PSA I know weight is a delicate issue and easily offends- this conversation purely had a focus on health and healthy eating habits rather than body image.

Background to this is I’ve (28F) always been steadily skinny leaning underweight, whereas my husbands (30M) weight fluctuates a lot between normal and just over (if BMI was a reliable indicator). We’re both south Asian. He’s been more on the over side as of late and has been trying to lose it on drs orders (waist circumference risk factor etc)

We visit my MIL once a week for dinner- she often comments that I leave a bit of food on my plate which I brush off and I do try to serve less to not waste. She’s big on the “must finish food on plate wasting food is a mortal sin” and this is how my husband was raised, but my mum never forced me to eat past the point of being full. I believe this is healthier, and theres research that force feeding kids may affect loss of cues/appetite control. The other day at dinner she makes the usual comment but adds “what are you going to teach your children if you can’t even finish your food”. I just laughed it off. I later gently (I tried) brought this up with my husband that don’t I really agree and encourage him to do his own research instead of me telling him I’m right and your wrong. The conversation escalated bit as he got defensive of his mum and that throwing food is bad etc and I end up saying “well you never know when to stop eating yes you don’t waste food on your plate but you just gain extra weight complain about it and struggle to lose it. Overall, constant overconsumption is still wasting and you’re just unhealthier for it. I think it’s healthier and less wasteful we just teach our kids to just stop when they’re full”. This wasn’t meant to be vicious, him and his sister have a running joke that they never know when to stop eating and are stuck in a cycle of gaining and losing weight.

He went quiet and we dropped it but I feel awful. I’ve only ever reassured him I love him at any weight, and support him when he tries to lose weight. I didn’t mean to insult him, but I really annoyed about the kids comment and feel strongly about force feeding in general. AITA?