rude to diet in public?
What an interesting article. Laura Fraser has (inadvertantly) highlighted the
biggest challenge of following an eating plan that deviates from “the normal”
American diet. We can all be compliant at home, or taking meals to work, where
we have only ourselves to please. Going out to restaurants is ok too, on the O
diet, I can always order a salad and a main course of meat and veg, and leave
the carb (potato, etc.) uneaten. It is no big deal in that setting to skip
dessert.
Eating at a friend’s house or social function is trickier. At my own home, I
have found the best solution is to serve food buffet-style. Everyone, including
me, can help themselves to whatever they like, and they don’t feel a need to
justify the fact that they’re not eating everything. That only seems to happen
if food is served at the table, where everyone sees what one is or is not
taking. I put stuff on the buffet that I don’t intend to eat. For instance,
many of my friends don’t think it’s really dinner without dinner rolls. Fine, I
put them out, and I don’t have any. Guests who aren’t eating everything will
feel comfortable, as they see I didn’t take everything either. I put dessert
out later, but don’t make a big deal out of it. I may or may not have some, but
I don’t push it. If a guest declines, I move on.
When I am the guest, I DON’T talk about what I am or am not eating. I do stick
pretty closely to my diet. I eat salad, vegetables, and meat. I’ll have a
glass (or two!) of wine, and I’ll have a nibble of rice or potato. I’ll skip
dessert, saying I’m full, or I’ll have a very small dessert. I don’t carry one,
but I just eat what I know I should be eating. If I have an inkling that the
place I am going to is going to be heavy on avoids, for instance, dinner is
going to be fried chicken, gravy, corn on the cob, rolls and no green veg in
sight, then I eat before I go, so I’m not ravenous, then I eat, or nibble, at
very tiny portions, and just say I’m getting over a bug. If anyone’s curious,
and questions me, I hint at nasty stomach things, that no one wants to hear
about while they’re eating.
I do see Ms. Fraser’s point, in that some people are such a PAIN IN THE ASS
about their diets. You’re on a diet. Big deal! Aren’t we all! There are 100
million fascinating dinner topics we can delve into: art, politics, history,
gossip, travel, shared stories, etc. Your diet tales just don’t stand up well
against the alternatives.
On the other hand, I think the author of that article was WAY overreacting, and
taking it personally that all of her friends are trying very hard to overcome
years of bad habits and bad information, they’re trying to get it right, and be
consistent. She sounds like an old grandmother, EAT, EAT! I don’t think I’d
like to go to dinner at her house, even if she is a good cook.