Thank you Jo.
Its just that "starting from a very narrow diet anyway" perspective. Herbs and spices aren't my thing. In fact I struggle with good old pepper and although I love India as a country, I cant eat spicy food.
I have quite an eversion to tomato. Odd because I can eat Bolognese and have them in a salad but give me one to eat and I run for the hills (well, walk actually, fibromyalgia has put paid to running) .
On we go..
I get it, I really do... My diet was already limited due to migraine triggers as well as rheumatism triggers, so it was narrow here too, though not as bad as yours, I suppose. On keto at least I could tolerate dairy and eggs again, about 4 months in, without rheumatism flare-ups. Haven't limped in a while! (Hip inflammation) The migraine triggers stay put though, so no yoghurt for me. Nor a gazillion other things. But I don't miss them much, there's other stuff to enjoy.
My husband wants to go to a Dutch amusement park tomorrow, as a belated birthday celebration, -he turned 34 last week- and as it's a new year, I'm going through all their restaurants' menu's with a fine tooth comb again to see what I can order. It's still a nice list, but everything has to be adapted. No buns, no fries, extra salad or veggies... I know they'll accomodate me, as they always have and without complaint, but it's still, you know... Sometimes it does feel like T2 is a full-time job. (With other foodlimitations tossed in the mix, I sometimes actually forget to factor those in, and suffer for it! Duh!). I've made my list though, and am looking forward to ordering certain things... Their eggs are fine, so are the burgers, but the steak is
really excellent.
Think I'll spoil myself for a bit, maybe. So rather than seeing it as a chore, which it is, I'm just trying to turn it on its head by making it something like, looking forward to what I'll order. I have choices, even if they are limited. And the list will help me remember to tell them to leave certain things off.
Have you ever heard of Flip-Thinking? (
https://omdenken.com/flip-thinking/) It's hard for people like you and me, because we tend to only see problems... Depression does that. But sometimes it really does help you work around things; know what the limitations are and find the possibilities. I have to plow through menu's for a day out. It takes time and there's a lot there which I used to love but can't eat anymore, so yeah, that kinda hurts. Flip thinking: Yes, there's a lot there I can't eat. And there's enough that I can, with slight adjustments. It'll save me going to places where I can't eat anyway, it'll keep me from having a full blown panic attack when the server shows up because I'll know what to order a day before they're even at my table, and ye gods now I really want a steak, and I'm getting one tomorrow...! (Unless I change my mind and go for one of the other six options!)
The possibilities may not be as many or as varied as we'd like, but they're there, if we look for them. That's kinda the point I'm trying to make. (Sometimes I get a little lost in my own prattle, sorry.
). So tomatoes are a no. Salmon too. Herbs, spicy stuff... So look at what makes you go
yes, and go from there.
Jo