Have you ever turned down an invitation to a pot-luck because you were afraid of not being able to eat anything?  I’ve totally been there – many times!  In the past, I’d just decline the invitation.  It wasn’t necessarily because I was apprehensive about the food being served.  Mostly, my trepidation came from not wanting to deal with everyone’s questions about me NOT eating.  Remember the “she’ll have a stick” conversation from my first blog?  Yeah… that.  When I don’t eat at a function, I get a lot of questions as well as people who feel “guilty” because they can eat what I can’t.  Maybe this will help you know there are others in your position, and perhaps give you ideas to counteract those “barriers” to eating at friends’ houses.

It’s not about the food!

First of all, when folks invite you over, the most important thing to remember is that it’s NOT about the food!  It’s about relationships and fostering them.  That’s the thing I discovered.  The people who invited you over don’t want you to judge their food, they want your company!  Relationships are much more important than the food involved.  Get that straight, and everything else is easy.  🙂

Type of Potluck

The type of potluck you are invited to says a lot about what you can bring.  If it’s a cookout, that means you can bring your own meat to put on the grill.  You can make The Honey Mustard Curried Chicken ahead of time, and bring it for the host(ess) to grill up.  Of course, you’ll have to ask your host first!  Most will gladly cook that up to have you present.

If my host is grilling, I still bring my own meat to grill.  My reasoning is this:  There are a LOT of packaged hamburger patties that have fillers added to the meat.  **READ those labels!!

INSIDE Potluck

When potlucks are inside you have a couple of different options.  You can bring your own dish to share that meets your dietary restrictions, or bring your own serving.  Sure, someone may ask you why you brought your own food to their potluck, but that is when you respond that you are there for the PEOPLE, not the food.  Last night, when I was at a potluck, I had that question.  One person at the table said, “You are SO disciplined!”, and another was curious.  I just explained that I will get sick unless I eat a certain way, and they accepted that at face value.   Here’s a recipe for something to bring to share:

Shredded Roast Pork

In a small bowl, stir together the green chiles, chili powder, oregano, taco seasoning and garlic.  Rub onto the roast.  Place in your crock pot and cook on high for 5 hours, or low for 8-10 hours.  Shred and serve when tender.

People who CAN have gluten can serve that on hamburger or hotdog buns.  Those of us who avoid buns can have it on Shredded cabbage with cheddar cheese, or for gluten-free eaters, on top of rice.  When I make gluten-free taco shells, I’ll put the shredded roast pork in those.  Watch people go from feeling sorry for you to feeling envious at the great food you are eating!  😉

There have been times I don’t have time to make something and have to throw something together quickly to take for me to eat.  Then, I’ll throw some chopped romaine, shredded cabbage, albacore tuna (Again, read the labels – a lot of tunas, even though they SAY they come just in water, often have soy derivatives added!! I’ve found Trader Joe’s Albacore Tuna to be the purest),  some Parmesan cheese and some homemade Italian dressing into a large Ziploc bag, shake it all together, and take it with me.  Then all I need is a paper plate and a fork!  🙂

For those of you who want to know how to make homemade Italian Dressing, check out my blog tomorrow!

Go, enjoy your friends!  Don’t let your dietary restrictions get in the way!