Should I Meal Prep for My Cousin Amanda After Years of Mockery?

Some people don’t recognize a favor, they only remember the one time you messed up. That’s the vibe in this Reddit story about a woman trying to get back into cooking, while her cousin Amanda, a meticulous perfectionist, used to roast her every time she so much as attempted a recipe.

OP (30F) says Amanda (39F) mocked her relentlessly for burnt dishes and failed attempts, and she even refused to eat anything OP made. But now Amanda has moved into her own apartment, and suddenly she’s “too busy” to cook healthy meals, so she’s asking OP to meal prep for her. OP wants to be supportive, but the old comments still sting, especially because Amanda flips the script when OP declines.

It’s not just about food prep, it’s about whether one new request can erase years of petty cruelty.

Original Post

So I'm (30F), and I've always struggled with cooking. My cousin Amanda (F39) used to mock me relentlessly whenever I tried to cook anything.

She would make fun of burnt dishes or failed recipes, and she even refused to eat anything I made. Fast forward to now, Amanda has moved into her own apartment, and suddenly she's too busy to cook, so she's been asking me to meal prep for her.

For background, Amanda has always been a perfectionist, and her apartment is meticulously organized. She works a demanding job and often prioritizes her career over everything else.

On the other hand, I've been working on improving my cooking skills, but it's still a sensitive topic for me due to Amanda's past comments. Recently, Amanda asked me to help her meal prep since she's too busy to cook healthy meals for herself.

I felt conflicted—on one hand, I want to support her, but on the other hand, her past behavior still stings. I politely declined, explaining that I have my own schedule and commitments to juggle.

However, Amanda didn't take my refusal well.

She even brought up how she's always been there for me in the past. This made me feel guilty, but I couldn't shake off the years of hurtful remarks.

So, am I the a*****e for not wanting to meal prep for Amanda despite her changing circumstances and our history of mockery?

Comment from u/smolbean_17

Comment from u/rainbowkitty99

Amanda’s perfectly organized apartment and demanding job make her “too busy to cook” sound real, but OP remembers the kitchen humiliation like it happened yesterday.

What would you do in this situation? Share your opinion in the comments.

Comment from u/coffeenights23

Comment from u/gamingpanda456

Comment from u/booklover217

Comment from u/naturegal74

Comment from u/sunnysmilez88

When OP politely declines and points to her own schedule, Amanda fires back with the classic “I’ve always been there for you” guilt trip.

It’s like the question of whether you can ask only one family member for child visit drop-offs, without opening the door to more visitors.

The moment Amanda mentions their past, OP’s confidence around cooking gets dragged right back into the spotlight, where Amanda used to do the heckling.

Now OP is stuck deciding whether meal prepping is a fresh start or just another unpaid favor for someone who once refused to eat her food.

Comment from u/starlightdreamer

Comment from u/nightowl333

Comment from u/rockmusicfan22

Nobody wants to meal prep for the person who treated their cooking like a public joke.

That “playing poor” credit card debt drama with the millionaire’s daughter is a must-read.