What can’t you eat? That’s always a fun question. (By the way, that was sarcasm.) I love that people care enough to ask, but that doesn’t mean that I know how to answer. I may be able to each something one day, but not another. Or I may be able to eat something if it’s paired with the right additional foods (often carbs will help keep my stomach settled) but I can’t eat it otherwise.
Some friends get frustrated with me over this. They want to work around my food issues, so when they invite me to dinner, they ask what I can and can’t eat. When I’m vague and suggest that I’ll bring my own food, they think that I’m just trying not to trouble them. I suppose that’s true in a lot of ways, but it’s also that I just don’t know how to answer. In the past I’ve tried to give people lists of my
restrictions, but then I’ll forget to mention something, or I’ll be having a bit of a flare, and I won’t be able to eat the lovely meal that they prepared with me in mind. Then I feel even worse. I usually just ask them to let me know what they’re planning to prepare, but again, it’s dicey. They may add an extra ingredient without thinking about it, or they may forget to mention something, and suddenly I can’t
eat the meal. Why can I eat brie but not feta? I have no clue. Why does Thai food make me sick, while all other Asian foods I’ve tried have been fine (and delicious!)? No idea. Why does eating dessert one moment make me sick, but 20 minutes later it’s fine? I can only guess.
In the end, it’s all a guessing game. Luckily, I’ve gotten better at guessing over the years. But try explaining that to a dinner party host.
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Chronic Rants 