Three local conferences in two weeks have me thinking about the dilemmas posed by the gluten-free diet. I didn’t ask for a gluten-free meal at two of these conferences, even though I paid for them. I find that when I ask and the event caterers don’t know how to serve them, but make an attempt that is not safe, I feel so rotten declining the meal. Better to pack a lunch or got to the local grocery than have to refuse their efforts. There is always the dilemma for me of wanting to educate and raise awareness, while protecting my own health.
Conference number one was for local, organic types and the food was sourced locally, but very wheat-based and served by volunteers. I didn’t pay for the lunch and chose to brown bag it. To my surprise there was a gluten-free box lunch and I tried it on day two. The pasta salad was tasty and the fruit salad was excellent. The provider was a local gourmet market that had contacted me for advice on gluten-free products, so I knew they “got” gluten free. My dilemma here-I was eating fruit, olives, and GF pasta imported from all over the world while the locavores dined on local food. My only consolation was they had accepted donated lettuce from California for their salads. Being celiac and needing to mind nutrition and gluten can put one in an awkward spot in the local food community. During the dark days of Ohio winters, I buy imported fruits and veggies to keep our nutrition high. During the farmers’ market season, I buy all I can and preserve as much of it as I can, but there is still not enough in my opinion to get through the winter. Do those with nutritional deficits get a pass? I think we do.
The next conference featured a catered lunch from Panera with a Greek salad and fruit salad accompanying their huge focaccia bread sandwiches. Breakfast was muffins, bagels, nut breads and fruit. The salads were naturally GF and I got in line. Right after I served up my salads, I heard the snap of plastic behind me and saw that the plastic tongs used for the Greek salad had snapped and broken. Unfortunately the tongs for the morning’s nut breads sat nearby and it didn’t take long for the contaminated tongs to be be given a cursory wipe with a paper napkin and into the salad they went. The advise to be the first in the buffet line to avoid cross contamination by the diners coming after you was on my mind. When I was the Mama Bear protecting my kids, I found it easy to run to the head of the line. When it’s just me, I still feel those old rules of etiquette get in the way and I want to be polite. There is also the extra bit of weight I carry that makes me not want to look like the greedy chubby girl. I now, it’s dumb, but there it is. Does anyone else struggle with that?
Finally the third conference for local farm market types had a small local caterer. I didn’t request a GF meal, but planned to bring or buy at a nearby grocery store. I asked if there was anything GF just to see what the response was. “We have some vegetarian lasagna, or I can take the cheese off the sandwiches for you.” Well, that answered my question about gluten-free knowledge in a hurry.
At all three conferences and at a local farm tour for bloggers and journalists, I did notice the effect of all the pastries at breakfast and the heavy use of wheat at lunch. There is a dulling of the senses and need for naps that comes over the attendees in the hours after the meal. There is also an unfortunate sounds of GI distress echoing in the ladies’ room in the afternoon that had me wanting to tap on the stall doors and whispering, “Have you ever thought of going gluten free.” Of course, I don’t and my youngest is appalled that I would even blog about it, but it is on my mind how much wheat and the signs of its effects on the intolerant and undiagnosed celiacs can be seen by those who know what to look for.
Anyone want to share experiences at business conferences and how to eat safely? I have friends who pack all their own food and their luggage is often as much food as clothing.
I just had to laugh about your hearing “unfortunate sounds of GI distress echoing in the ladies’ room” – because that WAS always me. I now feel like I should make a blanket announcement in the ladies’ when I hear those sounds – but I won’t!
It’s so hard to hold back that announcement, though, isn’t it!
I often bring my own food because, to me, it’s easier. At one conference I got a grand gluten free meal, but it was “food as medicine” and they paid a lot of attention to dietary food sensitivities.
Packing is really the only way to go with conferences even if it feels like high school and I don’t want to explain why I’m not eating the conference food. I remember my daughter saying the explanations were the hardest part of having different food. Teachable moments to raise awareness, I guess.