Help! I' going out of town this weekend!

[fabulis1]

Please help! We are heading to my mother in law's house for the weekend. Her and her husband are retired chefs and every time we go down there, my husband and I each gain 5 pounds because they always put food in our face. Everything from pancakes and ham to cup cakes and brownies and potatoes. I could go on forever with the food they make when we go there.

We always go to a pizza buffet on Sunday, so I've got that covered. I'll eat the tops of pizza and broasted chicken with no breading on it. I don't want anyone to know that I am dieting, so this is going to be embarrassing for me. But i can play my gluten allergy card for that one.

What do I do the rest of the time?

Here's another problem. My gums are SO SORE from the excessive meat, that I can only eat soft things right now.

Any suggestions? I don't want them to know that I am dieting.

Please help!

[Skeptika23]

Are you eating your veggies? I don't know what "excessive" meat consumption means, given that I eat as much meat today as I did pre-Atkins (choice of cut is different, but it's still the same volume).

You don't have to say, "I'm dieting!", you can say, "I've really gotten into eating more veggies lately, aren't they yummy? Can you give me some good recipes and tips for green beans, and cauliflower and (insert your favorite induction veggie here), since you're so knowledgable about food?" Perhaps they'll replace potatoes with your suggestion in their meals.

Other than that - just don't eat stuff that isn't friendly to your diet. Saying, "No thanks, I'm full" or "Nah, just not in the mood for sweets right now, thanks anyway" is just fine and perfectly polite.

If it were me, however - I'd have some induction friendly snacks stashed just in case (my favorite is shredded cabbage - dry it, premeasure it into sandwich baggies, and you don't have to refrigerate it, and it keeps for a few days) - you might be hungry if they're cooking illegal stuff all the time and you can't eat it sufficiently.

Why are you hiding you're changing your way of eating, anyway? You might find them very supportive! They might find cooking induction-friendly to be a creative challenge!

[ceemarie]

Why don't you treat them to a meal when you get there and demonstrate how delicious a low carb meal can be. They just might appreciate the gesture.

[Elffriend]

You've lost 45 pounds, I think they are going to notice. You might just say you are trying to eat healthier and have cut out all sweets and refined carbohydrates and have started eating lots of veggies. Don't mention Atkins if you think they'll harass you about it, but everyone, even chefs, can understand the desire to "eat healthy"

[Razzle39]

My mother-in-law is Italian..not a chef but she can COOK! The greatest way to insult my MIL is to not eat what she has made you so I think I understand your situation. I have already prepared what I am going to do when going to her house. I am going to tell her how much I am craving her awesome deviled eggs and her pork roast that is to die for with the garlic rub. I know I can have these things and it will make her happy. She always makes an awesome salad with every meal. I am going to bring her 2 jars of Maries Blue cheese dressing and tell her I had bought them on sale and then realized I could never use them before the expiration date so I thought she might like a few.This puts my dressing in her house. If she asks why I dont try this or that I will simply say.." I ate too many deviled eggs....I need time to make room" and change the subject.
Is there something in particular that you really like that they make thats Atkins friendly. They will be delighted that you enjoy something they have made you. If fact Knowing you like it they will probably always make it for you as a "special"treat. I know it seems like a lot of work but all those jokes about in-laws werent created because its easy! LOL I love my MIL...I wouldnt want to ever cross her.

[fabulis1]

Razzle: That's fabulous advice! I'll get back to this in a minute.

Everyone else: My mother in law is a size 0 and so are all of her girls. They don't have to diet, they have a kick *** metabolism. And they always make little comments like "looks like you're eating healthy"--meaning I've put on a few pounds or "why don't you run down and get this out of the kitchen for me, you could use the exercise" And let's not forget my favorite "you dress very well for your size"

I don't want them to know that I am dieting, let alone doing low carb. I get the lectures every time I tell someone I'm doing low carb, so I don't want to go there.

Back to the suggestions: those are all great ideas. If I suggest things for them to make, I can suggest things in my diet and suitable for my daughter's food allergies.

My gums go through this frequently when I do induction, they get sore from the excessive chewing. It only lasts a couple of days, then goes away.

Any suggestions for travel snacks?