I use the term 'function food' to describe the sort of food that's usually served up at parties and some large group dinners: Often prepared a day or so beforehand, high in fat and sugar, low in fibre, and often high in additives and presevatives. The opposite of what most of us eat to stay healthy.
If you fall into this category, I'd like to offer you some strategies to minimise your risk:
- At a 'finger food' party, ignore the trays of hot food. You'll be able to do this more easily if you've eaten a substantial snack at home before you left for the party. If the party is happening around your usual dinner time, be especially careful to eat beforehand. Otherwise, if you're ravenous, your stomach will ask you to tuck into all those rich pastries - and to hell with the consequences!
- At a function dinner, if you can, call the organisers or restaurant a few days beforehand and ask for a 'special meal'. Most caterers now are very familiar with gluten intolerance. If in doubt, ask for just steamed vegetables and meat, no sauce. Note: Its important to arrange this several days in advance, not when you sit down to your meal!
- At a private home, let your host know when you get the invitation that there are some foods that make you sick. Offer to bring a suitable dish that can be shared by all the guests. Of all the food situations you can face, this is the most tricky, and may need all your diplomatic skills! Most people are familiar with the concept of food intolerance, but not all. I'll leave it up to you which strategy or excuse you want to use if your hosts are openly intolerant of your intolerance!!
Start taking your bowel health supplements again as if you were already treating a problem. This will strengthen your system, making it easier to cope with indiscretions. Give your health practitioner a call for their recommendations.
Good luck! If anyone has a particularly effective strategy they'd like to share, please tell us!
Comments
Post has no comments.