Suggestions needed on dealing with a potluck dinner

[xxhellokittyxx]

We have been invited to some new friends' house for dinner and a movie. The hostess is making bbq and has asked people to bring a dish to pass. (There will be a few couples - all are new to us, so I don't want to try to explain being on a diet.)

Dh and I are doing this diet together, so we laughed about being the couple who ONLY ate celery sticks while everyone else had a plate full of yummy food.

Seriously, is there a dish I could bring that would be "legal" for us to eat? And good enough to share?

The temptation to eat is going to be HUGE.

Ideas????

[emel]

Fruit and veggie platter with ranch dip. Go heavy on the choices you can eat.

Here's a great platter:
-devilled eggs with just mustard, no mayo in some or all of them.
-celery and any other veggie available
-apple slices dipped in lemon water, orange slices w/the rind on, grapes for others if you want.
-a few pickles and olives scattered throughout. I like the little dill gherkins.
You can eat celery, eggs, pickles, and either apple or orange.

[Cruzcrzy]

Make sure you eat BEFORE you go so you will be less tempted. I do understand how it will be difficult, but, you can do it.

[Sassine]

Tell the hostess you need bbq chicken or beef without the sauce. For all they know, you could be diabetic. Eye ball it and eat about a deck of card's worth. You could bring salad. You can bring mineral water or a punch made of mineral water and flavored stevia. There were excellent suggestions above. Just plan ahead.

There will always be temptations. Succumbing to them is what got all of us in this situation. The more you exercise that will power the easier it will be to do every time. It's just food. Enjoy the company.

[Sleepy]

eat before you go and bring a veggie tray and just munch on the veggies
why is it so hard to explain you are on a special diet for awhile? you are there for the company and not the food

where is west mi are you? i am in the walker area

[BaileysGirl]

I know how it is trying to explain to people HCG...I just avoid it at all costs and put them off or tell them I'm doing a Detox. They leave me alone!

If you still want to go to the party and don't want them to know I would also suggest the veggie tray. You could probably eat a little bit of the bbq depending on what kind they have and if it has sauce on it or not. If you want to enjoy it and not stress, eat some of it and your veggies and deal with the scale. If you're worried about it so much, eat before you go and tell them you ended up having a late lunch and aren't very hungry! Nibble on the vegs!

YOU CAN DO IT!

[b_lou_who]

Take an acceptable veg with some protein as recommended by others, and instead of explaining anything you can just say your stomach is bothering you if someone asks why you aren't eating much. Most people absolutely won't pry into THAT. I have had to say many a time "my tummy just isn't doing too well right now, but that all looks fabulous". Sip a club soda with lemon "to settle your stomach".

A cobb type salad or nicoise that is all legal food with a cute jug of dressing and a gorgeous bowl never gets questioned.

[Margarita :)]

How about bringing a big crock pot full of chili made for the guests, and a small crock pot of chicken chili for you? Just tell the hostess that beans and sugar make you ill, so you made yourself a little one without the extras.

Also bring a bowl of salad to share that's on protocol.

You could also add some other foods to your plate, but not eat them. Just see how creative you can be cutting the up and moving them around to make them look like you're in the process of eating them.

[xxhellokittyxx]

Thanks for the idea. I'm leaning towards the veggie tray just to make sure that I have something legal to pile on my plate. I tend not to do so well with temptation (hence my current weight!), so I need to make sure I can eat something. I can't leave it to chance.

Sleepy - Hi Neighbor! I'm in Hudsonville.

[Sleepy]

Originally Posted by xxhellokittyxx

Sleepy - Hi Neighbor! I'm in Hudsonville.

wow your right down the road

[verbqueen]

I ran into several "forced eating" situations on my first round, including a dinner out at a fancy restaurant with my husband's new boss and his fellow VPs and their wives. I managed to get through it without going off protocol.

What I ended up doing was to just "fake eat." I had a plate, I picked a few undressed, unbuttered veggies off of it here and there, stirred my food around, pushed it to one side of the plate, talked to people at the table and had the waiter take my plate away the first time he came by.

Nobody noticed a thing. People don't really care what other people do or do not eat, especially in a large group.

Eat your protein before you leave home, take a veggie and fruit tray and eat what you can from that (say apple slices and celery sticks...) Serve yourself small portions of whatever else is offered and just push it around on your plate. No one will ever know, and you'll be surprised how empowered you feel by being in such control!

[star a.d.]

I tell people I'm on a cleanse. if you say you're on a diet, they'll have all kinds of questions and try to sabotage you. if you're on a cleanse, they get helpful. hah!

[xxhellokittyxx]

I did my grocery shopping tonight. I bought veggies to bring along & a shrimp cocktail ring. I figure I can have the shrimp and some cucumber slices. I can be okay with that. I think I'll bring along a Zevia to drink so it feels "special".

[emel]

Perfect!

[Sleepy]

Originally Posted by xxhellokittyxx

I did my grocery shopping tonight. I bought veggies to bring along & a shrimp cocktail ring. I figure I can have the shrimp and some cucumber slices. I can be okay with that. I think I'll bring along a Zevia to drink so it feels "special".

fantastic

[C'Marie]

Pour your Zevia in a goblet and add a slice of lemon. It will feel even more special! Wear your best outfit, your nicest jewelry, and some good perfume. You'll feel like a Queen!