How to Eat Out Successfully

[Polly]

I finally did it! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Last night Scott really wanted to go to our local diner, so I prepared and took my entire meal with me! No kidding!

I had made a chicken stew (based on a recipe from the food network URL) and I steamed some broccoli and cauliflower. Put it all in containers in an insulated bag. Scott was initially embarrassed that I was taking my entire meal and he claimed he no longer wanted to go out to eat. However, I insisted and promised him I wouldn't make a big deal of it or call attention to myself.

When the waitress came, I quietly said that I had brought my own food due to "food allergies" but that I would appreciate having a plate. When Scott's meal came, I quickly spooned my food onto that plate and placed the bag back down on the booth beside me. No one could tell - it looked a lot like the chicken and dumpling special on the menu! LOL!

When I got home I had half a Lara bar (cherry pie). You know what? I didn't feel deprived at all, since I didn't have to go through that old routine of perusing the menu and finding nothing that I could eat. I actually had fun. And I did not embarrass Scott apparently!

Love,

Polly

[kate_ce1995]

That's great! And I know our local diner is one of the places there is almost nothing I can eat (although they do a maple glazed ham that is very good).

Of course this defeats one of the purposes of eating out which is to not have to cook something! Geoff and I are hoping to try a new (to us) steak house tonight, weather and health pending. We've had snow flurries for a couple days although the sun is trying to shine through the clouds now, and I stayed home from work yesterday with a bad cold. A bet better this morning, but after blowing my nose, me right ear is completely clogged.

Katy

[starfire]

Good Job, Polly!!!!!

Katy, I hope your cold will be short lived.

Love, Shirley

[tex]

Polly,



Good going! To be honest, I don't think that I would have the guts to do that. I would feel the same way that Scott initially felt. LOL.

Love,
Tex

[Mars]

Polly Wolly,

You AMAZE me!

Love,
Mars Bar

[bobh]

I usually order "something" like a small salad, and state that I am not very hungry - while other people at the table get their usual MSG poison pie.

I bring stuff to put in the salad, I do that a lot at home. Get a big bowl, add meat cut into small pieces, etc, etc. Most of us cannot tolerate a lot of raw salad, so I dilute it with other things. I dump in mixed veggies (have to be cooked for me) with my own dressing. I tolerate brown rice, so I add that - and pretty soon you have a good meal.

Restaurant salad can be loaded with sulfites (so it "keeps" for 3 years). But I like to order something - it is like negotiating. You have to do some give and take, and I give them a small token so that they leave me alone. Sometimes I say I'm not hungry and order an appetizer, which the rest of the table eats, leaving me an empty plate I dump my own food onto, and the waiter leaves me alone because I did order "something".

[Polly]

It's amazing how this disease changes our behavior, isn't it? I never used to be assertive like this, and now I feel like the food police. I have also become much more creative and organized with regard to food, as Bob mentioned in another post. It's so true - if we don't serve as gatekeepers for our own body, we will be continually sick.

I have "come a long way, baby". Just a few years ago I would eat things that well-meaning friends made for me rather than risk upsetting them. I guess we gotta do what we gotta do. Sigh.

Love,

Polly

[moremuscle]

Hahahahaha!!! That's funny -

You know Polly, when I read your subject title I thought you would teach us how to do it - you used to always tell us how you went out to various restaurants and I envied you living in a big city with good restaurants that use "real" ingredients.

WOW, I would be embarassed too - like Wayne and Scott - but of course I am embarassed if/when my husband starts to tell everyone on the staff that I have food intolerances and that we need to make sure they don't use anything I can't tolerate. I usually ask a few key-questions such as what kind of oil they use for cooking and pretty soon I know there is nothing I can safely put in my mouth

Maybe it is time to move on and NOT be embarassed - just bring your own food and eat it. I can always order a cup of coffee....
In my case they probably wouldn't be so upset about me not ordering because we would order for David as well as two kids anyway.

Bob's suggestions about ordering an appetizer for the other guests to share is good - that should promote good will.

Thanks for the laugh, Polly
But I must admit I've now changed my view of you - I always thought of you as someone who had figured out how to eat out despite all the intolerances; now you are more like me; bringing your own carry-out pork chop in your purse - sigh.

Love,
Karen

[CAMary]

Good for you! I have beoome much more assertive, as well! In fact, on my "to do" list for tomorrow is to call the guy who runs the 5th grade environmental education camp to get confirmation that I will have access to a fridge and to let him know I need to bring my own food...Yes, I will stand out in a dining-hall format - but I couldn't care less! I'm so done eating so *other* people don't feel uncomfortable/offended...I need to ensure I don't get an attack of "D" while out hiking, so I need to do what I need to do!

Thanks for the inspiring story - and you did get the best *perk* out of eating out - someone else to wash the dishes

Mary

[MaggieRedwings]

Morning Polly,

Love that you took it in hand like that and Frank would not be the least embarassed. We took his daughter and her "fiance" out on Saturday night and I paid for it. I just had to have the creme burlee which I have no idea why I ordered. Just wanted a dessert for a change and I paid dearly. Otherwise the salmon and sweet potato puree was wonderfu.

Love, Maggie