F.H.B

Thanks Aldom certainly never heard it in East Anglia my grandparents were from EA and Leicestershire and I have picked up a few saying from them but no never come across this one.
Perhaps we didn’t have many visitors !!!

It was definitely used at family gatherings when I was a child. My father was one of 16 so the covered snooker table was always groaning with food which always got eaten. Mum used to bake some buns to take but modestly called them 'a few mouldy buns that I had left over'

My mother's large family were in Yorkshire, where we ate Yorkshire pudding and gravy as a starter to fill us up, then it was FHB for the roast beef main course.

I always buy too much food, I would rather guests take some home with them than not have enough in.

shysal, my Yorkshire student landlady used to give me Yorkshire pudding - with sultanas in! - and gravy as a first course with a roast. I found it very odd at first but did enjoy it.

BigBopper

I always buy too much food, I would rather guests take some home with them than not have enough in.

Family hold back has very little to do with how much food is being offered to guests. It's about good manners, waiting until the family are sure guests have all they need, before taking food for themselves.