Thanksgiving Rant - Page 9

ScarletDove · ‎07-11-2010

My son's girlfriend had certain food allergies and certain foods she could not eat. I would give her my menu and she would ask certain questions about ingredients used in the preparation of some of the foods. She was wise enough to know how not to be rude yet not be left out of being part of the meal for all. When she came to my home she always brought a couple dishes for all to eat that also accommodated her food needs, and there were foods I made that she was able to eat, others not, depending on the ingredients. It always worked well and I obtained some great recipes from her. She had an online blog concentrating on specific dietary food needs and it was very educational to all.

Unfortunately, there may be too many people who want to be accommodated, and if this is the case, those individuals must do the same and bring the foods they must have for their specific dietary need......

TenderMercies · ‎06-03-2017

@AngusandBuddhasMom wrote:
@goldensrbest wrote:
@AngusandBuddhasMom wrote:
For the love of all things gluten. Last time I get it.

My daughter has celiac I get it. She is an adult now so I don't have to bake or shop for her and spend the extra time reading a gazillion ingredients on packages in the store trying to see what is ok and not. I could write a cook book of a ton of recipes that I learned to make sure she was not feeling left out. Please stop explaining to me about GF, CELIAC. She was diagnosed in high school. she had the endoscope done and it came back 100% positive so I know what it is. And back then it was not even a thing. Like it is now. Thank you.

Good grief sorry I posted here.
That was your daughter,of course you would treat her special,but if she was invited to a persons home to eat ,i don't think they should do the same.
Nor would she although anytime I have invited over people who I don't know because of my DD situation I ask if they have any dietary issues. But that's just me. I wouldn't invite someone over and make them feel like they have put me out. If I am hosting then I extend that welcoming to my guest. They should feel welcome and know that. Really not hard as others have mentioned. Who invites people over and them becomes belligerent and offish to their guest because they eat differently. Why invite someone if you don't intend to make them feel welcome?

From reading the posts I don't think its the person who is hosting I think the OP feels put out having to deal with this. I certainly would let the person hosting know so that there were no issues.

The original post is a rant about how many people in modern society have become rude and selfish. No one in this situation has dietary needs, they've made dietary CHOICES. To respond to an invitation to someone's home to share a holiday meal with their family and to specifically request a fish meal is out of line. I cannot say that to a board member of my organization. My boss would probably either chew me out or fire me.

Vivian · ‎03-11-2010

I would never expect a host at a Thanksgiving dinner like this to accommodate every single individual’s unique dietary requests. Usually there’s so much to eat at Thanksgiving dinner that everyone can get their fill. I’d rather that someone ask if he or she could bring a special food rather than expect a dinner menu as if in a restaurant. Actually, we go to a restaurant for Thanksgiving and several in our area serve either turkey or ham. That’s it for choices.

SahmIam · ‎04-16-2010

@TenderMercies wrote:
@SahmIam wrote:
@TenderMercies I have Celiacs. My BIL had a girlfriend who does NOT but refuses all foods made with gluten. She has NO health issues, she simply changes her diet based on how she feels at the time. Last year, THIS was the request he gave me for HER THEN diet:

* No gluten
* No fat
* No sugar
* No meat.

I told him that I make a foods that I can eat and so they would be gluten free. I keep my food items as low in sugar as possible due my health issues but some things simply have sugar in them and in that case, I don't eat them. No meat? We're having turkey. She's free to bring a meatless dish but there will be vegi dishes served as well.

The response? SHE wanted sugar-free foods so could eat like everyone else. SHE wanted a fish dish because she wants something besides side dishes.

I said: SHE is free to bring both. I will NOT be making anything else; will be happy to warm HER stuff, however.

SHE did not attend. HE broke up with her soon after that. WE were thrilled.
@SahmIam It's always been my experience that people with specific dietary NEEDS are really cool about it when it comes to public dining. They never make a big deal out of it and always manage to make due in challenging situations. It has also been my experience that people who make dietary CHOICES not based on medical issues are incredible pains in the rear. One of the main reasons I split with my ex bf was because of him being a vegetarian. He practically lived with me, so he was always around at dinner. I am someone who loves to cook, and I especially love cooking meat. I would be constantly making him tofu and stir fried vegetables which I would eat, too. On some occasions, I would make myself something special like a lasagna or a pot roast with lots of side dishes, so he could eat something. When I would make these meals, he would get in a miff, because I made something special for myself, but I didn't make something special for him. When we would go out to eat, he would complain if the restaurant didn't have enough options. When we would go on vacation to all inclusive resorts in the Carribbean, he would walk around pouting, because the restaurants didn't have enough options, too. I vowed to never date another vegetarian.

@TenderMercies Agree 100%!

SahmIam · ‎04-16-2010

@Moonchilde wrote:
@AngusandBuddhasMom wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
@AngusandBuddhasMom wrote:
@TenderMercies wrote:
I work for an organization that employs a lot of people who come to my city to do their job for short periods of time, then move on to other cities or return home. I currently have a dozen employees who are in town through the beginning of December. A long time member of my board of directors has invited these employees to her home for Thanksgiving dinner. I sent an email out to these employees to let them know about the invitation and to RSVP, so I can do a head count. At least 3 of these people responded saying things like, "I'm gluten free, so I'll need options" and "I'd like to request either a fish or vegetarian meal." Is it wrong that I'm angry about this? I can understand these requests if this were a working dinner on any normal day, but a dinner hosted by a board member on Thanksgiving? I don't want to be rude to them, but I feel like saying "It's Thanksgiving dinner, folks. You get turkey and the usual fixins. Accept it as it is, or make other plans." Can you believe the nerve of some people?
Does the board member who is extending the invite know you have a problem with the responses you are getting? Maybe she is OK with knowing about the requests.

If you have a serious food allergy like Celiac or you are a vegan or pescatarian then the "usual thanksgiving" choices are not the same as you seem to think they are.

I think the point is, on Turkey Day it’s turkey on the menu, and come or don’t come, no catering to every diet/lifestyle choice when you’re being invited to someone’s home you don’t even/barely know, as an unnecessary courtesy the host is extending.

There are allergies that have become trendy to have, and vegan or whatever is a choice. Everyone doesn’t need to honor every choice every individual thinks they need to make. Throw out ultimatums and sit in a hotel bar on Thursday.
Celiac is not a trendy thing.

People claiming to have celiac disease, without being diagnosed by a doctor, and people claiming to need a gluten free diet, or those who simply state they are on a gluten-free diet, is very much a trendy “thing” right now; another “pay attention to me, I’m special” trick.

Google “why do people claim to have celiac disease” for quite a few medical articles on the subject.

Is celiac disease real? Absolutely. Can some people get nasty-sick if they eat gluten? Absolutely. Does everyone who states they “must” eat gluten-free have celiac disease? Heck no.

And people who have had years-long, serious struggles with the disease, actually having it and honestly suffering from it, will 99% of the time take it upon themselves to make their own food arrangements; they don’t ask or “expect” to be catered to.

@Moonchilde DING DING DING! You are so correct!!!!

CrazyDaisy · ‎03-20-2010

What exactly is included in a Traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Every family has their own favorite dishes so it would be very difficult for a stranger to know that there would be something there they would enjoy or even be able to eat. It would be every embarrassing for the host to have people not eating because they could/wound not eat what was offered.

Perhaps explain to the hostess that there had been some questions about the menu. Post what she is serving then they can decide if they want to attend.

Someday, when scientists discover the center of the Universe....some people will be disappointed it is not them.

SahmIam · ‎04-16-2010

@CrazyDaisy Going by what the restaurants here serve, you see on the cover of magazines and all the homes I've been to over the decades, a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner is considered:

*Turkey

*stuffing

*mashed potatoes

*sweet potato casserole

*cranberry sauce

*greenbeans of some type

*another vegi dish

*gravy

*rolls

*pumpkin pie

Now, ALL of those may be cooked in a huge variety of ways. In addition, I've seen ADDITIONAL items added to them menu depending on where in the country I've been. Many friends bring Mac & Cheese and/or sauerkraut to a Thanksgiving dinner. Some serve biscuits, some do croissants, some to clover leaf rolls. Some have dishes with an Italian flair to them. But usually, not always, but usually the "traditional" dinner associated with Thanksgiving is what I've listed.

I bet if you did a survey/poll, you'd find the majority state those items and then some. There are ALWAYS exceptions, of course.

CrazyDaisy · ‎03-20-2010

@SahmIam wrote:
@CrazyDaisy Going by what the restaurants here serve, you see on the cover of magazines and all the homes I've been to over the decades, a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner is considered:

*Turkey
*stuffing
*mashed potatoes
*sweet potato casserole
*cranberry sauce
*greenbeans of some type
*another vegi dish
*gravy
*rolls
*pumpkin pie

Now, ALL of those may be cooked in a huge variety of ways. In addition, I've seen ADDITIONAL items added to them menu depending on where in the country I've been. Many friends bring Mac & Cheese and/or sauerkraut to a Thanksgiving dinner. Some serve biscuits, some do croissants, some to clover leaf rolls. Some have dishes with an Italian flair to them. But usually, not always, but usually the "traditional" dinner associated with Thanksgiving is what I've listed.

I bet if you did a survey/poll, you'd find the majority state those items and then some. There are ALWAYS exceptions, of course.

That is your idea of a Thanksgiving dinner, yes. I know people who do not even serve Turkey. I also know that half the items on that list will not be on the table I will be at next week. People from different parts of the country and backgrounds have very different ideas of traditional.

Someday, when scientists discover the center of the Universe....some people will be disappointed it is not them.

TenderMercies · ‎06-03-2017

@CrazyDaisy wrote:
@SahmIam wrote:
@CrazyDaisy Going by what the restaurants here serve, you see on the cover of magazines and all the homes I've been to over the decades, a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner is considered:

*Turkey
*stuffing
*mashed potatoes
*sweet potato casserole
*cranberry sauce
*greenbeans of some type
*another vegi dish
*gravy
*rolls
*pumpkin pie

Now, ALL of those may be cooked in a huge variety of ways. In addition, I've seen ADDITIONAL items added to them menu depending on where in the country I've been. Many friends bring Mac & Cheese and/or sauerkraut to a Thanksgiving dinner. Some serve biscuits, some do croissants, some to clover leaf rolls. Some have dishes with an Italian flair to them. But usually, not always, but usually the "traditional" dinner associated with Thanksgiving is what I've listed.

I bet if you did a survey/poll, you'd find the majority state those items and then some. There are ALWAYS exceptions, of course.
That is your idea of a Thanksgiving dinner, yes. I know people who do not even serve Turkey. I also know that half the items on that list will not be on the table I will be at next week. People from different parts of the country and backgrounds have very different ideas of traditional.

@CrazyDaisy Really? Come on. If someone were to invite you to Thanksgiving and told you it would be a traditional Thanksgiving meal, they would not be calling it a "traditional Thanksgiving meal" if it didn't include what resembles the above list.

AngusandBuddhasMom · ‎03-10-2010

@TenderMercies wrote:
@AngusandBuddhasMom wrote:
@goldensrbest wrote:
@AngusandBuddhasMom wrote:
For the love of all things gluten. Last time I get it.

My daughter has celiac I get it. She is an adult now so I don't have to bake or shop for her and spend the extra time reading a gazillion ingredients on packages in the store trying to see what is ok and not. I could write a cook book of a ton of recipes that I learned to make sure she was not feeling left out. Please stop explaining to me about GF, CELIAC. She was diagnosed in high school. she had the endoscope done and it came back 100% positive so I know what it is. And back then it was not even a thing. Like it is now. Thank you.

Good grief sorry I posted here.
That was your daughter,of course you would treat her special,but if she was invited to a persons home to eat ,i don't think they should do the same.
Nor would she although anytime I have invited over people who I don't know because of my DD situation I ask if they have any dietary issues. But that's just me. I wouldn't invite someone over and make them feel like they have put me out. If I am hosting then I extend that welcoming to my guest. They should feel welcome and know that. Really not hard as others have mentioned. Who invites people over and them becomes belligerent and offish to their guest because they eat differently. Why invite someone if you don't intend to make them feel welcome?

From reading the posts I don't think its the person who is hosting I think the OP feels put out having to deal with this. I certainly would let the person hosting know so that there were no issues.
The original post is a rant about how many people in modern society have become rude and selfish. No one in this situation has dietary needs, they've made dietary CHOICES. To respond to an invitation to someone's home to share a holiday meal with their family and to specifically request a fish meal is out of line. I cannot say that to a board member of my organization. My boss would probably either chew me out or fire me.

Got it. No wonder you are ranting apparently you work for people who deem themselves above you but expect you to work magic with their requests. Are these people who were invited also on their deemed level or are they normal people?