Going On A Board Retreat

[olalisa]

I leave friday for a weekend church board retreat. A wonderful woman (wife of a fellow board member) will be preparing all of our meals. She did this for us last year and the food was wonderful. (I wasn't diagnosed yet). She is a "martha stewart" type in the kitchen (not her personality, thankfully ) and has told me that she's going to make sure that she has safe food for me. Here's where the anxiety comes in....

She's going to some trouble to make sure I can eat the food. What if I feel like there is still an issue? How do I deal with that? I'm planning to take some food as a back-up (and any suggestions would be appreciated as to WHAT to take) but I'm worried about it being very awkward. she is a dear lady and I don't want to hurt her feelings, or draw attention to myself or get sick. HELP!

[MySuicidalTurtle]

No matter how sweet she is I would not let her or anyone not trained to cook for me. That's just how I am. I would bring my own food and tell her that it I would feel more comfortable doing it myself. She should not be offended if you tell her how serious this is. You can do what you feel good with but don't let yourself get sick just to be nice. Have fun on your retreat!

[kabowman]

I would ask to confirm her ingredients and her care with the preparation - however, I do tend to draw attention. I have gotten over that because I just don't want to get sick anymore.

She is planning this and she said she wants to make sure you can eat...she won't want you to get sick and have a miserable time. I would ask...

When I went to my boss's house for dinner, that his wife cooked, I didn't ask because I didn't want her to feel as if she HAD to cook food for me (I have some serious food issue); however, my boss had told her I have food issues (I have been here for 10 years so I know them both) but that is as far as he went. When we got ready to eat, I asked at each dish, how it was prepared, what she cooked it in, and what she put in the dish. I was able to eat most of the meal - no dessert of course but that is normal for me. I ended up NOT getting sick. She didn't mind me asking the questions at all.

[ElizabethN]

Whenever I am going anywhere that I am not sure if the food will be safe or not, I take some Bumble Bars. They are extremely filling and easy to pack. I especially like the chocolate crisp variety, but they are all good, though I don't care for the lemon as much. My husband jokes they look like bird suet! You can order them by the case online, I also found them in our local natural food store.

Maybe you could ask if you could look over the recipes before she makes the food? That way you could offer suggestions for subtitutions or give tips to ensure the resulting food is gluten-free. I am sure she would understand how careful you need to be with your diet and would not be offended.

[kabowman]

I should have mentioned in my post - I would definity take my own food to suppliment, just in case. Cereal, milk, snacks, etc. and real food in a cooler.

[Ursa Major]

Maybe you could suggest you help her with cooking your own food, since it's a pain otherwise? That way you can control how clean the cookware is (I actually bring my own stainless steel frying pan and little pot, and you may want to bring utensils as well).

Does she totally understand about cross contamination? She may have the best of intentions, but might stir your food with a cooking spoon used in a gluteny dish or something like that, without even thinking. Or cut your food on a cutting board she cut bread on.

[kbtoyssni]

You could maybe explain to her how it took you months to figure out the diet and what you can and cannot eat and there's no way you expect her to know everything in just a day or two. Tell her you'd feel awful if she accidently glutened you and that you appreciate her offering to cook, but you'd prefer to cook your own or help her do the cooking and teach her at the same time.

[CarlaB]

You could maybe explain to her how it took you months to figure out the diet and what you can and cannot eat and there's no way you expect her to know everything in just a day or two. Tell her you'd feel awful if she accidently glutened you and that you appreciate her offering to cook, but you'd prefer to cook your own or help her do the cooking and teach her at the same time.

I think this is great advice. She will probably be relieved. It's a big responsibility to take on cooking for us! I would definately want to be supervising in the kitchen.

[kbtoyssni]

I think this is great advice. She will probably be relieved. It's a big responsibility to take on cooking for us! I would definately want to be supervising in the kitchen.

Thanks! I can't even remember all the times I accidently glutened myself in the first few months because I didn't know any better so I'd hate to put myself at risk again like that. Now that I finally have the diet figured out, I'm not willing to risk letting other people cook for me. The other day my friend was asking me if she could make me gluten-free cheesecake. It's so nice of her to want to include me and I want to let her make it, but I'm so nervous about it. She asked a lot of "is this ingredient ok?" questions and I hate saying "yes, usually it's ok, but can you still call the company to make sure they don't make wheat flour on the next line..."

[olalisa]

Great advice, everybody! I feel much better now, and I do plan to take back up food as well as try to make my own or at least oversee what I can. That part will be more problematic since she cooks while we do our work, but I may just have to excuse myself from the meetings a few times.

You guys are FABULOUS! THANKS