Balance

[Rowena]

So, I discovered this morning I was running late. This made me mad because I work as a receptionist this morning, before heading up to the copyroom. So in my head I thought, "Drat (insert a expletive of your choice, I have to keep it friendly though) I don't have time to pack my lunch. Its fine, I will just suffer through till lunch and then head to the food court." And as you might have guessed, this particular food court is a celiac's/gluten-intolerant's worst nightmare. I ended up putting my lunch together anyway as fast as I could. And even if I hadn't, I still would have been just as late because we had to unbury our car from under a foot and a half of snow... Yes... it was lovely.

The thing is, I know its a matter of just getting up earlier, but I cannot believe I thought I found it worth it to give up my good health for a few more minutes of time. Does anyone else find themselves constantly fighting to balance things like that? (Note, when I get glutened, it never lasts more than a day, just like any reaction to fish or seafood I have. But still, for that bit of time, its miserable. Why would I spend the day in misery for a meal of lousy chinese food or pizza or a sandwich.)

[sahm-i-am]

Cause we live in a world of instant gratification, the easy way out, the grab -n- go society. Celiacs + Meals = Planning! We just can't be spontaneous anymore. And truthfully, while it's a pain in the arse, it is healthier. And you made the right choice anyway, it just took you a minute! Good for you for not giving into your first thought. Blame it on the snow, pack your lunch and stay happy!

[kareng]

Get your lunch all put together the night before. (no I'm not your Mom sneaking in here). If your food court has a Wendys, you could get a potato. Maybe a yogurt or a fruit or pack of nuts. Bag of chips or Snickers bar.

[Rowena]

"Celiac+Meals=Planning" I am so putting that on a banner and hanging that up in my apartment. It is clever. *grin* As for blaming it on the snow, you can bet your bottom dollar I did blame being late on that. As for why I didn't go with my gut... The fact our bank account is almost empty helped make the decision...

But Mama! I don't wanna! That's too much work! *chuckle* Yeah I know I really should put my lunch together ahead of time... (As for Wendy's, the closest thing to it is a McDonalds, and I hate McDonalds... Yuck. I much prefer the healthier alternative of Subway, which I can't eat my favorite thing there either...)

[Skylark]

Give yourself time. You've only been gluten-free for a couple months. Planning issues are going to happen but eventually you will fall into a new routine that allows time for doing what you need to stay healthy.

[Tina B]

So, I discovered this morning I was running late. This made me mad because I work as a receptionist this morning, before heading up to the copyroom. So in my head I thought, "Drat (insert a expletive of your choice, I have to keep it friendly though) I don't have time to pack my lunch. Its fine, I will just suffer through till lunch and then head to the food court." And as you might have guessed, this particular food court is a celiac's/gluten-intolerant's worst nightmare. I ended up putting my lunch together anyway as fast as I could. And even if I hadn't, I still would have been just as late because we had to unbury our car from under a foot and a half of snow... Yes... it was lovely.

The thing is, I know its a matter of just getting up earlier, but I cannot believe I thought I found it worth it to give up my good health for a few more minutes of time. Does anyone else find themselves constantly fighting to balance things like that? (Note, when I get glutened, it never lasts more than a day, just like any reaction to fish or seafood I have. But still, for that bit of time, its miserable. Why would I spend the day in misery for a meal of lousy chinese food or pizza or a sandwich.)

I make my lunch the night before and just put it in the fridge.

[K8ling]

I just make myself do it. Especially now since we are working on a baby, I can't take the chance that my blood sugar will drop. Ok, so maybe I am late more, but my body deserves to be put first.

[sb2178]

Keep stuff in the freezer for the days when you discover you 1) have no food and/or 2) have nothing you want to eat and/or 3) have no time!!!

I also keep packaged food (generally indian or thai) in my desk. Not something I should or can eat everyday, but on surprisingly late nights, a life saver.

Just make sure it is something you like. Otherwise it'll sit there neglected for far too long... FYI, mexican places are sometimes okay in food courts. You can get a burrito in a bowl sans tortilla.

[ElseB]

You really have to make the time. But instead of thinking about it everyday, put aside time once a month. Once a month I take an afternoon and make big batches of several things that I pack in single serve containers for the freezer. This weekend was my cooking weekend and I made soup, chili, and black beans. I now have 21 instant meals! I don't use them everyday for lunch, but if there's no leftovers and I need something, I just open the freezer!

[polarbearscooby]

I've been known to go all day (from when I wake up at 530 to when I get home around 3) without eating just so I can sleep a few more minutes or save a few dollars.... I know. shame shame on me

[Judy3]

I can relate to the 'oh I'm late I'll just get something at the office'... I am trying not to do that anymore and I only go into the office three days a week (work at home Mon and Fri) so it shouldn't be that big of an issue should it? Ha! I need to start preparing meals ahead of time so I can grab and go from my fridge or freezer like was suggested. I have this other issue that's really not an issue at all but it's irritating.. My son lives with me and he's very supportive of the gluten free (he's not) but when I make something that I can enjoy HE EATS IT ALL!!! I'm glad that he's not gluten free phobic and he likes some of the things I'm making but I hate it when I go to grab some rice crackers or my flourless peanut butter cookies and they are all gone! Done venting now and I did tell him to eat his own stuff or at least tell me when he eats the last of something.. lol

[jess-gf]

I can relate to the 'oh I'm late I'll just get something at the office'... I am trying not to do that anymore and I only go into the office three days a week (work at home Mon and Fri) so it shouldn't be that big of an issue should it? Ha! I need to start preparing meals ahead of time so I can grab and go from my fridge or freezer like was suggested. I have this other issue that's really not an issue at all but it's irritating.. My son lives with me and he's very supportive of the gluten free (he's not) but when I make something that I can enjoy HE EATS IT ALL!!! I'm glad that he's not gluten free phobic and he likes some of the things I'm making but I hate it when I go to grab some rice crackers or my flourless peanut butter cookies and they are all gone! Done venting now and I did tell him to eat his own stuff or at least tell me when he eats the last of something.. lol

Sounds like you need a secret stash!

[kareng]

I can relate to the 'oh I'm late I'll just get something at the office'... I am trying not to do that anymore and I only go into the office three days a week (work at home Mon and Fri) so it shouldn't be that big of an issue should it? Ha! I need to start preparing meals ahead of time so I can grab and go from my fridge or freezer like was suggested. I have this other issue that's really not an issue at all but it's irritating.. My son lives with me and he's very supportive of the gluten free (he's not) but when I make something that I can enjoy HE EATS IT ALL!!! I'm glad that he's not gluten free phobic and he likes some of the things I'm making but I hate it when I go to grab some rice crackers or my flourless peanut butter cookies and they are all gone! Done venting now and I did tell him to eat his own stuff or at least tell me when he eats the last of something.. lol

I put my red tape on anything they can't share without asking. Probably helps that some of the things I like, my boys don't.

[sa1937]

When my son was a teenager, I used to "hide" things in the veggie drawer of the fridge as I knew he'd never look there. Post-It notes also became my friend and I used to write, "Do Not Touch" labels on foods I didn't want him to help himself. He's now 39 and does eat his veggies...gotta thank my DIL for that and the good meals she prepares. I still don't think he purposely looks in the veggie drawer though.

[kim:)]

Divide out different gluten-free snacks into sandwhich baggies and figure make yourself a little lunch system so its more of a grab and go and you know then that you always have good food and also you know that you can easily grab it and not have to worry about scrambling around trying to figure out what to eat.

If you end up trying to eat at the food court you will end up spending more money on things like a bowl of steamed rice or a hotdog without the bun or somthing like that, in which you could have a much more "rewarding" lunch if you had packed one....

[sa1937]

I think I'd keep a bag of Lundberg rice cakes and a jar of peanut butter (if you can have it) in my desk for emergency situations. Possibly also include individual servings of fruit or Jello or grab some fresh fruit from the fridge on your way out the door.