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Beige buffet

E

EMcKT

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Am I being awkward???? At a large AGM yesterday there was a buffet lunch....free. At the time of invitation food allergies were requested ...,.I understand gluten free and that was catered for. However there was zero else. All beige, bread, pastry, crisps and cake!!!! Some cheese.! No salad stuffs, no garnish .....I was not going to pick the tomatoes out of the sandwiches. Am I being odd in asking????? Organisers were surprised at my comment, perhaps there was not enough money or perhaps it had not occurred to anyone. I had some bits, I knew I was not going to be unwell but would be way over my carb count for the day but was hungry. Next year I might take my own salad, but that's churlish.
lots of salad today.....??
 
If you wanted to eat something specific then yeah I’d say you should have taken it. Meeting buffet food is normally sandwiches.
 
I don't think you are being awkward but maybe unrealistic. I have been to many beige buffets and even when I ate more carbs I was had a battle as to what to eat trying not to go for all the very fattening versions. If they have access to a traditional butcher cocktail sausages instead of sausage rolls is better. I used to go to a monthly interdisciplinary meeting held at lunchtime. I remember it as good but inevitably budget cuts meant it was reduced to tea or coffee.
It maybe the caterers were thoughtless and your in put would be helpful but I think it more likely that there is a very low budget and caterers either lack imagination or time.

Hummus and carrots or celery would be good but then there are always the double dippers!

I remember newly diagnosed realising my local cafes were pastry cakes bread or cake. I have a freshly made sandwich with fresh salad and decline the crisps. I think bread once a week should be fine
 
saffron15 said:
I have a freshly made sandwich with fresh salad and decline the crisps.
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The crisps would have less carbs than the sandwich, a few crisps on the side won’t add many carbs at all.
 
It was not caterers but I am not going to say who or why. A national organisation known for fresh home made, home grown produce.....and that's as far as I will go. To be fair, the sandwiches were good and the quiche equally good. I don't know if I was the only diabetic , doubt that, and maybe I am being difficult. It's something that I have noticed.....GF I understand but diabetes????????? Might have gentle moan when I go next year.
 
saffron15 said:
I don't think you are being awkward but maybe unrealistic. I have been to many beige buffets and even when I ate more carbs I was had a battle as to what to eat trying not to go for all the very fattening versions. If they have access to a traditional butcher cocktail sausages instead of sausage rolls is better. I used to go to a monthly interdisciplinary meeting held at lunchtime. I remember it as good but inevitably budget cuts meant it was reduced to tea or coffee.
It maybe the caterers were thoughtless and your in put would be helpful but I think it more likely that there is a very low budget and caterers either lack imagination or time.

Hummus and carrots or celery would be good but then there are always the double dippers!

I remember newly diagnosed realising my local cafes were pastry cakes bread or cake. I have a freshly made sandwich with fresh salad and decline the crisps. I think bread once a week should be fine
Click to expand...
Agreed, it's something that I miss...... a really fresh sandwich. And the double dipping. Yuk. Two slices bread is at least half of my carb load for the day, that four wee sandwiches. oh well.......shall I own up to the half pint of beer, pulled pork roll and shared portion of chips that I had at the local brewery tap room on Saturday.,.......now you all know, but it was sooo good!!!!!
 
There are a younger generation keen on lower carb. It maybe thoughtlessness. Good sandwiches and quiche would go down well maybe they had forgotten the low carb/diabetic crowd.

You could take one slice of bread off and eat sandwiches as an open sandwich
 
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EMcKT said:
It was not caterers but I am not going to say who or why. A national organisation known for fresh home made, home grown produce.....and that's as far as I will go. To be fair, the sandwiches were good and the quiche equally good. I don't know if I was the only diabetic , doubt that, and maybe I am being difficult. It's something that I have noticed.....GF I understand but diabetes????????? Might have gentle moan when I go next year.
Click to expand...
As has been said many times, diabetes is managed in different ways. For example, my diabetes makes no difference to my diet.
And the members of this forum are not typical of people with diabetes in the level of interest we take in managing it. Just think about how little support most get from their GP.
However, regardless of diet, some "coloured food" should be expected.
By all means request more variety. But I would not be basing this on the need for a "diabetes diet".
You did mention quiche. I tend to pile my plate with quiche rather than sandwiches.
The problem with salads and the like is they are not "finger food" - you need cutlery which is often not available.
 
@helli During the first year of being diabetic I went off for the day and - concerned about the food to be supplied, I took an egg and cheese salad, only to realise I had forgotten to pack any cutlery, and non was provided as it was all 'finger food'. I ended up using a pair of knitting needles as chop sticks.
 
@EMcKT - how would you have felt about that buffet before you were diagnosed?

I’ve been to too many such events, with similar catering offerings. There are many reasons for it, from budget, to instructions from the organisers “oh, a few sandwiches, maybe quiche, sausage rolls, and a cake or two to follow. Oh, you know what I mean”.

Most, if not all, of what you describe is finger food, so only needs side plates and napkins, whereas salad needs a knife and fork, and potentially somewhere to sit to eat it, and much less conducive to a working lunch.

In your shoes, I’d size up the offering and pick the best out of it, even though it wouldn’t be much, bearing in mind I am also gluten-free, but the gluten-free options would likely just be sandwiches on gf bread, so not any more aligned to a low carb lifestyle.

My advice would be next time, have a big breakfast and be prepared to shuffle a sausage roll and a sarnie around a plate.

Unless you are taking glucose lowering medications (that doesn’t include Metformin), having a very scant meal, or even fasting is unlikely to harm you, medically.

Sometimes we have to choose the battles we fight.
 
I am taking all the replies on board with thanks. Basically you have made me smile and think about it. It's just one of those things that make the joy of diabetes such fun. Next year I shall eat everything that is offered.....even the home made cake !!!! And not worry. Many thanks all of my diabetic friends.......love the idea of shuffle round a plate, and my colleague who is GF says the same thing....GF sandwiches are dire. Pack the cutlery too........still smiling!
 
Drummer said:
@helli During the first year of being diabetic I went off for the day and - concerned about the food to be supplied, I took an egg and cheese salad, only to realise I had forgotten to pack any cutlery, and non was provided as it was all 'finger food'. I ended up using a pair of knitting needles as chop sticks.
Click to expand...
I've got a photo somewhere of a friend eating yogurt with a chicken drumstick bone as she'd forgotten to bring any cutlery with her.
 
Drummer said:
@helli During the first year of being diabetic I went off for the day and - concerned about the food to be supplied, I took an egg and cheese salad, only to realise I had forgotten to pack any cutlery, and non was provided as it was all 'finger food'. I ended up using a pair of knitting needles as chop sticks.
Click to expand...
My work bag contain a pack of "just in case". It includes plasters, paracetamol, tea bags and (manual) toothbrush plus reusable forks and spoons.
The latter is for breakfast yoghurt which is all I eat so much cheaper to get in a local supermarket than pay for a full hotel breakfast.
I guess they work for salads too.
But it doesn't include any knitting needles.
 
EMcKT said:
Am I being awkward???? At a large AGM yesterday there was a buffet lunch....free. At the time of invitation food allergies were requested ...,.I understand gluten free and that was catered for. However there was zero else. All beige, bread, pastry, crisps and cake!!!! Some cheese.! No salad stuffs, no garnish .....I was not going to pick the tomatoes out of the sandwiches. Am I being odd in asking????? Organisers were surprised at my comment, perhaps there was not enough money or perhaps it had not occurred to anyone. I had some bits, I knew I was not going to be unwell but would be way over my carb count for the day but was hungry. Next year I might take my own salad, but that's churlish.
lots of salad today.....??
Click to expand...

It's standard food farye in most cases at such functions, don't think anyone would mind if you took your own food along next time.
 
I don't think I've ever been to a buffet without carrot/pepper/cucumber sticks and houmous! And fruit?
Could they not incorporate quiche? Quiche is beige so would fit the theme!
Sorry you experienced this, must have been frustrating!
 
That's a disappointing buffet but not uncommon, especially if it's a low-budget one. Veg put up the price and us healthy eaters seem to be in a minority, sadly.

At my last job they often ordered sandwich platters for all-day meetings which were "garnished" with lettuce and tomato, I used to fill my plate with the salad and eat a couple of small sandwiches minus the crusts. I seem to remember chicken drumsticks featuring once or twice as well. But they were willing to pay more to keep their staff healthy - it was a Swedish/ Norwegian company and they provided water carafes on every desk and free fruit and veg to snack on!
 
Im glad i dont have to through this sort of thing at work any more lol...... i can remember the beige buffets too well

Thing is if you said you were gluten free or vegan or halal/kosher they would have catered for your needs......so they should do so for low carb too
 
paultrose said:
Thing is if you said you were gluten vegan they would have catered for your needs.
Click to expand...

I've read countless posts written by vegans who would tell you the opposite.
 
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