JinJer 51: Can't Even Sell Donuts!

[Thorns]

17 minutes ago, AliceInFundyland said:

Maybe, but at the moment I am thinking not. The very specific thing that happens is that I gag. Violent esophageal spasming. If it goes down, most stuff stays in there pretty well. It could be enzymes, acid, or, of course the big C (doubtful), perhaps a structural issue.

It's hella annoying. Since I've not been able to afford the test till now I've done a lot of of that kind of restriction informally. Limiting acidity helps and I'm on daily Prilosec. But that's not what I would call a long term solution.

My lab work didn't indicate need for a colonoscopy either.

We'll see?

But no worries about suggestions. ?

 

Have you and your doctor discussed eosinofilic oesophagitis? 

[AliceInFundyland]

28 minutes ago, Thorns said:

Have you and your doctor discussed eosinofilic oesophagitis? 

We didn't have much of a discussion to be honest.

He is a specialist at a respectable clinic here in Portland. I was referred there on mutal agreement with my PCP. Saw him. Ran through my several years of dealing with this. He gave me the old ? hmm, yeah, let's get tests done and see if we need to do a single scope or a double. Tests came back good and so we went with the endo.
.... Then I got a price quote. ????

Shelved it.

That was April. I am as excited as one could possibly be that they were willing to schedule me back in with no new tests, appointments or referrals (it expired) before end of year.

He didn't want to commit to anything. Said there were too many things. And that lines up with all the googling I've done. I'm hoping it's something with some solid solutions. If it leads to more face palming that's going to be sucky. But it has got to happen.

ETA: I just looked up the mouthful @Thorns
menti oned. That's a pretty good description. The buildup over time, the correlation with allergies. Only a vague connection to GERD.

 

Edited December 9, 2019 by AliceInFundyland
I looked up eosinofilic oesophagitis.

[DillyDally]

My husband has been vegan for a couple of years now and I've settled somewhere between pescetarian and flexitarian, which my parents just.won't.understand. It's very frustrating to the point that I can't believe how rude they are. I got so many stories... but I'll just give you the most recent one. To add more context, my dad has been working all his live as a chef (he's in his sixties). Also, vegan diet has become a lot easier in recent years in Germany, there's tons of stuff you can buy at the supermarket now (meat replacement, vegan joghurt etc etc). Anyway, here we go:

Christmas last year. We always go over to my parents' place on 25 December for lunch/presents etc. It's more of a "duty call" for us, we don't have a close relationship with my parents. But they insist that we come over because we are family. Anyway, so my parents always do a duck roast for Christmas. ALWAYS. Last couple of years, my husband just ate the sides, all good. He didn't complain or anything and generally doesn't like making a big fuss over it (which I totally get). Then last year my mother requested that he brings his own food. I'm not kidding, they didn't even consider asking him what they could prepare for him. Nope, just bring your own stuff, you weird vegan. Actually, my dad even called us "eco freaks" during that meal, since I also politely declined the duck meat.

Can't wait for Christmas and doing it all over again.

TLDR: My parents suck. Don't ìnvite people if you can't offer them something to eat because you are too lazy to change your perspective.

[Flossie]

@DillyDally  

In my fantasy, you and your husband show up for dinner each carrying a boxed meal that the other made just for you.  You each prepared the food separately, so you don't know until you open it what is in there.  Each of you "oohhh" and "aaahhhh" over the food and you taste each portion with delighted anticipation.  You compliment each other on how good everything tastes and how thoughtful each other was to put together such a great meal.  You laugh when you see that there are some things you both have.  

You tell your parents that their food looks great and smells amazing, as usual.

If you want, you can also provide a dish that all of you can eat, while complimenting your mother on her great idea to 'expand' the options available in the traditional Christmas dinner.

Make sure you have a good time, and try to keep the conversation to things that aren't controversial.  Otherwise, just smile politely when they say something snotty about your food and reply that you understand it's different, but the important thing is that you're all sharing the day together.  You may leave immediately if they start throwing duck at you.  You were doing your best to be good guests, it's not your fault if they couldn't be gracious hosts.

[neuroticcat]

5 hours ago, scarlettphoenix said:

I refuse to listen to this! The lies people propagate...Ted Cruz, a human indeed! Don’t be ridiculous.

Oh hey I’m from there! 
whereabouts?

Im from the Lake Marion area. 

I moved away about ten years ago, but I used to live in Columbia...famously hot - for real!

[SassyPants]

I cook a lot. I sometimes cook for large groups of people, many of whom with individual food needs or results. What makes cooking for a crowd harder these days is not the big picture items, it’s the little things. Just as an example, some canned tomato sauce contain gluten. It’s all the hidden things, like sauces, marinades and salad dressings that you have to really watch. 

On the issue of people intentionally sabotaging others’ meals, WTH. That’s all.

[PennySycamore]

@scarlettphoenix  and @neuroticcat, we could maybe do a Nurthan wedding lunch at the GOOD Olive Garden in Columbia which is not the Olive Garden on Harbison in Irmo.

[NakedKnees]

When I was a vegetarian, I found the "sneaky" meat ingredients to be the most challenging part of traveling because they vary so much. In the US, I feel like vegetarians get used to avoiding gelatin and asking about fats and broths. In India, that also meant looking out for fish oil in everything. In Chile, there was also bread, which usually contains lard.

I still feel a bit guilty about this, but all in all, this phenomenon did lead to me leaving vegetarianism a few years ago. I would gag if I felt a meat texture in my mouth but my body did not care if I accidentally ate lardy bread. Over time, I felt disillusioned.

These days, I generally feel like every meal/snack/opportunity to eat is a unique choice and I try to make the best one based on what's available. If it's local meat versus unseasonal, imported veggies, that'll impact my choice (not that this happens often, haha). If it's local versus corporate, I try to go local. I eat all-vegetarian several days a week, and recent high cholesterol results are pushing me more in that direction.For me, it was really hard to move past an almost religious reverence toward not eating meat. I felt like a failure for a very long time. It was a bummer to no longer be a part of the "vegetarian" community but to still dislike the "MEAT MEAT MEAT" sort of mentality of more mainstream eating. All of it now feels kind of obsessive and unhealthy and I wish it wasn't something I felt the need to think about.

I feel like that last paragraph is likely to piss off everyone, so, sorry! I'm mostly just posting to say that moving away from vegetarianism was so gradual and complex for me, I can't really see how a single reason, moment, or trip is likely to do it for most people (short of major health reasons like allergies). 

[nausicaa]

14 hours ago, princessmahina said:

”you sure there’s no meat?”

*eye roll* “bacon grease doesn’t count as meat.”

yes, ma’am, it does ??

To be fair, I can see how a lifelong meat eater not exposed to many vegetarians wouldn't think much about the ingredients in the cooking process and just look to see if there's visible chunks of meat in the finished product. My Irish grandmother would have 100% done this without trying to be difficult.

However, the "I will sneak meat into your food on purpose" people are weird and I've never understood what their problem is. (And I'm saying this as a meat eater.) 

Or acting as if every dish that is vegan is automatically disgusting. I was once tasked with bringing a vegetable to my extended family's picnic so I made an edamame/bean dish that was vegan so it could sit out in the sun with no worries. When I informed my aunt that it didn't need to go in the fridge for this reason, the entire room recoiled. Again, I was tasked with a freaking vegetable dish!

For the vegetarians/vegans, what do you do about your iron levels? When I experimented with it, my iron dropped precipitously and I was tired all the time (and my period was a mess). I was eating a balanced diet as well, not just mainlining Oreos. 

[Perrierwithlemon]

20 minutes ago, nausicaa said:

For the vegetarians/vegans, what do you do about your iron levels? When I experimented with it, my iron dropped precipitously and I was tired all the time (and my period was a mess). I was eating a balanced diet as well, not just mainlining Oreos. 

My iron dropped too. So much that I thought my constant fatigue was hypothyroid -- nope, just low iron! I can't seem to get myself to eat land animals again. I think veganism can almost be like orthorexia, in the sense that most meat and many animal products became a fear food. Fear of weight gain, fear of judgement from the vegan community, fear of judgement of others because they rub it in my face that my vegan diet was "just a phase," etc. I've slowly reintroduced non-vegan food one at a time, and it helps me mentally if I know the animal product came locally from a good place. But to answer your question, as of now, I've been taking ferrasorb iron supplements. I also struggled with severe B-vitamin deficiencies when I was eating strictly vegan, even though I took supplements. I had to up my intake. I also got a lot of cavities when I was vegan from not getting enough minerals and from all the fruit.

Being vegan is not as great as vegans had made it out to be. I would say that vegan extremists, like many of the vegan youtubers in 2014ish, spread really harmful lies that veganism can "work for everyone!" No. It doesn't. There's a reason why so many people have stopped being vegan.

Besides stopping being vegan because of my allergies, being 100% vegan was always going to be impossible for me. I used to need an inhaler because of asthma. But since I've started my new diet of what works for me, I haven't needed to use my inhaler all the time or take so many allergy pills. I wouldn't be able to take any real medications due to animal testing, no leather dance shoes, ice skates, climbing shoes, no leather shoes in general, no wool sweaters, no owning pets, pet abuse by not giving dogs and cats the carnivore/omnivore diet they need, the list could go on forever. That Vegan Couple on YouTube are even against service dogs. I happen to like leather shoes because they last longer, and stretch to accommodate my wider feet. Veganism began to feel very much like a cult to me, that's part of why I stopped being a part of it. I think the emphasis needs to be what's sustainable and good for the planet rather than the "if it's vegan, it's good" mentality. When possible, I like to buy things used and/or local -- it's much better and less strict. IMO it's better to buy a used or ethically-sourced wool sweater than buy a new sweater made of plastic. 

[TuringMachine]

Once in my college they were serving mashed potatoes and gravy, and this kid comes up and asks if the gravy is vegetarian since he's getting food for his girlfriend. The guy serving responded "well it's beef based, but there's not meat in it, so it's vegetarian but not vegan."  Luckily the kid did not get the gravy.

47 minutes ago, nausicaa said:

However, the "I will sneak meat into your food on purpose" people are weird and I've never understood what their problem is. (And I'm saying this as a meat eater.) 

I had to uninstall Imgur because it was such a sexist cesspool, but I remember it being filled with posts like "how dare my vegetarian / vegan guests request I make something they can eat! How rude of them!"  Like A: why weren't you going to have vegetable dishes to begin with? and B: if you invite someone to your party / BBQ / dinner / etc and knowingly don't provide them with anything to eat, I'm pretty sure that makes you the rude one.

[Eponine]

I have an unusual allergy to some very common items that can show up in anything, and I've traveled a fair amount. When I've been in countries that use them a lot I ask in several different ways whether the items are in each food (if I know the language) or stick with the dishes whose ingredients I know for sure. Sometimes that leaves me with only rice and vegetables, which is okay. I try to do it with as little drama as possible, and I've never found that it's particularly hard to get people to understand.

I went to Turkey with a friend who was a longtime vegetarian, and she tried to be game and eat some meat products when we were being hosted. She ended having some pretty rough stomach issues after a couple of days, I felt so bad. Not everyone who is not used to eating certain products can just start eating them again, so I don't judge anyone who politely refuses a meal, even if it can come off as declining someone's hospitality.

My family used to be a bit devil-may-care about allergies until a kid was born several years ago who has severe, life-threatening allergies to several things. He's been rushed to the emergency room many times in his life. They all wised up real quick and are good about it now.

[apandaaries]

1 hour ago, nausicaa said:

 

For the vegetarians/vegans, what do you do about your iron levels? When I experimented with it, my iron dropped precipitously and I was tired all the time (and my period was a mess). I was eating a balanced diet as well, not just mainlining Oreos. 

I’m a long term vegetarian, and my kid was vegan for two years. We use cast iron for cooking, and that seems to help. We also eat a lot of greens, lentils, and beans. I was slightly concerned about my daughter’s veganism, but she had bloodwork done twice and her iron levels were always fine. Calcium, too. Her pediatrician was a bit surprised, as was I, since we’re not the greatest at taking vitamins. 
Luckily for me and my budget, she’s more vegetarian these days. Being able to use regular butter and other ingredients has been lovely.

[Perrierwithlemon]

Another related pet-peeve is when someone, like me, is allergic to wheat and people don't understand what that entails. My grandma used to think that it meant "no bread" but other wheat-foods like pasta were okay. Thankfully, she's realized that's not how it works, and we ate rice pasta together last time I visited. 

[Rachel333]

1 hour ago, nausicaa said:

For the vegetarians/vegans, what do you do about your iron levels? When I experimented with it, my iron dropped precipitously and I was tired all the time (and my period was a mess). I was eating a balanced diet as well, not just mainlining Oreos. 

That's never been an issue for me at all. Even when you'd think they'd be really low, my iron levels have always been on the high side of normal. I know others take supplements and/or make a point of eating iron-rich foods, but it's not something I've personally ever had to worry about.

@NakedKnees I don't think you need to feel guilty! I don't know your reasons for minimizing your meat intake, but in terms of health, environmental impact, and impact on the meat industry, there's really not a huge difference between someone who never eats meat and someone who rarely eats meat.

I personally can't imagine ever eating meat, but my primary reason has always just been that I simply hate the idea of eating animals, and any ethical concerns come second. I've also been vegetarian since I was very young, so I don't even remember what it's like to eat meat. It doesn't feel like I'm restricting myself since meat just doesn't seem like food to me at all to me.

Edited December 9, 2019 by Rachel333

[justoneoftwo]

People raised Catholic often equate no meat with fish because that's common for fasting days. My husband always asks if vegetarians eat fish when I tell him we have vegetarians coming over, I always assumed no and he always assumes yes and I think it's because he was raised Catholic and was always told that fish was not meat.

Edited December 9, 2019 by Coconut Flan

[AliceInFundyland]

@nausicaa

I have only ever tested low for vitamin D. Which is fairly normal for many people in my neck of the woods.

Right now I'm taking iron and B12 because of my own concerns about my diet being askew.

(I get checked out for those things because of depression fairly often)

Edited December 9, 2019 by AliceInFundyland
I believe that when you've been doing it since a young age or birth the body adjusts. Our anecdotal comments seem to support that theory.

[neuroticcat]

I agree with some food choices being sneaky orthorexia. Probably unnecessary disclaimer : the following is my personal experience and zero judgment on others’ food choices.  I was a vegetarian for many years in my late teens and twenties. Some of it was dislike of the concept of eating animals. A good reason for my doing it was the lack of humane cattle/poultry raising practices back in the 90s. It was pre cage-free, free range, local / anything!

After I had kids I slowly began to bring some meat back because I could find more humane options, and I didn’t want to decide vegetarianism for all my kids. All that to say a few years after I became a meat eater, I fell down the rabbit hole of orthorexia with paleo and fodmap and histamine intolerance. It was hell. I really became imprisoned with fear and controlled by food. 

It took me awhile to identify that I have OCD disordered eating that didn’t just show up late in life - orthorexia has always been there for me - vegetarianism was just a more mainstream and less crazy making choice. Lots of therapy, lots of baby steps have taken me away from extreme orthorexia, but it’s always lurking. I have chosen to avoid all nutrition/dietary online communities because I’m too susceptible.

Its interesting that someone mentioned cult like above. I wonder if the same toxic combo of self-loathing/desire for control that drew me to fringe fundielife also draws me to punitive food choices...

Edited December 9, 2019 by neuroticcat

[WiseGirl]

As a Celiac with other food allergies I'm a fun guest. I always bring something and have been known to pack foods in my suitcase when I travel.  Plenty of people don't understand that for Celiacs it is more than just not having wheat or that it is not an allergy. Until you have to go gluten free you don't realize how many places gluten lurks. 

[Beermeet]

22 hours ago, Perrierwithlemon said:

I've been vegetarian, vegan, and now I'm pescatarian. I had to go back to eating some animal products because I found out (through blood-test) that I'm allergic to so many vegan sources of protein. It's important to do what is healthy (or what works) for your own body, and we're all different. I can relate to so many of you here, and I'm glad that we can all be respectful of our different dietary choices.

I have a severe allergy to shellfish ( iodine).  It can be a problem.  Thai is out. I love that restaurants are now educated about the major food allergies.  I hope the rest of you are doing well out there!  Cinnamon would be tough!   I have a major mayo aversion.  Just, ick, NO!  But, it won't kill me. I'll just be barfing due to mentally being allergic.  Lol!  

My mom went vegetarian for years growing up. So, we did too. Naturally.  I love it!  I do not require meat in a meal and often choose salads, pasta, beans and rice over meat.  I do eat meat but never fish.  Shellfish aside,  there is a world of fish out there. I tried.  Again and again over the decades here and there.  Can't barely take a bite. Nope. I don't find fish edible.  They are friends.  I know that sounds nuts considering I do eat meat sometimes.  But, it makes me understand vegans and vegetarians views.  Food is personal.

[Satan'sFortress]

When some people find out that I don't eat meat, they almost apologize to me because they are meat eaters.  It is funny---I am not really a militant vegetarian, and I don't try to convert anyone, so I am not sure where that is coming from.

 

5 hours ago, Perrierwithlemon said:

My iron dropped too. So much that I thought my constant fatigue was hypothyroid -- nope, just low iron!

I always think that I am hypothyroid (it runs in the family & I have many, but not all of the symptoms). Everything is always normal, though. I should maybe get my iron tested.

[Zebedee]

C

5 hours ago, Rachel333 said:

Even when you'd think they'd be really low, my iron levels have always been on the high side of normal. I know others take supplements and/or make a point of eating iron-rich foods, but it's not something I've personally ever had to worry about.

Same here Though I was pescatarian from 11-30, briefly omnivorous for 2-3 years, and now veggie again. I miss fish like crazy, so I will admit that for my birthday dinner last night, I ate fish. I do it 2-3 times per year, owing to most people assuming that, as a veggie, I will eat fish. Cannot manage meat though - I have a stomach of iron.Until I put meat into it. It serves me well travelling around India and the middle east, with the heavy reliance on legumes. I am so happy I am not allergic. Never thought how many people would be allergic to legumes!

 

[Screamapillar]

I know we’re not supposed to engage in pregnancy speculation, but since this is 100% not based on her figure... Jinger’s current Instagram story is her rolling dough around with the caption  “More to come soon ?”

Christmas baking themed “bun in the oven” announcement? Or ”clever” tease?

[princessmahina]

Re: iron. I’m practically vegan (100% vegan almost since giving birth). I was SO worried about my iron levels while I was pregnant and worried that I needed to supplement because I don’t pay a ton of attention to what I eat and mainly just eat what I’m craving (I crave a lot of tofu and avocado, so I feel comfortable giving in). After getting my GD bloodwork done, my OB declared me to be the “least anemic pregnant patient she’s ever seen.” I eat a ton of greens and beans, so maybe that’s it. 

[VeryNikeSeamstress]

2 hours ago, Screamapillar said:

I know we’re not supposed to engage in pregnancy speculation, but since this is 100% not based on her figure... Jinger’s current Instagram story is her rolling dough around with the caption  “More to come soon ?”

Christmas baking themed “bun in the oven” announcement? Or ”clever” tease?

She could just mean more footage of her baking. If she pulls a loaf out of the oven with a due date carved into it that would be a cute announcement.

Jinger took awhile to show with Felicity, and I think they waited a good 4 months before announcing publicly. Even if they don't eventually have a massive quiver, I could see them liking the idea of at least a couple of children close together. Plus it looks like Felicity's easy going.

Edited December 10, 2019 by VeryNikeSeamstress