Ah...how to deal with this??

[shadowkat]

As many of you know - if you've read my lj for the last five or six months, I am gluten-sensitive. This means I cannot eat anything with gluten in it. Gluten = wheat, barely, oats, kamut, spelt, and millet. Also be careful of buckwheat (cross-contamination), oats is controversial.

Here's the problem...I'm considering doing a couple of things that involve lots of activities around food and with people who love to eat foods high in glutens: BBQ sauce, pancakes, pizza, cakes, cookies, brownies, most creative chocolates/candybars, pies, bread, sandwiches, bagels, muffins, smores, beer, some wines (not all, most are fine - particularly California wines are fine), crackers...and some ice creams. Both trips will be in environments where my choices are going to be limited. They group decides. Money is a factor. And one takes place at a conference in a Holiday Inn.

I don't know what to do? Do I bring food with me? I don't want to be an inconvenience or put people out. This has been my fear from the beginning. I *hate* being a bother or a pest. I *hate* being noticed. I'm the sort who goes along with what the group wants to eat - yay democracy. This diet makes that impossible. I will get sick.

Help???

Comments

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

If you're worried about the Tahoe trip, I don't think anyone will feel inconvenienced by your dietary needs. I'm sure there are others who have dietary issues (I know anom is a strict vegetarian, for example). If you stay in one of the cabins (which are actually houses) there are kitchens, so you can buy what you want for breakfast etc. Don't fret, we can work around your needs so you don't get sick, I'm sure.

[poisonapple73.livejournal.com]

Just be honest. Let people know in advance what your issues are. If they choose to try to be sensitive to your dietary needs, great, but make sure they know you are prepared to bring your own food. People are usually very understanding- I know most people check for vegetarians in the group, etc, and usually that isn't even a health issue- as long as they're prepared.

[dherblay.livejournal.com]

Ethiopian food for every meal!

Ok, that's my solution for everything.

Seriously, I know of one macrobiotic who brings suitcases full of food when he attends gaming conventions, but I don't think you'll have to go that route. While consensus may rule when choosing the dinner options, we are considerate (and enough thoughtful ATPo people know that I doubt you'll have much trouble either with having cookies forced upon you or with feeling that you're rocking the boat). (But I do need pizza twice a week or I have uncontrollable crying jags.)

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Food may indeed be a problem for you if you come, I can't deny it, but as Jane says there is a kitchen in the cabin. Don't worry that we'll be put out. I haven't kept up with what you can eat, but assume we don't have to all eat the same things. Jane says she's a vegetarian. I'm not. So it sounds like variety is going to be the big item on the menu. Ann wants to make cookies, which may be a temptation problem and also there may be more problems when we're over with the rest of the gang at the other cabin. If we knew something you can munch on (do apples or carrots have lots of gluten?), we could have some around so you won't be left out when the rest of us are munching on stuff you shouldn't have.

It's your decision. Just know we'd like for you to come.

[wisewoman.livejournal.com]

I would say of course you should take your own food. Why take the chance on going hungry if you can't find gluten-free alternatives where you end up? And there's not even a question of going along with the crowd and making yourself sick, that's just absurd.

Because the houses all have kitchens at Tahoe, even if you stay in a nearby hotel you'll have cooking facilities available to you whenever you want, and there will probably be people "eating in" for most meals, while various combinations of others may go out at other times.

As for your other trip, that might be a bit more problematic unless there are gluten-free foods that don't require a lot of preparation? Are there staples that you know you'd be able to order at most restaurants, like meat and vegetables, that would get you through?

I think people in general will be very considerate of your needs; they usually are.

;o)

[fresne.livejournal.com]

I'd say pack it in. Food sensitivities are nothing to mess with.

And don't be afraid to identify foods of death in the moment. Lots of people have food sensitivities/allergies.

Or if we're talking Tahoe, well, let the locals know what you need. I'd be happy to bring groceries. This is the first meet that I get to bring my car.

Although, I'm glad to hear most California wines are good.

[ann1962]

Do come if you can!

I can make all sorts of cookies and would be happy to make those which you would be able to eat. I doubt the techniques change just because the ingredients might.

I have been thinking about making those that you can eat. Cookie shipments should not be limited by such things IMO ;-)

[graffitiandsara.livejournal.com]

If you pack a lot of your own food you can snack in your hotel room at various times so that you're not as hungry when you're around people and that the temptation isn't as much of an issue. Anywhere that you can get pizza, you can also get salad, and if you're not that hungry it shouldn't be quite as hard to eat a salad while other people are eating other stuff. It doesn't inconvenience anyone if you order a salad from where ever they're ordering other stuff. It's more a question of how miserable will it make you to watch other people eat the things you can't? Being a food lover myself I can understand that issue.

As far as Tahoe, if it helps, I need to diet and I'll be glad to eat salads with you so at least you'll have company in your misery! And you'd be doing me a huge favor by keeping me from gaining the 5 pounds I probably would over that weekend!!!

[ladystarlightsj.livejournal.com]

Like everyone else has said, either bringing some staples with you and/or being careful in restaurant choices wouldn't be a big deal. We all understand what's happening, and I know it's hard to speak up and say "That's a lovely plan, but it doesn't work for me."

We have no problems with taking your needs (because as fresne says "food of death"= bad) into consideration. I know I wouldn't think twice about it at all.

And please come, I'd love to see you again!

[(Anonymous)]

There may be some health food stores & even restaurants in the area where you can get gluten-free prepared food. There's a thread on various activities & amenities (http://community.livejournal.com/atpobtvsats/46522.html) in & around Tahoe in the ATPo community's LJ; you can ask about restaurants/food stores if the info isn't there already. And there are online gluten-sensitive community or discussion groups, aren't there? Someone in 1 of those might be able to tell you what's available nearby. But it's probably a good idea to bring some foods for yourself too, esp. since the cabins have kitchens.

As for your conference, there's usually someone working either for the group having the conf. or for the hotel whose actual job it is to answer questions like yours & help you make the arrangements you need. Some conf. registration forms even have a space to fill in for dietary considerations. If you inform the hotel/conf. people ahead of time, they'll probably be able to take care of your needs. They get paid to do it, so you're not being a nuisance to them. And you certainly won't be to your fellow ATPosters, who want you to be at the Gathering!

I'm surprised glutens are used in some chocolate bars. Checking the labels of some of my favorite brands, which I just happen to have right here @>), I don't see anything wheat- or gluten-related in the ingredient list of the G&B Maya Gold (only traces of nuts & dairy mentioned), & the Dagoba bars specifically say "gluten free." Unfortunately, the wheat-free cookies I mentioned way back in another thread in your LJ have oats in them.

"I'm the sort who goes along with what the group wants to eat - yay democracy. This diet makes that impossible. I will get sick."

Well, good democracies have procedures to prevent the "tyranny of the majority," & I'm all for that. The prevention part, I mean, not the tyranny. And we'll be much less bothered by your taking care of yourself than by your getting sick!

[ann1962]

Assuming to get your replies sent, I hope you see this. A link today on my flist is something I thought you might like to see. http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/ I found a gluten post, just in case you have these filtered. Hope all is well!