Hello,
I would like to know how you handle diner invitation. Do you tell your relatives about your diet ? How do you do at restaurants ?
For myself, I am in France. Over here, the salads proposed in the restaurants always contain animal products in it. Sometimes, restaurants have nothing raw, not even those kind of salads !
Besides, I find it difficult to tell my friends I eat raw. At work, people noticed I brought salads to lunch. They were expressing concerns for my health (even if I looked healthier than them !) and I found it tiring having to justify all the time.
As a result, I tend to refuse invitation to lunch or diner.
I would like to meet other raw people, but I think there are non such people in Paris.
And you, how is your social life ?
Comments
Pomme,
Here is my take on the whole social life issue. I am doing raw for my health. Well, not interacting with others is not healthy. So, in some circumstances, being 100% might actually be bad for your health, since you might not be interacting with other people. Yes, ideally, it is good to find other raw friends. Check this out: http://rawfood.meetup.com/256/?gj=sj6 Or, find some social activities that do not involve food.
As for people being concerned. They are misinformed. For many of them, their health is bad or will become bad, because of the choices they make, and they do not even see it. Do not argue with them. They might start learning by example—they will see that you are healthy and full of energy, and will wonder about your diet. You don’t have to advertise your diet, but if they ask questions, give simple answers without arguing.
Also, do not discuss diet while people are eating, even if they ask questions. When people eat, they want to enjoy their food. If they hear that there is something wrong with their food, they will just become upset and argue with you. If someone asks you questions while they are eating, tell them you can discuss it with them after everyone is finished eating.
As for telling people you are allergic to cooked food, as some have suggested, I am totally against that. Just my opinion.
TThank you for your replies. Lots of good ideas and interesting advices.
Girlygirl, it is a very good idea to bring some sprouts. Now that I have this idea, I may be able to organise myself in advance. I won’t apply this solution if I am to eat with people that are not close friends though, or just try to leave aside the crouton, chicken or whatever else I don’t want.
Chriscarlton, I apply something hat looks like you idea. . I say I need “watery food” to digest when people feel offended (yes offended, maybe that’s because it’s in France, the country of food), that I choose salads. I fear I won’t be able to be clear if I say I have a health issue though. Would people believe that an allergy to cooked food exist? But when I think about it, I could almost say it is true, because I have such bad effects when I eat cooked. It is just people that disbelieve that.
Joesc, what kind of food do you bring that please your friends so much? That’s a nice way of sharing your diet!
Jaymz 72, I wish I knew a lot of places like you do. It is a good idea to search for those kinds of places, so that I can propose to go there. Hum, I need to work on that.
This leads me to the idea of Alex S that social life is part of a healthy life. That is very interesting. I agree, all the more than I have a tendency to close myself and refuse to go out.
I had this idea that being with people discussing was a waste of time. The ideas expressed in a discussion are never very precise; they are often opinions or jokes. They don’t follow in a logical way. After a period in my early twenties when I was out all the time, meeting a lot of people, I rejected that way of life, thinking that was not the path to knowledge and wisdom. I though the only way to gain knowledge and ideas was to read them in books, as writers need to organise their though more when they write in order to be understood. (I laugh at myself to have such undiluted goals, but I feel the time passing will allow me to be more nuanced).
Anyway, I try now to meet more with the few friends that I have left.
I though I could leave my raw food for the times I was with tem (often during meal times). The problem is, when I at cook food, I have bad reactions (tummy aches, fell bloated, tired, etc.) and also, my eating pattern are disrupted afterwards (eat a lot, impression of craving for sugar, fat, whatever gives my body a hard time), which make me feel bad for longer time. I always need to “recover” after.
Anyway, I thank you very much Alex S for your link to meet other raw foists in Paris. I have requested a registration.
Thank you everybody.
find out what restaurant before hand and look at the menu online. Then you will know whether you can eat there or need to make another suggestion.