Argh - no healthy choices at convention!

[KarenBC]

:(

I've been in a work convention for the last 2 days, it wraps up today. This is an event that I'm finally getting to attend as a delegate, means I don't have to organize anything!

But I wish I was! There are no healthy choices for any of the snack breaks. It's cookies in the afternoon and pastries at the mid morning. Made out ok at lunch, avoided the white rice, white buns - there was only 1 choice of protein, a pork dish that had some sort of sauce on it. Was real careful with the pork and made out ok with the 2 hour numbers afterwards.

In the afternoon there was enough of a break that I was able to walk up to a Tim Horton's and get a 12 grain bagel with lo fat cream cheese and kept my BS numbers in range.

I'm expecting that today the convention will be more of the same - so I'm planning for it. Taking cheese/fruit & whole grain crackers with me.

2 years ago when I was organizing my own work convention one of the fellows came up & royally ripped a strip off me for not having choices that suited diabetics...now I get why he was so steamed. At the time I wondered why he didn't just bring what he needed. Funny how the attitude changes when a person IS walking a mile in their shoes. Ever since his comments though we've made sure we offer a way healthier selection and people have appreciated it.

I've got my fingers crossed for the banquet this evening.

So what do you folks do? If you are registering to go to an event and they have a spot that says "special dietary requirements"...do you fill anything in? I'm not sure if I want to make a production of it, where if you tick that box to get a 'special' meal then the serving staff has to try & find you..plus you get your meal at an off time from the rest of the folks. And everyone looks around to see what the difference is..not sure I want all of that fuss. Pick at what you can and eat later?

Hmmm. The company picked up the tab, at $60 a plate...ouch! I sure didn't think the $30 a plate lunch yesterday was worth $30! I could feed half the neighbourhood lunch on $30 but that's another rant. I should be glad I'm being fed right?

[davef]

Karen,

Just a suggestion, now that you have walked a mile in the shoes, perhaps you would be doing people a favour if you were to have a quiet word with the organisers, don't get hot and bothered just discretely mention it, it could be that like you in the past, this something that never occured to them. You would probably be helping more that just diabetics as people who are trying to lose weight would probably gain too.

And, if there is a box for dietary requirements I would tick it. If they have gone to the trouble of offering the choice then they must be willing to look after you.

I used to travel alot between Ireland and North America and when booking flights I used to tell the agent that I was allergic to fish. I'm actually allergic to shell fish but don't really like fish (unless it's fish+chips) so it worked out for me. Most flights offer chicken/beef choice and I used to get a beef dish reserved for me.

Hope today goes well for you,

[Eddy]

Side mini-rant:

I find the very existence of the phrase "health food" disturbing. It seems to indicate that food is assumed unhealthy unless otherwise specified... sort of a bad premise for one life's bare essentials.

[fgummett]

It's surprising how rarely even groups that should know better get this right. I have been to Canadian Diabetes Association events and been hard pressed to find an appropriate choice of snack... although I should go on to say that they responded positively to feedback and seem to be much improved lately.

I find it is always good advice to walk a mile in someone else's shoes rather than arguing with them... not only do you end up a mile away BUT also you have their shoes :whistling

[PERKDOUG]

I keep it simple while traveling by carrying a supply of spanish peanuts and Vienna Sausage, mostly fat and protein in these items. They do not taste that great but they keep me on the reservation.

[Scrabblechick]

I'd always request a diabetic/low-carb meal if the option was offered. Although, I'm rarely in a situation where this might be a choice. But I get where you're coming from, for sure. The last time we had a company lunch, there really wasn't a thing there I could eat. Oh--the coleslaw. I could eat the slaw. LOL. I didn't feel like getting one of the sandwiches and picking all the meat off it and eating slaw. There's a yummy treat for ya. Heh.

But you know, if you could have a word with the organizers, as Dave suggested, you might suggest they provide s/f yogurt and fresh fruit as part of the mid-morning and afternoon snacks, along with maybe a cheese and cracker tray or a raw veggie tray in the afternoon. One is just as cost-effective as the other if you're ordering in bulk.

It probably just never occurred to them that some of the attendees didn't need to eat danishes and cookies, delicious as they are.

[DCaplinger]

I keep it simple while traveling by carrying a supply of spanish peanuts and Vienna Sausage, mostly fat and protein in these items. They do not taste that great but they keep me on the reservation.

Whaaat? Spanish peanuts are the bomb! I love them. I know some people don't like the red skins, but I absolutely could eat them all day... especially on ice cream... Mmmm... err... did I say that out loud? Ignore that ice cream comment. Hehehe.

Now, I agree... ick to the Vienna Sausages. ;)

LOL.

Regards,

[KarenBC]

Oh boy, I'm glad I took my snacks with me for the day...it got worse...much worse. Snack this morning was danish & donuts...skipped that and got out for some sunshine and had my snack that I'd brought.

Lunch..now what was lunch? Oh yeah, salad, skipped the white bun & white rice, had a mushy over cooked stir fried veggie dish {{shudder}} that a chicken might have walked through and a spring roll (like an egg roll)...they did have fruit for dessert - so an improvement.

Afternoon snack was either cinnamon buns or long john donuts - who in the heck put this menu together!!

Dinner tonight - white rolls (caved & had one), whipped mashed pototo (caved & had half cup), overcooked beef wrapped in bacon (left the bacon), OLD carrots - ugh and yellow zucchini squash. Uh huh...and then they brought dessert - pecan pie. I must have turned white, because my boss beside me - bless her little heart - said to the waiter "is there any healthier choice available?" They brought fruit...whew.

It was an interesting learning experience, my sugars are to high tonight at 8.4 (151.2)

I'm really surprised for a convention centre of the caliber that we have in the city that the folks there that would have been dealing with the people planning the convention wouldn't have said something about having choices.

I agree davef, I'll have a quiet word with the organizers, all other aspects of the convention they hit right on - it was the food that was pretty bad.

One of the speakers was an American space shuttle astronaut, wow - very inspiring.

[EllieK]

I soooo understand your frustration!!!
Every few weeks at work we have lunch meetings and they supply lunch. Even though we pick our lunch from the menu they supply - I still can't find anything that fits my strict restrictions. And there is not much worse than picking lunch meat out of a sandwich in front of everyone during someones presentation - yeah that's professional. So now I pack my own lunch and endure the looks and questions.

my fav snacks on the go are marcona almonds, snapea crisps (just a few for something crunchy like chips but not chips).

You know what's really sad??? I've started eating dinner before I go to a friends house for dinner so that I can just eat a few bites and not feel hungry. My friend, she means well but just can't seem to get the idea I can't eat rice, bread or sugar. My BS soars to over 200 when I eat even 1 piece of bread (white or wheat doesn't matter) so I really can't eat those foods. I get so tired of watching people eat things like pizza while I drink my water.

Sorry for the rant. Most times I have a great attitude but lately it is getting harder. I find myself eating alone just to save the hassle. But then I dream of opening my own restaruant that serves food that all people with challenging diets can eat. People would be able to order single servings of any item they want - so they could customize their meal - like ordering 10 grapes, 2 oz meat, 1 serving of cream cheese, 1 serving broccoli......you get the idea, no more throwing out half of what you order cause it doesn't fit your diet or allergies.

Thanks for listening

[Alice]

I often hear people complain about the lack of "diabetic meals" at an annual convention that I attend.

Honestly, I find it difficult to hear these people complain. There is no "diabetic diet". Diabetics should be able to take a plate of food and decide what portion of the serving matches their carb/nutritional intake. We have to do this with all food.

Often you can order vegetarian plates. Ironically, those often contain more carbs than the usual plate.

I understand the difference between my eating and taking insulin...and the choices a Type 2 has to make. But it really is the amount of carbs and not the source of the carbs that makes the difference in your blood glucose.

There is no "diabetic diet" for the food staff to follow.

Someone posted earlier that they skipped the cookies served as a snack and walked to get a whole-grain bagel at Tim Horton's (yes, I love Tim's too!)...but honestly, I could almost bet that that bagel contained more carbs than the cookie.

Half a cookie would have probably been fine. And delicious too!

[fgummett]

Yes but how filling is half a cookie... especially when you are surrounded by so much temptation..? I'd rather have something like nuts that both satisfy the need for a snack and also help with the cravings, rather than just satisfy the carb count while still feeling hungry.
I agree that there really is no "diabetic" diet but that instead everyone should be allowed to make healthier choices.

[Eddy]

But you know, if you could have a word with the organizers, as Dave suggested, you might suggest they provide s/f yogurt and fresh fruit as part of the mid-morning and afternoon snacks


Even sugar-free yogurt is surprisingly high glycemic. Of course, maybe people don't eat it in large enough quantities to have much effect... but...

...I guess I'm just chiming in with the "no standard 'diabetic diet'" folks.

[KarenBC]

It was the healthier choices that I was aiming for. I'm fortunate that I can do whole grain breads in moderation, but white sends me through the roof.
I suspect that half a cookie would start a whole chain reaction that I might not have the fortitude yet to get stopped before it became a train wreck. Eventually I'm going to have to learn to have a bite or 2 of something like that if I crave it and stop, but I'm not there yet.

[CarrieB]

Sometimes the organisers just don't want to know. I was on a course, one day a month for several months. Mid morning we were served coffee and danish. 2nd session was on disability discrimination and creating an environment that supported diversity.

I decided to be brave and make the point that serving danish with no healthy option (for me a digestive biscuit would have done) wasn't creating an inclusive environment. The course leader looked surprised.

Next session several people asked if I'd got my digestives - I said no, loud enough for the organiser to hear. She said, sorry, they only sent danish.

The next session I emailed and asked if the catering students (who provide the catering for the venue) could do some low sugar snacks. Guess what - nope, iced danish this time.

Luckily lunch wasn't provided.

[xxkarenlxx]

Karen, I am so sorry this happened to you. I know from experience in having lunches for groups catered in (all over the US, but not world wide) that there were many ways they could have gone with your provisions that would have made them friendlier to everyone, and not changed the cost significantly. And having a fruit cup as an option in the morning would be much less likely to produce a slump before lunch than a couple doughnuts or an iced danish. Veggies and hummus are a great afternoon snack. Even before diabetes I wouldn't have eaten a danish or a doughnut. Uk. (Just my opinion (:)

[davef]

It was the healthier choices that I was aiming for.

And I think you should be able to have that choice. I agree with the others about there not being a special "diabetic diet", as I learned here, I can eat anything but choose not to eat somethings. By providing some "healthier choices" to the things like danish/donuts etc, they would be helping so many people, people trying to lose weight, people with heart conditions and pretty much everyone there.

I was away last weekend at a family thing in the UK with my Sister-in-law, she was preparing a buffet and bless her heart she called to see if there was anything in particular she could include that would give me better choices, the important word was choices. As she already had meats, salads (some without dressing) and fruit I said I was good to go. It doesn't take too much effort for restaurant's/convention centers to provide the choice. The one thing that always brings a smile to my face is when a vegetarian goes to a Steak Restaurant and wants a good choice of vegetarian food when surrounded by meat. Strange things is, a friend who is a vegetarian has told me that she has often had the best vegetarian dishes in Steak restaurants.

[ShottleBop]

I get to plan the menu for next year's annual seminar for a group I belong to. It will definitely include low-carb--and vegetarian--options. (As noted in the "restarants" thread, I have, on one occasion, sliced open my raviolis to get at the filling.)