(no subject)

[emmuzka]

so, today i started the face-to-face portion of this pretty posh adult education cource. Three days in a hotel in the middle of nowhere. Anyway. Back to my reason for a whining post. I had informed that i am diabetic. (actually im not but that is as close to low carb as one can get here.) in the morning there was coffee and a bun. I got coffee. At twelve we got light lunch. Its now half past six and the dinner will be at eight. Guess what we got during the eight hours? Chocolate. Plenty of chocolate. Nothing for the poor diabetic. Its so nice when people are conciderate.

Comments

[sua-lay.livejournal.com]

Please go all apeshit tomorrow. Not because you're kinda pissed off, but because of the fact that if they ever actually cater a real diabetic, that poor bastard will probably suffer some serious problems in the place. It's not even that hard to cater to a diabetic, some sliced veggies, maybe some fruit... Dark bread...

*angry*

Though I did survive a week in Britain with tuna sandwiches, chips and muffins myself... Yes, am a bad diabetic. :)

[emmuzka.livejournal.com]

in the evening in the sauna i was like yeah, you do know that there could have been consequenses if i would have been really sick? Partly it had been the caterings fault, there had been a coffee break but they forgot to reserve me anything like they did for the cheliac person.

[sua-lay.livejournal.com]

Oh I love that as an explanation, they 'forgot'. Lovely. It's not like they get paid for remembering what people need... No, wait. They actually do get paid for it. Hmmm....

Okay, it's too late for me to even try to be sarcastic. :)

[rosabel.livejournal.com]

OMG. What assholes! And even if nobody was a diabetic, who the hell survives on chocolate alone? I like chocolate, but not all day long.

That is so inconsiderate. Please tell them that this is not sufficient because you're a "diabetic".

[emmuzka.livejournal.com]

almost all of us were women and just the type who like to take care of our health... Oh well, maybe it was a good excuse to eat a shitload of fazerin sininen...

[maweisse.livejournal.com]

Aaarghh!

I had to do some Facebooking to calm myself after that initial reaction. I believe the technical term is "vitulla paahan".

By the way: polymer_zen's greatest fan loves loves the wedding gift! Thank you so much! Kiitos! When my computer is re-harddrived I shall take photos.

[teroyks.livejournal.com]

Sorry you didn't get the food you wanted. But a part of the problem actually might (I'm saying might because of no knowledge about the particular case) be people who do what you did: masquerading their preferences as health-related requirements. I've heard people who work at catering conferences talk about this and it was clear that so many people do it (regarding fish for example) that the assumption with some catering people is that the requirements aren't real but just people being picky.

Now, I'm not saying that taking people's preferences into account wouldn't be a good thing (especially at these company training courses where money wouldn't be the issue). I think it would absolutely be a good thing that people had some choice in what they prefer to eat. And I also think the caterer has no right to assume people aren't telling the truth about their diets. But I think posing as someone with a food-related disease does cause some overall harm to people who actually have these diseases.

[emmuzka.livejournal.com]

i totally know what you mean and i generally believe that these people grumble the ground under the genuine people. But as of my case, i think that i can say that im a true low carb as i had followed it over three years. And diabetic meal is as close as some caterings will ever get to low carb since they dont understand the conceptg

[lumiyu.livejournal.com]

Gah, that sucks. Not only that you didn't get your food, but chocolate for eight hours? O.o

Teroyks has a valid point, sort of. I would think lowcarb diet is just as valid lifestyle as vegetarian, but people wouldn't go offer meat to vegetarians since they are just 'being picky'.

I could go on a whole rant about low-lactose or lactose-free caterings. Especially those who confuse between the two terms! But I won't. Except to say that if those caterers would be doing lowcarb choice, it would be exactly like the normal, but they'd left the potatoes out of it, and you could still get corn or sugar in your sauce.

Thanks for good points!

[maweisse.livejournal.com]

Comparing a low carb diet to vegetarian (or vegan) is a really valid point, in my view. Thanks for pointing that out.

People are vegetarian for a variety of reasons: moral as well as taste and health. There are also many reasons for being on a low carb diet. Low carb, vegetarianism or veganism may be choices, but there are health reasons for them as well. A friend on mine is on a low carb diet because she is hypoglycemic, in other words, she gets sugar highs easily and then crashes fast and furious. I'd say that's a health reason.

And as for your last comment: AMEN! Low lactose is very different from lactose free, not to mention milk-protein free! Holy crap! Milk protein free dessert: berries and the same vanilla sauce as for the apple pie - with real milk! Whopee.

[2ndbs.livejournal.com]

Crap. Go to the kitchen and complain. Your company is paying big money for this and they have asked you your diet. It is a breach of agreement if they do not provide.

I am attending a 2 days seminar (incl. dinner) in September in Helsinki: This is what I told them of my dietary restrictions:

I have following dietary restrictions: low carbohydrate diet: no grain (flour), sugar, potato, pasta, rice, bread. These may be replaced with vegetables. Dessert could be fresh berries/ cheese, no added sugar.

[twindouble.livejournal.com]

If my husband has field days at work, the company feeds them (=a catering company is hired to do the job). DH is really allergic to potatoes, and always there is them in the food they get. It actually did not enter his head to say anything to the company! Next time he'll request potatoe-free food.

[(Anonymous)]

If you want lowcarb, ask for lowcarb. Any training, seminar or event arranging facilities must take your request for real. If they 'forget', say that you will wait right there until you get what you need. Give suggestions and act gracefully ("Oh, some cold meats and cheese are quite ok, thank you. I'll wait.")

Here is a good explanation (in Finnish) to give to the kitchen/event organizer _beforehand_:

VÄHÄHIILIHYDRAATTINEN RUOKAVALIO

Noudatan vähähiilihydraattista ruokavaliota - hiilihydraatteja saisi olla maksimissaan 5 grammaa/ateria. En saa syödä sokereita, jauhoja (leipä, pasta, kastikkeet) enkä tärkkelystä (peruna, riisi, maissi).

Saan syödä lihaa, kalaa, lintua, riistaa, äyriäisiä, munia, sieniä, pähkinöitä, vihanneksia (vähän hiilihydraatteja sis. esim. kaali, kukkakaali, parsakaali, sipuli) ja maitotuotteita hiilihydraattipitoisuuden mukaan (juustoja, kermaa, rahkaa), samoin hedelmiä ja marjoja hiilihydraattipitoisuuden mukaan (esim. mansikka ja mustikka sopivat). Juon vettä, sokerittomia limsoja ja muita juomia sekä kahvia ja teetä, viinejä vähän. Makeutan keinotekoisilla makeutusaineilla.

And remember to mention it to the kitchen staff if the food was good. It never stops astonishing me how little people say thanks to the kitchen staff if their needs were taken care of.