Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nephew is marrying a women who only eats Mac and Cheese. They are having a big fancy wedding and she plans on eating a bowl of mac and cheese she is particular about they type so she brings her own and they heat up and serve to her.

So compared to her you are normal

Though what's sad is that one of the few things I can eat right now is a specific brand of GF pasta with olive oil and parmesan. So maybe I'm not so different from her.

This is so easy. Pre make it, Put it in a container and pack a fork. Step into the hall and eat it if you have to. Can you also eat almonds? THese are the best and most discreet if you need to have something in your bag in case you get hungry in the middle of an actual meeting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you just bring a lunch box with your food from home? This is not difficult!

This seems like it might be weird in a setting with a bunch of very senior execs and CEOs, that's why I'm asking. I will bring food for the days where meetings are in our office.

There is also the problem that I need to eat a certain amount of protein before some of my meds wear off later in the day, or I feel terrible the next day. And nothing I can eat is room temperature friendly...so it also seems like it would be weird to ask the partner for a kitchenette where I can heat something up.

Powdered collagen protein, like Vital Proteins (20g per serving), in your coffee. Or tea, heck, hot water if necessary—it’s not culinary refinement, it’s functional nutrition and just for a few days. Then you can carry that around in your travel mug. A LOT less weird then being noticed eating in a bathroom stall, ick.

This makes no sense. There’s all sorts of room temperature proteins in the world. Might not be your preference, but if it’s medically required, just suck it up and eat it cold.

I've had this frequently (due to crohn's disease) and it is really so common. I also view it as normalizing a regular situation that occurs when we're expected to let work filter in to the rest of our lives. I've had friends with stomas and other similar accomodations, and really, it is okay. It is part of being yourself at work.

You don't need to let this concern you. I do understand that your feelings are bigger than this issue, but you can be assured that no one outside of you will be thinking about your packed lunch.

Anonymous wrote:My nephew is marrying a women who only eats Mac and Cheese. They are having a big fancy wedding and she plans on eating a bowl of mac and cheese she is particular about they type so she brings her own and they heat up and serve to her.

So compared to her you are normal

Though what's sad is that one of the few things I can eat right now is a specific brand of GF pasta with olive oil and parmesan. So maybe I'm not so different from her.

I’ve done this many times. I pack a tiny container of nuts, a few dates, and small bottle of water in my bag and eat outside on a bench or in my car.

My nephew is marrying a women who only eats Mac and Cheese. They are having a big fancy wedding and she plans on eating a bowl of mac and cheese she is particular about they type so she brings her own and they heat up and serve to her.

So compared to her you are normal

Just bring your own food.

I do it all the time. No one has ever given it a second thought. If anything, the admin who orders the food will quietly inquire if they could have done something differently - that's happened a couple times.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you just bring a lunch box with your food from home? This is not difficult!

This seems like it might be weird in a setting with a bunch of very senior execs and CEOs, that's why I'm asking. I will bring food for the days where meetings are in our office.

There is also the problem that I need to eat a certain amount of protein before some of my meds wear off later in the day, or I feel terrible the next day. And nothing I can eat is room temperature friendly...so it also seems like it would be weird to ask the partner for a kitchenette where I can heat something up.

Powdered collagen protein, like Vital Proteins (20g per serving), in your coffee. Or tea, heck, hot water if necessary—it’s not culinary refinement, it’s functional nutrition and just for a few days. Then you can carry that around in your travel mug. A LOT less weird then being noticed eating in a bathroom stall, ick.

Just be up front about it day 1 and move on. J would sacrifice some health privacy so that I don’t look incredibly awkward and suspicious all week. Once they know, you can step away to eat during a break etc and just engage in conversation during the actual meals. I agree that bringing a box lunch to a sit down restaurant will be odd.

DH does this all of the time because of his severe dietary restrictions. He will either ask the host if they can accommodate him (typically he just asks for a plain chicken breast with a plain vegetable) or should he should bring his own meal. 90% of the time the catering manager reaches out to discuss what he can eat and has that ready for him. The other 10%, he just pulls out his meal from home, makes an off hand comment to his tablemates about his severe food allergies/restrictions and carries on the conversation while he eats.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sending best wishes for the week, OP. You will rock it!

Thanks. I guess I'm just really nervous. I'll be meeting a bunch of people for the first time. My meds give me brain fog. And our partner team has done a terrible job of prepping us for what we are expected to present.

Usually I thrive with this kind of challenge, but right now I just want it to be over.

And it's been less than two weeks since we've really gotten my dosing and diet dialed in enough that I'm functional most of the time, so I'm really worried about messing that up.

I had a huge work worry on Friday. So anxious and thinking really hard about it. I posted here (and pulled it down).

It happened, it was positive. People around you could be rooting for it all to go well.. that it inevitably will go well.

Hang around positive people at work, if they exist, and have fun.

+1 to this optimistic poster. I was going to make some snide remarks about how difficult you're being and precious and "special". But you really can get through this. You really can. What's the alternative?

Figure out what you can eat that’s portable and carry that in your purse. I have several restrictions that don’t sound that bad but its ingredients between the three of them are in everything that shows up in planned catering. I found several kinds of bars that I can eat, and when I’m out and about out I keep several of them in my purse along with some apples and bananas. If there’s anything you can eat from the non meal catering, double up. There’s almost always a fruit tray. If it’s not those boxed sandwich lunches, lunch usually has a salad with it. If you can eat wheat, there’s always some kind of bread. If it doesn’t make you sick, don’t fixate on the sodium count and just drink a ton of water. If you can eat peanuts, peanut butter will carry you through a lot.

What are your restrictions?

I had weight loss surgery a few years ago dk dinners out don’t bring me the same Joy they used to. I still go out for dinner though to see friends, celebrate family events etc. I usually share with my kid, get a kids meal, or just take a lot home.