This is the question that I again face as I visit my partners amazing family in the midwest. A family of incredibly warm and loving people, they of course embody the central midwestern values: they like to feed you to make you feel loved and happy.
So, in a house full of sweets, chips, beer, candy and everything else that I would slash of my list of "to-eats" in a second, how do you stay the course?
You just do.
But how do you do it graciously without tarnishing the relationships you are trying to build? As everyone else sits around the breakfast table eating coffeecake and other high-carb food, how do you not hurt the hosts feelings? My approach is to engage in an on-going conversation with the host, and others, about nutrition ideas, recipes, and fitness goals in a way that is non-threatening and inviting. I am not trying to convert anyone, merely for them to understand me so that I am not "that girl who makes it difficult for us to please".
In fact, that is another hard thing to swallow. There is the thought that I am not happy since I do not eat the same foods. I do not expect anyone to be able to anticipate my food needs 100%. Not even 20%. All I expect is for people to be open and say "join us at the table with whatever it is you would like to eat". I am happy to just be with them. I can figure out my own food.
It is my choice to live this way. To prioritize my health and well-being in this way. It is not meant to inconvenience anyone. Show me the grocery store door and I will figure it all out.
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