Need support

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm going on vacation in a couple of days, traveling with family, and

staying for a week with some people I barely know. I am grateful for

their generosity in offering their home to us, but I've heard about a

few meals they intend to cook for us, and I'm concerned: lasagna, tator

tot hotdish, steaks. Yikes! I don't want to be rude, I don't want to

stand out, and like I say, I barely know them so it's hard to address

the issue. I'm tempted to eat what they're making the first night and

then get to the grocery store ASAP. They're making lasagna, so there's

sure to be salad! I'm packing gluten free crackers, nuts, and dried

fruits. Maybe I'll throw in some fresh fruit for that first night.

I suppose the best thing to do is be upfront. Why do I find that so

difficult?

 

Sierra

[Guest guest]

Sierra

The best thing you can do is be upfront about your food choices. We

have only been doing to gluten free, dairy and egg free for 4 months

but I have found that when we are upfront everyone is way more

comfortable. I usually let my hostess know that I will bring food for

us to eat that fits in with their menu.

The difference it has made to my husband and daughters health makes

these moments a little easier as I do not want them to be sick again.

I hope this helps. I know my sister in law really appreciates when I

tell her I will bring food for us like bread/ muffins/salad dressings

and margarine.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Lynn

[Guest guest]

Sierra, if you are finding the situation difficult, consider yourself in GOOD

company! Gosh, handling the interface between the " them " and " us " thingey is an

ongoing opportunity to growth for me, even after 20-some years of it. I hope

your new friends will make it very easy for you.

 

There's lots of ways to approach the issue. For myself, I find that being

straight forward and honest about my needs in a simple manner works generally

well. MOST people are very accomodating. Some aren't, but that's not your

fault. I usually take food too and offer to share.

 

With people's various needs, preferences and habits, sharing space and food can

be quite complicated these days. It's perfectly OK to be seeing it as

potentially challenging. Just do your best to enjoy yourself while taking care

of your needs. Please let us know how it goes!

 

Deborah

 

 

Hi,

I'm going on vacation in a couple of days, traveling with family, and

staying for a week with some people I barely know. I am grateful for

their generosity in offering their home to us, but I've heard about a

few meals they intend to cook for us, and I'm concerned: lasagna, tator

tot hotdish, steaks. Yikes! I don't want to be rude, I don't want to

stand out, and like I say, I barely know them so it's hard to address

the issue. I'm tempted to eat what they're making the first night and

then get to the grocery store ASAP. They're making lasagna, so there's

sure to be salad! I'm packing gluten free crackers, nuts, and dried

fruits. Maybe I'll throw in some fresh fruit for that first night.

I suppose the best thing to do is be upfront. Why do I find that so

difficult?

 

Sierra

.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I've been carting our own food around for years.  I'm always upfront about our

dietary needs and always offer to supply an additional entre, dessert, snacks,

breakfast foods, whatever we need ....this ALWAYS makes my host feel more

comfortable.  I think it is more upsetting to the hosts because they want to

provide you with a pleasant experience and if they have no idea how to cook for

you, it is stressful for them.  I've had friends/family insist on " stocking "

food for me, but I always decline because I am more comfortable making my own

food selections.  Now if someone was on a similar diet as us and knew how to buy

and prepare the food, I'd be okay with it.

We travel to my sister-in-law's house every Christmas and for the last 6 or 7

years I've brought a completely separate meal for my family--but I always make

enough for others to share and usually others do and enjoy what I make also. 

It all comes down to doing what is best for you and your family. 

 

Susan

 

 

--- On Thu, 10/9/08, snowdrift52003 <snowdrift52003 wrote:

 

snowdrift52003 <snowdrift52003

Need support

 

Thursday, October 9, 2008, 10:38 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,

I'm going on vacation in a couple of days, traveling with family, and

staying for a week with some people I barely know. I am grateful for

their generosity in offering their home to us, but I've heard about a

few meals they intend to cook for us, and I'm concerned: lasagna, tator

tot hotdish, steaks. Yikes! I don't want to be rude, I don't want to

stand out, and like I say, I barely know them so it's hard to address

the issue. I'm tempted to eat what they're making the first night and

then get to the grocery store ASAP. They're making lasagna, so there's

sure to be salad! I'm packing gluten free crackers, nuts, and dried

fruits. Maybe I'll throw in some fresh fruit for that first night.

I suppose the best thing to do is be upfront. Why do I find that so

difficult?

 

Sierra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks, everyone for the encouragement to be direct. One of my

traveling companions is on a weight loss diet, so maybe he'll be an

ally.

 

S.

[Guest guest]

I typically bring my own apples carrots and nuts as back up and pick at the

salad, rice, etc,knowing that I have some other food with me. I also offer

to cook after the first meal. I do explain that my daughter is gluten and

lactose intolerant before we travel and most people try to do the right thing,

but often they are simply ignorant regarding the fact that butter has lactose,

etc. I ask them to leave the dressing off the salad, as well as the

croutons and cheese. I always offer to make my wonderful dressing - which

everyone loves.

 

It can get dicey, and as long as you have a go with the flow attitude most

people will not feel awkward or that you are simply being difficult.

 

 

In a message dated 10/10/2008 1:36:29 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

dpageau writes:

 

 

 

 

Sierra, if you are finding the situation difficult, consider yourself in

GOOD company! Gosh, handling the interface between the " them " and " us " thingey

is an ongoing opportunity to growth for me, even after 20-some years of it. I

hope your new friends will make it very easy for you.

 

There's lots of ways to approach the issue. For myself, I find that being

straight forward and honest about my needs in a simple manner works generally

well. MOST people are very accomodating. Some aren't, but that's not your

fault. I usually take food too and offer to share.

 

With people's various needs, preferences and habits, sharing space and food

can be quite complicated these days. It's perfectly OK to be seeing it as

potentially challenging. Just do your best to enjoy yourself while taking care

of your needs. Please let us know how it goes!

 

Deborah

 

Hi,

I'm going on vacation in a couple of days, traveling with family, and

staying for a week with some people I barely know. I am grateful for

their generosity in offering their home to us, but I've heard about a

few meals they intend to cook for us, and I'm concerned: lasagna, tator

tot hotdish, steaks. Yikes! I don't want to be rude, I don't want to

stand out, and like I say, I barely know them so it's hard to address

the issue. I'm tempted to eat what they're making the first night and

then get to the grocery store ASAP. They're making lasagna, so there's

sure to be salad! I'm packing gluten free crackers, nuts, and dried

fruits. Maybe I'll throw in some fresh fruit for that first night.

I suppose the best thing to do is be upfront. Why do I find that so

difficult?

 

Sierra

..

 

 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

 

 

 

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