Try this
- Agree on a reasonable mealtime and whether portions will be kept for a later arrival.
- Ask about food preferences and storage needs where relevant. Do not make the person at home delay basic needs to preserve simultaneous eating.
A worked example
“Eat when you need to; we can still sit together when I arrive.”
An invented example to adapt, not a real exchange or a script you have to follow.
Before you leave it here
Avoid making food wait indefinitely as a symbol of commitment.