Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

These days, food is allergic to us

05.09.2016 by David Murray // 9 Comments

Writing Boots has obtained this list of special dietary requirements actually sent, with apologies—"I hate being high maintenance!"—by a business conference participant to the conference organizer.

No:
    Products containing milk
    Products containing tomatoes
    Onions
    Raw veggies, except:
    Peeled cucumbers
    Peppers
    Cauliflower
    Avocado
    Nothing deep fried
    Nothing real fatty
    No pork or shellfish

If well-cooked, can handle the following cooked veggies:
    green beans
    carrots
    broccoli
    beets
    If very soft, asparagus
    Cauliflower
    Mushrooms
    Canned artichoke hearts
    Fruits: Can't eat oranges/grapefruit but most others are fine fresh or cooked.
    Tangerines are fine!
    Eggs, chicken, fish, meat — fine except very fatty meats.
    Most starches are fine if made without milk products, tomato, onions.

Categories // Uncategorized

Comments

  1. suki says

    May 9, 2016 at 11:42 am

    I don’t see potting soil anywhere on the “no” list.

    Reply
  2. David Murray says

    May 9, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    And of course she turned out to be the most accommodating generous participant at the conference.

    Reply
  3. Jens says

    May 9, 2016 at 3:50 pm

    … argh, bring your own food!

    Reply
  4. Gerry says

    May 10, 2016 at 7:53 am

    As the husband of someone with multiple food sensitivities, I see a lot of stuff in this list that my wife would say if she dared. Usually she asks for gluten-free and no creamy sauces and then picks at whatever is left.
    This person isn’t trying to be high-maintenance, she really isn’t. This is why she acknowledges in her correspondence that this is how she might be perceived. She just wants to not be hungry and cranky all day. Those us who can eat pretty much whatever we want have no idea how easy we have it.
    I’m glad she did add value to the conference, and that you recognized in your comments that she did.

    Reply
  5. David Murray says

    May 10, 2016 at 8:17 am

    I do get it, Gerry. I have relatives in the same boat. I just thought this list was a little over the top. “Canned artichoke hearts?” “If very soft, asparagus?” I suppose caterers are used to some of these requests, and as we humans seem to engineer our food and ourselves out of plausible existence, I suppose such lists will become more and more common.
    Soon we’ll be like pandas, eating only bamboo and wondering why we’re endangered.

    Reply
  6. Joan H. says

    May 10, 2016 at 9:55 am

    I would hope that, if my dietary requirements were that specific and important to me, I would be gracious enough to bring my own food rather than to inflict on my host such a list. The apology seems superfluous, a mask for the demand for attention and sympathy.

    Reply
  7. David Murray says

    May 10, 2016 at 10:05 am

    Yes, I see that side of it too, Joan. I can’t imagine presenting such a list of needs. But I guess we can’t know for sure until we ought to eat a while in her lactose-intolerant shoes.

    Reply
  8. Gerry says

    May 11, 2016 at 9:24 am

    David, you make a good point that the list does seem a bit over the top. I can’t imagine my wife asking for something quite that specific. If she knew the host well, she might ask for her vegetables “very well done.”

    Reply
  9. Unanymous says

    May 11, 2016 at 11:08 pm

    Shaken, not stirred. 😉

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Now Available

An Effort to Understand

Order Now

Sign up to receive blog updates

About

David Murray writes on communication issues.
Read More

 

Categories

  • Baby Boots
  • Communication Philosophy
  • Efforts to Understand
  • Happy Men, and Other Eccentrics
  • Human Politicians
  • Mister Boring
  • Murray Cycle Diaries
  • Old Boots
  • Rambling, At Home and Abroad
  • Sports Stories
  • The Quotable Murr
  • Typewriter Truths
  • Uncategorized

Archives

Copyright © 2022 · Log in

  • Preorder An Effort to Understand
  • Sign Up for Blog Updates
  • About David Murray