share together. We tend to do this on Sundays.

My issue is with the other days of the week. More often than not, C seems to take an adult-sized portion of food (at least a few spoonfuls, perhaps to be polite) picks at the food we've prepared, and then declares she's not interested in eating it and throws it away.

This amounts to bowls of food going into the trash over the course of the week (we aren't interested in eating it, because of the virus concerns).

I don't want C to feel like she has to appease us, and I've offered: "feel free to make yourself a sandwich!" several times.

How do I prevent this food waste from happening?

-- Mealmates

Dear Mealmates: This pandemic - and the necessity to isolate - has created unusual and unforeseen cohabiting groups, strange (and stranger) bedfellows, and occasional discomfort around the dining table. In my household, this discomfort is caused by various family members experimenting with new dishes, and serving up the occasional dud (I plead guilty).

Most of the issues that arise can be dealt with (and perhaps solved) through simple communication.

You say that you don't want for "C" to feel like she has to appease you - but she should feel that she has to appease you, by making an effort to be a responsible member of the household.

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