It took me a why to understand why my mother-in-law always forced food on my. I broke down the third time she offered, and often ended up with a tummy ache. She must’ve thought I was being polite–or that I was half starved and really needed another piece of cake.

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from L-Jay:

Yes, we have the same problem with Farmor – she feeds our kids right before dinner, rice puddig or waffles, so they are too full to eat a healthy meal. I think that generation grew up with food being hard to come by, especially during and after the war. Farmor told me once that this is how she looks after people, she cares for them by giving them food. I think your mother-in-law likes you more than you know .

This uniquely Norwegian custom is based on harder times when people didn’t have much. When cake was served after church, there was enough for everybody, but not enough for everybody to get multiple helpings. Saying “no” was expected of everyone who had food at home, so those who didn’t could all get seconds without feeling too embarrassed.

Unfortunately, this custom is dying out, and the result is that the older generation never get seconds because they’re still being polite, while they younger generation don’t know that their elders refuse out of politeness.

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from L-Jay:

Vær så god