It sucks, right? When someone gives you something that you can’t eat. What do you do in these situations?
Normally around the holidays, cookies start showing up at my place and people’s moms’ try to make me stuff. How do you inform them that you can’t eat that cookie or you’ll die (ok so maybe you won’t die, but being in pain is bad enough, am I right)?
I have a few suggestions for how to deal with these unfortunate circumstances, whether they happen with a family member, a neighbor, or someone’s mom. They could happen around holidays, birthdays, or times of woe. Here are my suggestions for how to respond when someone gives you something you can’t eat.
Tell Them the Truth
This works best when you’re dealing with family, friends, or neighbors who are unlikely to move anytime soon.
You don’t have to be mean about it. You can just politely say, “Oh, I’m so sorry, but I’m gluten and dairy intolerant.” To your surprise they may say, “Bitch, I made these with flaxseed and coconut flour!” or they may say, “Oh sorry! There’s definitely butter in there”.
Regardless of what they say, you’ll know you told the truth.
Benefits of this scenario:
- Next year, they will (hopefully) remember that you can’t eat gluten or dairy and will not make you any more cookies, or attempt to make you special cookies (which are, admittedly, the best kind).
- You won’t have to lie when they follow up with you: “How were the cookies?!”
- You’ll feel good speaking up for yourself and informing your giver.
- You won’t have any cookies to dispose of to the raccoons (who should really not be eating gluten anyway).
Cons of this scenario:
- Your giver may not remember that you declined these cookies, and give them to you again.
- Your giver may not remember that you didn’t eat their cookies, and still ask you how they were later.
- Your giver may misunderstand the meaning of “intolerance” or “allergies”, and think that you’re just avoiding these things for other reasons such as weight loss and say, “But you’re so skinny!” prompting you to think that they secretly think you’re fat and are therefore trying to be reassuring about your slimness.
- You may feel rude for declining them. And you’ll definitely feel left out when everyone is eating them and you’re not.
Politely Accept and Say Nothing
This is best when you’re working with an unfamiliar host or giver. It’s likely you’ll never see them again and who cares if you touch those cookies and then toss them in the trash?
There’s no follow-up, no thank-you cards (“Thanks so much for the plate of sickness you provided me. I was on the toilet all night and had extreme muscle pain for days. Happy Holidays”), and no confrontation.
Saying thank you and moving on is easy. Defending your honor is not.
Benefits of this scenario:
- It’s easy!
- You don’t have to explain your intolerance or allergy.
- It means little to no extra attention for you and people looking at you like you’re crazy.
Cons of this scenario:
- You’re a liar. You’re lying by omission. Shouldn’t that woman know she almost just sent you to the ER?
- You may feel voiceless and unimportant. Why shouldn’t you speak up for yourself?
- What the hell are you going to do with those cookies now????
LIE
This can work well with people you almost never see, but are not quite strangers. This can also work well with distant neighbors (at least two doors down) or relatives.
Now, I’m not about lying, so I wouldn’t recommend it. There’s a hefty chance it will come back and bite you (like 100% chance). But damn it, sometimes it’s just so much easier! “Thank you so much for the wonderful milk chocolate covered pretzels. They were wonderful.” Barf.
Benefits of this scenario:
- You won’t offend the wonderful people who tried to make an effort and give you this food (which may be partly vegan but is definitely NOT vegan).
- You won’t have that bad feeling after you crush their hopes and dreams of giving you cookies.
- You will not appear ungrateful in any way.
Cons of this scenario:
- You obviously just told a huge lie about your body and your health. While you did not admit to eating them, you implied it, and your giver will probably make you the same thing next year and the year after that and the year after that. It’s a huge waste, not to mention you’re indirectly supporting animal torture: you may not be buying the milk that went into that milk chocolate, but this giver is buying it for you. Get it?
- You may get found out, which will look really bad for you and all parties involved. Your neighbor may tell your mom, “Oh, Jenn just absolutely loved those milk chocolate covered pretzels” and your lovely mother will say, “Jenn doesn’t eat milk you ignorant fool!”
- You’ll feel crappy for making your giver feel loved and appreciated when really you are flushing those pretzels down the toilet while sticking a finger in your mouth in a gagging impression
At the end of the day, you need to decide which one you can live with. I will always advocate for the truth-telling scenario, but will admit that sometimes I fall into the other scenarios. It just depends on who you’re dealing with, where you’re at, and what works for you. Whether you accept the desserts or not, make sure you don’t eat them!