The New Odd Man Out: The One Without Dietary Restrictions
It’s everywhere you go. Peanut allergies. Gluten sensitivity. Celiac disease. Paleo. Vegetarian. Vegan. Lactose intolerant. It seems that everyone these days has some dietary restriction or another.
Except me.
Even among the four of us FBGs, I’m the only one who doesn’t have some sort of dietary concern. I’m like the human version of the garbage disposal. I can eat everything. And my only consequence will be putting on a few pounds or feeling sluggish if I eat something unhealthy. But I won’t be running to the bathroom with issues, I won’t have stomach pain, I won’t have guilt about eating an animal. (Not enough guilt to stop me, anyway.)
My “garbage disposal” (mostly healthy garbage, of course) dietary habits really stood out when the girls all came out to run the Brooklyn Rock ‘n’ Roll 10K together last fall. Jenn and I hit up Trader Joe’s to buy supplies to make everyone’s bellies happy while they were here. And Jenn shopped gluten-free. We made sure we’d have plenty of vegetarian options—and cheese—for Kristen. We got specific apples for Tish and tried to help her out on the lactose intolerance and acidity issues.
My dietary needs felt so unspecial, in a good way. But my head was spinning. Never before had I really worried about any of that. For the most part, I feel good no matter what I eat. Unless I’ve got the flu, my stomach is strong like bull. And unless I’m pregnant, I don’t get acid reflux. My kids are the same—no allergies or issues yet, knock on wood. My husband is picky, but out of being picky, not for an actual reason.
I must say, I’m super glad to be the human garbage disposal. It’s nice not to have to worry about any of that. I know I’d learn to work around the restrictions of family and friends if needed, but I would certainly feel in over my head at first, especially if I was juggling several different restrictions on a regular basis.
Are you a human garbage disposal, too? Can you eat it all without worrying about the consequences? —Erin
Comments
I used to be able to eat like that Erin , but after losing the weight, my skin became extremely sensitive and I can not digest any form of dairy.
I’m grateful for people like you that take the dietary needs of others into consideration at group events. It can be terribly frustrating to be a vegetarian and be offered fish as an alternative (fish is NOT vegetarian). Of course I don’t want to put people out- I’ll happily fill up on yummy sides and my own snacks, but it means a lot when people try.
Yep. I like food, and thankfully, most food likes me! I have mild sensitivities to kiwi and a couple of other foods. And there are a few things I’m not crazy about (beef liver, kidney, and… hmm, nothing much else comes to mind!). But otherwise, I’ll eat almost anything, and I love to eat a variety!
Yep, I’m like you too. There are a few things I really don’t like, but nothing I can’t eat due to allergies or whatever. I occasionally have to avoid things if I’ve got some bad stomach acid going, but luckily that’s mostly something I can fix quickly with tums, and all of it I eat at least sometimes.
Last year at Thanksgiving with my family we had 4 vegans, 1 celiac, 1 paleo, and two relatively pick people, picky in different ways. It was interesting.
Then later when I had a party at my house I had so many friends avoiding specific things I made this vegan korma thing. Luckily no one coming was allergic to nuts. Everyone could eat it.
I have allergic reaction to chocolate, my face gets all puffy and i need a shot of antibiotics to settle down. This year i completly change my diet to eat more vegetable and fruit but its hard since my roommate is a choco addict :s.
I used to say I’d try anything as long as you don’t tell me what it is first. But then I found out that I had food allergies.
I’m allergic to corn and egg whites, and I feel so guilty about it. My friends and family are good about accommodating my diet, but I hate making it an inconvenience to them. Some people think I’m just being picky, but if I accidentally eat something I shouldn’t, I’m paying for it for days.
I’m the same way! No dietary restrictions, except the ones I place on myself for healthy living purposes.
I’m the exact same way! I’ve got no idea why. Maybe because I was raised outdoors so was exposed to the great wide world? Who knows. I don’t trust overclean houses! Not enough fun!
I used to be like you, but as I get older my system gets less happy. My twin was just diagnosed with celiac, and I suspect I might be the same. I just got tested this week (no results yet). After 35 years of no food restrictions, it’s a bit of a bummer. However, my other sister’s husband ALSO was just diagnosed with celiac, so family meals will be gluten-free anyway! Gearing up for gluten-free Thanksgiving this year and feeling thankful that I love to cook. The hidden bonus of a food sensitivity or allergy is that it makes it easier to avoid fast food/processed food/junk.
I’m also a human garbage disposal (unless I’m pregnant, which I am at the moment, and just about anything makes me sick). People like you and me are SO lucky! This pregnancy, which has been kind of brutal in terms of eating and digestive symptoms that follow, has made me so grateful for how rockin’ my body is under normal circumstances. It’s so great to be able to eat intuitively and freely.
Gluten-free seems to be the “catch phrase” for the past couple years. My father, all his siblings and a handful of my cousins were diagnosed with celiac disease before it became popular. It was a struggle for all of them to adapt their diets after years of eating everything in sight. Reading labels, questioning waiters/waitresses who have no clue, having separate toasters, etc., is a daily challenge. Birthdays and holidays mean gluten-free cake for all! Hopefully one day one the big pharmaceutical companies will come out with a supplement similar to ones for lactose-intolerance. Keep your fingers crossed so I can have my cake and eat it, too!!