What do you do when your illness makes it impossible to eat your friends' food?

Who says that your husband can't eat the food that your friend eat. Your husband can still eat those food but make sure that he is going to eat moderately. He can taste what he like likes but in moderation. When it comes to health your friends will understand the condition of your husband.

Hi, Porcospino, I think that good friends can always understand such a problem. I also have food restrictions because I had serious problems with my gall bladder. I got rid of it but the restrictions remain. One of my bests friends likes to cook spicy foods but when I visit her it's easy to find a solution. Your husband should not worry about his friend's food. The problem is to stay in good health. I hope that the food restrictions will help him in the future. Have a nice weekend!

when someone invites you for dinner, they should be kind enough to accept his food limitations. we have a friends who is a vegan and we love our meat, so we accomodate her. i know its not the same thing but i wouldnt be embarrased or anything about foods, after all, its your body and if you dont look out for yourself, who will?

There are friends and friends. Some of the people that we call friends are just acquaintances. But real friends will help us instead of being hurt. To those friends we can tell about the doctor´s visit and that said doctor gave a diet and food restrictions. Those friends wull ask you what you can eat before inviting you. I have friends with high blood pressure, with diabetes and vegetarian. I make special food for them when I invite them and I don´t mind. They did the same for me when I couldn´t eat a lot of things due to my chemo. When there are parties, you may ask if you can bring your own food so you don´t bother your friend.

Hi Porcospino I have Ulcerative Colitis - intestinal ailment. Now, I am barred to eat many many dishes and the ones that I have to opt for are the medically prescribed ones. With this, I cannot afford to have a feast at my friends place. So I avoid and tell them the fact. Many arent aware and so make a mockery of it all... never mind, I know it is difficult to make people understand. So what I do is tell them - I will join in but dont have any food for me. On days when I feel better and can have it, I do have the food but in smaller quantities. And then, there are some situations when I cannot say no, and in such cases, I share the dishes from my wife's platter and tell the friend that it is all I can have.

I think there is no problem when you refrain from eating foods at your friends house. Just tell them that you are not alowed to eat those foods because of your health condition. Bringing own food? I think this will make an offense to your host. They might think something when you do this. Just tell them that the food are nice and looks delicious but you are very sorry if you can't eat those because of your health conditions. Be true to yourself and your friends. They will respect your situation.

With myself I know i cant have shellfish and I'm also lactose intolerant...theres other allergies but they are minor and can be eaten regardless. With the shellfish i make sure to remind friends and family that if they have a dip or have cooked it in the house to let me know so i can either choose not to come or make sure i have medicaiton with me. Everyone is very good about it as they dont want to kill me. My cousin is allergic to nuts. None of us have a problem if he asks what is in something or i ask...to be cautions. I've had a cousin bring a shrimp ring to a potluck this christmas and he brought it in and my grandma hussled him right back out the door and said if saundy wasnt here you could bring it in but put it in your car and you can come back.

If they are truly friends, they will understand your husband's dietary restrictions. Honestly, they don't sound that difficult to handle as a hostess or host. No spicy foods? Just don't make the nine-alarm chili when your husband comes over. Need to go easy on the sweets? Serve a fruit salad instead of the double layer fudge cake. Even if the main dish is something that is a bit too much for your husband, side dishes are usually a safe bet. Plus, unless your host(ess) is really anti-gift, you can always bring something like a veggie tray or fruit platter that everyone can enjoy. Those two things go with just about any menu (so there's no conflict), and everyone can enjoy them. I wouldn't recommend bringing his own personal food unless his dietary restrictions are (or become) really that restrictive. If, for instance, he had severe food allergies, bringing his own carefully prepared food would likely be necessary, since many people's kitchens simply aren't set up to handle that kind of restriction unless someone in that particular household has the same issue. I've spent years as a vegetarian/semi-vegetarian (which I am depends on where I'm at in my life). I've managed to traverse even the more hostile food landscapes. I eat the way I do out of concern for my health (I saw what a bad diet did to my father's health). Your husband needs to not worry so much about it. Friends will understand. Relatives will deal (or, if you have a really great family, they will work hard to make sure that the diet is appropriate for everyone present--including your husband).

Hi Porco, i think it is not a problem to let your friends or relatives know that you are ill and have to restrict in your food intake. I remembered once that i had to let others consumed my favorite food when i attend a party organized by my friend. At first, my friend don't really understand why i should restrict my food intake. Only after seen me keep coughing a lot after consuming some spicy food, then she herself asked me not to eat spicy food. I am happy to have such an understanding friend around. So, i only eat the food that don't cause my coughing. Hope your husband won't have any problem after eating when he visits his friends or relatives home. Hope your husband will be well soon.

YOu can solve this by offering to make the main dish to bring with you. Even if the side dishes are spicy, he can push them around on his plate so it looks like he ate some.

Hi there, I'm in your same situation! I cannot eat any sort of cereal and any sort of sweetener. It's really a mess when people offer you food because it's usually sweets, chocolates or candy. Explaining that one cannot eat something and why doesn't always work. People don't necessarily understand your problem, or don't understand how big it is...as a reaction many people tell me that there's not much sugar in what they are offering me! Well, it does not matter how much, I cannot have it anyways, but then it becomes uncomfortable to explain, it's like you are in the wrong. Instead it's them that shouldn't be arguing when you said no to something! I try to tell people that I cannot eat this and that but I try to limit explanations. I cannot eat this because doctor said so. Period. Relatives will ask if I really won't have any...and the answer is no, doctor said so. Nosy relatives can go on and say they believe your doctor is wrong, but at the same time you can cut them off rather quickly. It's YOU who should be offended if you say you cannot have something and they keep offering you. It's a clear sign they don't care, so they should better be a little flexible. Bringing your own food is an option but if people like the company they can accomodate some special requests. Like...I cannot have any sort of cereal, then my host is kind (and smart) enough to cook a meat dish. That will feed everyone, nobody will see that one of us cannot eat something. It just takes a little flexibility from the host. Well, it's due I guess, if they want to see me... You said your husband cannot have spicy and sweet, do your hosts need at all costs to cook spicy and sweet? I mean there are billions of recipes at the world, cannot they just cook something else for everyone? Nobody will notice... And if your hosts are not flexible to change a recipe for your HEALTH (or your husbands of course) then I don't think they deserve your company.

i can relate to your husband. Recently just visited my gastritis doctor, he gave me list of food what to avoid and what to eat. Well some of my friends do understand and they are the one also tells me "you can't eat that or this" funny to think but they really do. I am really happy to know i hav friend who understand my situations. but if ever there is some occasions as that i will not deprive myself but to eat a little but not much. Just to show some respect of the host. Actually i am a little worried this coming Feb 14 coz i have some wedding to attend and i dont know what food they are going to serve and they have no idea what had just happen to me but definitely i will just eat little and maybe if i still have time i will tell them my situatios coz i can not eat spicyfood, oily foods and fatty foods.

Hi Porcospino, I can not imagine that any one who is friends with you enough to invite you to dinner would not understand that you are on a special diet....But its totally up to you to make them aware of it... I think it would hurt someones feeling more if they invite you to dinner and you end up bringing your own food...thats not right,,,lol,,, I am sure they would prepare something that you would be able to eat, after all they are inviting you eat... Just let them know prior to a dinner invite, just in general converastion..I hope you talk to your friends other than when they invite you to dinner..I am sure you do.....lol