A Question for you guys that have been out of treatment for awhile.

Inevitably one has trek to a distant city to endure several days of sitting in a darkened room watching PowerPoint presentations. Yes I am talking about the dreaded sales presentations. With these dreaded presentation comes overcooked, 4 hours old, barely warm hors d'

Kevin,
generally I eat what I can and leave the rest, especially salad!!!!. Cheese (bland) is fine but no crackers... and I have to stay away from the wine. A sangria is about as much as I can handle but normally I get water (no ice, no lemon... try to get that!). Re food usually pasta works for me. I am not eating nearly as much as BC so that helps.
Now talking with crumbs in your mouth without spitting.... that is something I have yet to learn.
M

I guess my question is how DO you handle the staff without getting ugly. You've already done you part by asking for something special before hand, and get an indifferent attitude.

[quote=Markus] I eat what I can and leave the rest, especially salad!!!!. [/quote]

Boy don't I know this.... talk about sticking to the back of your throat and roof of your mouth....

[quote=Markus]I have to stay away from the wine. A sangria is about as much as I can handle but normally I get water [/quote]

I'm not able to do wine as yet either. Some Beer, but I just do not have the taste for it much anymore...

[quote=Markus]Now talking with crumbs in your mouth without spitting.... that is something I have yet to learn.
[/quote]

hehehehehehehehe it would go halfway across the room

KC

Kevin,
I meant to say leave the rest, ESPECIALLY leave the salad. Vinegar BAD!. I experimented with ranch dressing and that works; but you are correct, limp salad will just stick!!

As far as finger hors d'

Kevin,
Starve or suffer are not the only options. You have very serious medical needs. Given all the crazy diets people follow there is no need to apologize for not eating what you cannot and should not.
I hope the following ideas are helpful, they can be adapted to any dietary needs. I have kept kosher for many years and have been in situations where I either could not eat the food available or was where there would be no eating facilities such as long doctor appointments at inconveniant hours, out running errands or traveling. Because I have hypoglycemia and also get dehydrated very easily I always try to have something to eat and drink available or find a place where I can get something to hold me over.
Use "portable" food. Much food now comes in pull-tab cans or sealed packets. Pick up or buy indivdual packets of condiments and salad dressings. Canned sardines are an excellent and nutritional food. Applesauce, peanut butter, salads, fruits and veggies are available in individual packs and do not need refrigeration. Bananas are wonderful. Chips, crackers, candy and such can help kill hunger and not all are bad nutritionally. Small individual box drinks, juices, long shelf life milk, soy, rice and almond drinks are very filling and can be consumed quickly. And of course there are sport drinks and nutritional supplements. Also "health smoothies" I love carot juice!
If you will be out for a while there are many sizes of soft insulated containers to carry cold food and drink. I always travel with a small immersion heater, coffee, tea sweetener, plastic utensils a cup,etc. Oatmeal and grits come in individual packs and make a filling breakfast. If you will be traveling or out for a day or longer frozen food can be taken and either heated in a microwave or allowed to defrost. Also if you are staying over somewhere use the ice bucket in your room to keepthings cold. Most places can provide more than one.
There is no rule that says you have to eat when others do. If I know that I will not be able to eat a regular meal at a reasonable time I eat a filling meal earlier, take something light until can eat or rely on snacking.
Take advantage of these meetings to educate others about OC. You never know when your words could save someone's life.

Even before OC, surviving one of these conventions/meetings has always been a challenge. I used to swear they would serve the same mystery meat, usually chicken in some horrible sauce, and if I didn't eat it, they would wash it off and pour a new sauce over it. I survived on salad and dessert.

These days I think I would buy some Ensure Plus or whatever I could stand to tide me over until I could get a real meal. Maybe start out the day with a room service or quick breakfast of scrambled eggs. You could probably get yogurt or fresh fruit for lunch or a salad with blue cheese which sometimes is low on vinegar. If not, run back up to room for more Ensure. Thank goodness I don't have to go to these types of events anymore but food is always a problem if I have an early airplane ride. I try to remember to drink an Ensure Plus before I leave because I usually can't eat whatever dry junk they now serve for breakfast. Good luck.

Take care,
Eileen

Just find the item(s) that you can tolerate and eat away. Always keep that water bottle handy and just make the best of it or wait until later and eat out.

I have a delicious Blue Cheese Dressing recipe that has NO vinegar and is really smooth and tasty: http://webpages.charter.net/xila/recipelist.html#Blue_Cheese