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Eating Out Normally Again Is Something I Dream Of
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<blockquote data-quote="JoKalsbeek" data-source="post: 2409905" data-attributes="member: 401801"><p>Basically, it's your life, you have to live it. If you need to be able to go out and have a little something every now and again that isn't strictly keto, just to preserve some sanity and actual honest-to-God joy in your life, well.. That's your choice. No-one here is going to slap a fork out of your hand with a ruler when you're out and about. We do this in whatever way we can, whatever is manageable to us. Because if you can't make it suit your situation, you're not going to be able to keep it up. For some that does mean throwing caution in the wind once in a while. I know I can't do that because high-ish blood sugars make me feel decidedly unwell for a while, but if you can, more power to you and have some for me too eh. You'd be surprised how many people here eat along with the rest of the family during christmas and such... I don't, as it's a very stressful time of year and I need to be well for a few days in a row between our friends-and-family visits, and I don't have the luxury of tackling blood sugars as well then. I have a hand in the menu everywhere, so there's always something I can eat. But that's me. That doesn't have to be you, or the next poster. You do what works for YOU.</p><p></p><p>My diet, while it was still keto, was pretty much alright. Most menu's had something I could eat, like surf'n'turf salads, eggs with whatever I wanted, which is a common lunch for the Dutch rather than a breakfast. Meats were fine too, and fish, and I did ask for extra veggies or baked mushrooms or whatever to replace the normally mandatory fries. The Chinese restaurant we loved had plenty of meat (Why lean by the way? The flavour's in the fats! And more filling than lean too.), and their duck was and remains, to die for. I picked a few things with sauce I really REALLY loved, and had just a little bit, enough for flavour, calculating a little walk around the block after dinner in, and I'd be a 5 or 6 by the time we got home. Their tomato soup is red liquid sugar, and I'll have to miss on that, but the meats were fine, as were some of the egg and fish dishes, and the veggies. I don't do curries because I'm a wuss when it comes to hot foods, but greek mixed grill with souvlaki, gyros and whatnot is heavenly in my book. Argentinian restaurants, with lots of excellent meats on the menu are wonderful too. So my husband eats my fries, can't say I care when there's enough to indulge in. There's an amusement park that had a few things on the menu I could have, but everything came with fries or rice. So I asked them to combine dishes and leave stuff out, so I ended up with steak and eggs (sunny side up), and had them make up whatever I had to pay for it, as it was off-menu. (I offered to just pay full price for both dishes). I paid for one dish total, and the kitchen had a good laugh at my offer to pay extra. They want to help, if they can. Better than throwing stuff out. In another place, a zoo, I asked for a sausage without the bun. The lass at the counter just about had a fit. She assumed I wanted a discount, it wasn't about the meal. I told her I was happy to pay the full price, but I wasn't going to eat the bread <em>as it would make me ill</em>, and thought it was a shame to throw it away. That immediately changed things. When I got to the register the lass there rang up a different, cheaper item because she thought I shouldn't have to pay for bread that wasn't there. Adventures in custom eating. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> If you're open about the hows and why's, they're happy to work with you. And if you REALLY don't want a salad, ask for something else! Extra bacon, mushrooms, an egg or two, a double portion of meat/fish/poultry... Something you do enjoy! </p><p></p><p>There's a palace-turned-museum in the Netherlands where they serve a high tea in the ballroom. I wanted to have one there, didn't get around to it, got diagnosed, and it just vanished as an option: <em>everything</em> was carb-laden. We visit the museum a few times a year in non-corona times, and every time we have lunch there, or just have some tea, and I see those tables set up across the room, I want to cry. (I managed to only burst into tears in the Lady's once in the 5 years since diagnosis, thank heavens.) I've conditioned myself to look at it as a photographer, going for the visual aspect, but it does remind me very, very painfully of what I've lost. Our wedding reception in 2008 was a high tea, and I wanted to do it again for our 12,5 year anniversary. Even if Covid hadn't blown that idea to kingdom come, I wouldn't have been able to do it. Not get all that set up for my guests, and not partake. I'd be a wreck. We lose things, and it's not a rant when you grieve for them. It hurts. It just does, and you don't need to justify it or apologise. It does help though to look for alternatives... A barbecue was my other option, if we'd have been able to have the reception last year. But that still doesn't make the high tea loss bite any less!</p><p></p><p>Since I've gone for a more extreme diet since my keto days (carnivore, rather strict), I've found eating out a little more than complicated too, but it helps if you know what the menu is beforehand and select restaurants on that basis. We're going to do a little staycation in an area we're unfamiliar with later this year. I have a list of things to do and see, and behind all those are restaurants in the vicinity where I can order eggs or meat, as salads and veggies are out for me too, these days. It takes some preparation, but I feel better if I don't 100% have to wing it. Also, if you're unsure, you can contact them, explain your needs, and ask the chef to think along with you. For all you know they'd be happy to replace proper rice with cauliflower rice in your curry? If you're a regular somewhere, they'll remember fast enough that you're the one who tips well for the extra effort, and they won't have to throw anything out. </p><p></p><p>It's hard. But there are work-arounds and whatnot. Just find out what you want added to your dish if not the S word. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p><p>Hugs,</p><p>Jo</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="JoKalsbeek, post: 2409905, member: 401801"] Basically, it's your life, you have to live it. If you need to be able to go out and have a little something every now and again that isn't strictly keto, just to preserve some sanity and actual honest-to-God joy in your life, well.. That's your choice. No-one here is going to slap a fork out of your hand with a ruler when you're out and about. We do this in whatever way we can, whatever is manageable to us. Because if you can't make it suit your situation, you're not going to be able to keep it up. For some that does mean throwing caution in the wind once in a while. I know I can't do that because high-ish blood sugars make me feel decidedly unwell for a while, but if you can, more power to you and have some for me too eh. You'd be surprised how many people here eat along with the rest of the family during christmas and such... I don't, as it's a very stressful time of year and I need to be well for a few days in a row between our friends-and-family visits, and I don't have the luxury of tackling blood sugars as well then. I have a hand in the menu everywhere, so there's always something I can eat. But that's me. That doesn't have to be you, or the next poster. You do what works for YOU. My diet, while it was still keto, was pretty much alright. Most menu's had something I could eat, like surf'n'turf salads, eggs with whatever I wanted, which is a common lunch for the Dutch rather than a breakfast. Meats were fine too, and fish, and I did ask for extra veggies or baked mushrooms or whatever to replace the normally mandatory fries. The Chinese restaurant we loved had plenty of meat (Why lean by the way? The flavour's in the fats! And more filling than lean too.), and their duck was and remains, to die for. I picked a few things with sauce I really REALLY loved, and had just a little bit, enough for flavour, calculating a little walk around the block after dinner in, and I'd be a 5 or 6 by the time we got home. Their tomato soup is red liquid sugar, and I'll have to miss on that, but the meats were fine, as were some of the egg and fish dishes, and the veggies. I don't do curries because I'm a wuss when it comes to hot foods, but greek mixed grill with souvlaki, gyros and whatnot is heavenly in my book. Argentinian restaurants, with lots of excellent meats on the menu are wonderful too. So my husband eats my fries, can't say I care when there's enough to indulge in. There's an amusement park that had a few things on the menu I could have, but everything came with fries or rice. So I asked them to combine dishes and leave stuff out, so I ended up with steak and eggs (sunny side up), and had them make up whatever I had to pay for it, as it was off-menu. (I offered to just pay full price for both dishes). I paid for one dish total, and the kitchen had a good laugh at my offer to pay extra. They want to help, if they can. Better than throwing stuff out. In another place, a zoo, I asked for a sausage without the bun. The lass at the counter just about had a fit. She assumed I wanted a discount, it wasn't about the meal. I told her I was happy to pay the full price, but I wasn't going to eat the bread [I]as it would make me ill[/I], and thought it was a shame to throw it away. That immediately changed things. When I got to the register the lass there rang up a different, cheaper item because she thought I shouldn't have to pay for bread that wasn't there. Adventures in custom eating. ;) If you're open about the hows and why's, they're happy to work with you. And if you REALLY don't want a salad, ask for something else! Extra bacon, mushrooms, an egg or two, a double portion of meat/fish/poultry... Something you do enjoy! There's a palace-turned-museum in the Netherlands where they serve a high tea in the ballroom. I wanted to have one there, didn't get around to it, got diagnosed, and it just vanished as an option: [I]everything[/I] was carb-laden. We visit the museum a few times a year in non-corona times, and every time we have lunch there, or just have some tea, and I see those tables set up across the room, I want to cry. (I managed to only burst into tears in the Lady's once in the 5 years since diagnosis, thank heavens.) I've conditioned myself to look at it as a photographer, going for the visual aspect, but it does remind me very, very painfully of what I've lost. Our wedding reception in 2008 was a high tea, and I wanted to do it again for our 12,5 year anniversary. Even if Covid hadn't blown that idea to kingdom come, I wouldn't have been able to do it. Not get all that set up for my guests, and not partake. I'd be a wreck. We lose things, and it's not a rant when you grieve for them. It hurts. It just does, and you don't need to justify it or apologise. It does help though to look for alternatives... A barbecue was my other option, if we'd have been able to have the reception last year. But that still doesn't make the high tea loss bite any less! Since I've gone for a more extreme diet since my keto days (carnivore, rather strict), I've found eating out a little more than complicated too, but it helps if you know what the menu is beforehand and select restaurants on that basis. We're going to do a little staycation in an area we're unfamiliar with later this year. I have a list of things to do and see, and behind all those are restaurants in the vicinity where I can order eggs or meat, as salads and veggies are out for me too, these days. It takes some preparation, but I feel better if I don't 100% have to wing it. Also, if you're unsure, you can contact them, explain your needs, and ask the chef to think along with you. For all you know they'd be happy to replace proper rice with cauliflower rice in your curry? If you're a regular somewhere, they'll remember fast enough that you're the one who tips well for the extra effort, and they won't have to throw anything out. It's hard. But there are work-arounds and whatnot. Just find out what you want added to your dish if not the S word. ;) Hugs, Jo [/QUOTE]
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