tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post6847558254445847579..comments2024-03-25T02:33:41.590-05:00Comments on FemaleScienceProfessor: Food For ThoughtFemale Science Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-14887582841149761922012-02-19T21:00:42.294-06:002012-02-19T21:00:42.294-06:00For most conferences, all it takes is communicatio...For most conferences, all it takes is communication with the caterers/hotel at which the event is taking place. Let them know the special dietary needs, and they can typically accommodate. Just put a comment box on the registration website or refer them to the conference caterer. <br /><br />For in-department/college meetings (depending on how large), ask those with the allergies where they can eat around "here". Then they can be accommodated without too much searching and phone calls done by those organizing the event. <br /><br />I went to a conference this past weekend, and asked the servers standing around what was in certain dishes. The only thing I could eat was fruit (which was fine. I always plan ahead and bring snacks), but one of the servers took the initiative, found me wandering around the conference exhibits, and gave me a vegan entree in a styrofoam container. I think the responsibility belongs to both parties (the planners and the attendees) to communicate dietary issues. Also, it wouldn't hurt if the caterers would ask the questions as well.Vegan Trianglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00652250029786966614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-13065894314291780192012-02-17T17:27:30.685-06:002012-02-17T17:27:30.685-06:00I once was on a field trip where it was decided th...I once was on a field trip where it was decided that, since we were not cooking two different entrées at every meal, everything was going to be vegetarian (maybe vegan too, I don't remember). You should have seen the reaction from some of the omnivores. They were horrified by the thought of not eating meat for a week and whined about it incessantly. I thought it was a nice turning of the tables.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-17095197946598292722012-02-15T18:53:18.742-06:002012-02-15T18:53:18.742-06:00This is an issue for me when I take students on fi...This is an issue for me when I take students on field trip or supervise students in field research. For field trips, I provide veg/no-veg options when we cook communal meals, but increasingly that isn't sufficient. In field research to places in which meat is in everything (even dishes that appear to be vegetarian), it is a huge problem to accommodate students who are vegetarian (and impossible to help vegans), especially if they have not learned the local language well enough to negotiate their own food issues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-39470504370369541612012-02-15T18:38:44.916-06:002012-02-15T18:38:44.916-06:00As someone who recently contracted food issues (IB...As someone who recently contracted food issues (IBS), I'm still trying to figure out my food "triggers." This is distressing in an of itself since I can't just eat at a restaurant or seminar (since I don't know the ingredients of everything). But, I've also been asked about food preferences for job interview trips coming up, and I have felt self-conscious telling my hosts. At conferences/seminars I can just go where I need to go on my own to get food (or not eat for that one event), but I feel that would be rude (or unhealthy) when I'm being hosted by someone for multiple days. Also, it feels like personal health information, which I don't want to advertise. But, at the same time, I don't want to spend the whole trip passed out on a toilet (sorry if graphic) and NOT presenting my talk if I don't find some way to cope.<br /><br />So, I feel ambivalent about it, but I think it is because asking for accommodation is still seen as burdensome, no matter how justified you are in asking.<br /><br />And I agree with the suggestion to always have something vegan. I go to SO MANY seminars at my home institution that only do a vegetarian option as "the alternative" (i.e. they have plenty of cheese plates for people who can't eat meat), and I feel excluded since they "have accommodated people" but I still can't eat anything because I am severely lactose-intolerant. Also, whole foods (or minimally processed) and separated components are better for guests to better identify what ingredients are (so they don't have to so openly ask whether a food is "safe" at risk of annoying the hosts). So, don't have any sauces mixed in that might contain allergens, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-31143148059626186702012-02-15T03:06:02.112-06:002012-02-15T03:06:02.112-06:00If people are paying for food, then they shouldn&#...If people are paying for food, then they shouldn't have to eat anything they don't want to for any reason, whether allergy or dislike. With food someone's providing for free, if I was the provider I'd feel guilty if I didn't try to include everyone. Where I'm concerned I've mostly brought along something else to communal meals, but I've endured many a conversation where this was considered rude by the host or other guests. Some think it's rude of me not to eat the food anyway, which is ridiculous. I once endured a wedding reception where the only food I could eat was the rice, and though I didn't let that bother me and smiled the whole time, people constantly commented on how sad and miserable I looked with just a plate of rice. A colleague of mine just plain doesn't bother turning up for these things because he's so sick of the way people act about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-29603676028414756552012-02-14T23:50:45.808-06:002012-02-14T23:50:45.808-06:00I have a horrible time with this because I have in...I have a horrible time with this because I have intolerances to many common foods like corn and tomatoes. I'm fortunate in that I don't have full blown allergies, but eating the wrong foods mean I will be very sick for the next two days. I've given to keeping 'safe' food in my bag so that I can eat something in those frequent situations where all the food is a potential problem. <br /><br />I've been pleasantly surprised how many people have been accommodating, but I just usually say don't worry about it and that I'll provide my own food. (Even when they try, there's usually a problem.) And when I go on travel, I have to make sure that I can stay someplace with a kitchen.Cherishhttp://cherishthescientist.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-16267386794445056252012-02-14T23:13:15.723-06:002012-02-14T23:13:15.723-06:00As a longtime vegan who is also severely lactose-i...As a longtime vegan who is also severely lactose-intolerant, I've found that I can almost always find something to eat at restaurant functions. (I often order several sides.) For catered academic or conference events, I always try to let the organizers know in advance, but I also keep a granola bar and fruit in my bag just in case there ends up not being anything I can eat. Fieldwork generally works out as well, as long as others know about my dietary restrictions, and especially since I often volunteer to cook.<br /><br />I think the most frustrating situations are when foods are purported to be "vegan," but have some disguised dairy component in them that leads to me having embarrassing and painful digestive issues while at an event or meeting.<br /><br />I agree that organizers need to ask about dietary needs, AND attendees should specify them independently. And yes, in an ideal world, there would always definitely be a vegan (and gluten-free) option already.<br /><br />As to the other point ... I've never had a genuinely negative (aside from joking) response to my dietary situation, even when doing fieldwork abroad. I think it helps that I offer long lists of suggestions of things that I CAN eat, so that it's not thought of so much as a restrictive diet, but just a different one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-59132068585478697072012-02-14T21:58:39.336-06:002012-02-14T21:58:39.336-06:00I think it depends on the situation; if you're...I think it depends on the situation; if you're dealing with an interview/invited speaker, you have to be more accomodating than if it's a free department lunch. My department generally has a vegetarian option (which, hey, us carnivores like too). I should note that vegetarian does NOT mean it's kosher as there is a lot more to those rules than no pork and no mixing meat and dairy- depends on how strictly you're following that.<br /><br />I'd certainly agree the once a semester department party/special event with food shouldn't be held during Ramadan, but don't think it is reasonable to not serve food at any event during that month (i.e., weekly luncheon events should not be canceled).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-78815264415626278702012-02-14T20:56:47.883-06:002012-02-14T20:56:47.883-06:00I'm another gluten-problem person, and I went ...I'm another gluten-problem person, and I went on 15 job interviews last year, and told every single one of them ahead of time that I couldn't have gluten, and the to contact me with questions and they all went fabulously. A few even went out of their way to get me something.<br /><br />In terms of current school events, I'm on a first name basis with our Sodexo guy (school food company). I don't even talk to the organizers of the event any more, I go straight to the food guy when i know I'll be attending.<br /><br />I actually do that everywhere, I find that there's usually something in the kitchen or something extra that can be scrounged for me. However, that being said, I also always carry gluten-free, low-carb snacks to make sure I won't sugar crash due to everything being breaded.<br /><br />I'm also extremely vocal about my food issues, so everyone, right down to my students, knows that I can't have gluten. I think it also opens it up for others to talk about these things if I come right out and say, "Oh, I can't eat that. I'm gluten-intolerant", then someone else invariably adds in something they can't have, and we're all open and not embarrassed.Girls Are Geekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07630505337360921604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-29680673215479733652012-02-14T16:30:16.581-06:002012-02-14T16:30:16.581-06:00my beloved cousin, who lectures widely, is terribl...my beloved cousin, who lectures widely, is terribly allergic to onion (which is in EVERYTHING and on the grill where foods are cooked). He asked the man seated next to him at one meal whether there was onion in one particular dish they were served. The man asked about his allergy on-set. 'about 6 hours' 'oh, then, you can eat this' was the cheerful reply of the fellow who wasn't going to be around when the reaction kicked in.<br />When it's feasible, Cousin often asks for a banana split: fruit, dairy and sweet.Nananoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-63238533740163892352012-02-14T15:59:12.619-06:002012-02-14T15:59:12.619-06:00I straddle two worlds in my discipline when it com...I straddle two worlds in my discipline when it comes to food at professional functions. For the vast majority of local functions you are either an omnivore or you are ostracized by the meat-and-potatoes crowd. Ask for the vegetarian special (which Catholics like myself must do 7 times a year) and you get strange looks, especially from the old-guard Baptists that seem to be everywhere and don't understand why you can't eat steak today when you had a pulled pork sandwich yesterday. <br /><br />On the other hand, for one of my professional organizations that is more "culturally evolved", the menu generally leans toward lighter, more health-conscious fare including a higher likelihood of vegetarian options, and us meat-eaters are often left feeling not-so-satiated. <br /><br />I've learned to carry cereal bars in my briefcase.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-21673005409396483012012-02-14T15:38:48.240-06:002012-02-14T15:38:48.240-06:00Tomatoes? I am allergic to tomatoes. I feel awkw...Tomatoes? I am allergic to tomatoes. I feel awkward making special requests if not first asked. When I was a kid, pizza parties were common and I just waited for the cake. As a professional, there have been many job interviews, workshops, and dinner meetings catered with an item in covered in tomatoes, with no advanced notice. I just do not eat it. But the worst part is that others make a huge deal about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-24975038185797094872012-02-14T14:38:10.153-06:002012-02-14T14:38:10.153-06:00I'd imagine you're allergic to shellfish o...I'd imagine you're allergic to shellfish or fish, restaurants don't specialize in peanuts.<br />I can sympathize as I come from an extremely Orthodox background and keep kosher very strictly, with customs most haven't heard of, so just because something is kosher doesn't mean I can eat it. <br />I always have food on me to avert starvation in case of an emergency, and suggest that anyone with food restrictions do the same. Even a small pack of whole wheat crackers can be a lifesaver until you can buy some fruit!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-10214076742736155442012-02-14T12:21:10.812-06:002012-02-14T12:21:10.812-06:00While I am an omnivore without any major food alle...While I am an omnivore without any major food allergies or difficulties, I refuse to host a speaker at a restaurant that does not have multiple vegetarian options. Just controlling for that one factor makes so many things easier... While it is not strictly a 1:1 correlation, restaurants that have planned their menus to accommodate vegetarians also tend to have the ability to accommodate other dietary preferences or needs.another anonymous personnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-91063690695180499502012-02-14T12:20:32.631-06:002012-02-14T12:20:32.631-06:00I have a milk allergy and am most frustrated when ...I have a milk allergy and am most frustrated when I am asked about dietary restrictions (never with the disclaimer that a previous commenter included) and then show up to find there is nothing I can eat. This is particularly annoying when it's a small function when my needs could be easily accommodated (salad dressings on the side, cold cut platters instead of pre-assembled sandwiches, etc). I am always happy to see crudite platters, fruit trays, and other minimally processed foods at larger events, and I'm sure that they are also appreciated by those with other dietary restrictions as well.<br /><br />When I plan events, I strive to provide a variety of food choices where ingredients are not frequently repeated, in the hopes that everyone can find at least one thing to eat (even if it is bread, a plate of lettuce, or an apple). I always appreciate events that make allergy information or ingredient listings available and try to make that available at events I am responsible for as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-52791449611416596532012-02-14T11:42:48.872-06:002012-02-14T11:42:48.872-06:00As a vegetarian, I like the non-ghettoizing vegan ...As a vegetarian, I like the non-ghettoizing vegan option. <br /><br />My bigger concern, however, is with being aware of feast/fast days of other religious calendars. Department parties at noon during Ramadan when 1 out of 10 graduate students are semi-observant Muslims, for example, are rude. For a large conference, it is hard to know what all the big days are of all religions, but I certainly appreciate it when people make an attempt at the big ones.Barefoot Doctoralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03116876526923906034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-79578995558352496782012-02-14T11:18:55.474-06:002012-02-14T11:18:55.474-06:00I'm gluten-free. I started off trying to to m...I'm gluten-free. I started off trying to to make waves and just handle it myself but then I have problems with blood sugar too and leaving myself hungry didn't work. I bring snacks so that I don't have a crisis but I also am not shy about telling the organizers what I need. Generally it works. <br /><br />There has only been on dismal failure on this regard over the years and I just refuse to go back to that conference. They were so rude to everyone. They told everyone that they must eat what they were served. This included religious preferences and life-threatening allergies. I left, as did everyone else with issues. How can you seriously tell people to eat if they might die from it?<br /><br />In general, I find people to be very understanding about allergies. It shouldn't provoke anxiety!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-47117176388453476232012-02-14T10:57:13.130-06:002012-02-14T10:57:13.130-06:00I'm curious too... Mangoes? Common/ubiquitous...I'm curious too... Mangoes? Common/ubiquitous in some parts of the world, allergy is somewhat rare and can result in a rash.sleddognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-11211233261722805582012-02-14T10:40:08.522-06:002012-02-14T10:40:08.522-06:00This is a tricky one for me at times. I follow so...This is a tricky one for me at times. I follow some religious-based dietary laws, and my rule of thumb is that I will occasionally ask people to accommodate them *when reasonable*. What I mean is that if there is a decent-quality nearby restaurant that can deal with those restrictions (and isn't insanely expensive), then if I've been invited to give a seminar and they want to take me out to dinner, I will say something like "I follow some dietary restrictions, and restaurant X near you is able to provide food that is consistent with them. if it's no trouble, could we please go there?" And if not, I just get a soda or something at a restaurant where I am not otherwise able to eat.<br /><br />The really awkward bit that comes up is that sometimes people think they know about this dietary restriction and they really don't, so they say "oh, we can just do X and then it's fine" when that's not true. So there are times when I think I should just have a blanket rule that I don't ask for or accept any accommodations, so that I don't have to burst people's well-meaning bubbles in situations like these.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-44246059785060230202012-02-14T10:26:12.768-06:002012-02-14T10:26:12.768-06:00For smaller events or interviews, I usually email ...For smaller events or interviews, I usually email my allergy to the organizer by offering to arrange my own food if it would be too difficult to accommodate. In this way, I have usually gotten reassurance that there will plenty of food for me to eat, and often given a choice of restaurants. For larger events, I usually make sure I eat ahead of time and/or carry a sandwich in my purse.<br /><br />Perhaps because I have an allergy, I always ask for dietary restrictions when I'm the organizer. <br /><br />My bigger problem is with the occasional student who I take in the field only to find out she WON'T eat any typical field food. Even when I supply snacks as a free/unexpected reward, I'm surprised at the rudeness of students who tell me they don't like what I provided, and do I have anything else?MamaRoxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-59754643388774539872012-02-14T10:21:59.440-06:002012-02-14T10:21:59.440-06:00mOOm, something like tropical fruit comes to mind ...mOOm, something like tropical fruit comes to mind for me--bananas, mangoes, and kiwis are not served with great frequency at professional meals in the US and allergies to them are unusual.<br /><br />My food restrictions are almost entirely by preference (vegan, but vegetarian when traveling or visiting my grandparents) but I am also lactose-intolerant. Fortunately I'm ok if I pick the cheese off of pizza, which is the offering at a lot of casual events in my department.<br /><br />What's more problematic for me is that I'm very intolerant of white board markers, so I bring my own VOC-free ones.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-3889851164156888322012-02-14T10:19:20.395-06:002012-02-14T10:19:20.395-06:00I think it is too bad that asking for accommodatio...I think it is too bad that asking for accommodations due to an allergy is perceived as a self-indulgent act. I have food intolerances, daughter has an epipen for peanut allergy. We find that it is always good to contact organizers/caterers well in advance to find out if there will be anything served that will be safe. I agree that having a catchall vegan option is a good idea but also make it gluten-free. <br /><br />People with special diets don't want to put anyone out and most of the time they do bring their own food because they know that chances are slim that the food offered will work for them. So if you are going to refuse to accommodate special diets, don't charge these people for the meal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-86876537940731466682012-02-14T10:19:18.395-06:002012-02-14T10:19:18.395-06:00Thanks so much for raising this topic. As a paren...Thanks so much for raising this topic. As a parent of a child that has multiple, life-threatening, food allergies (NOT intolerance) Eat food = epi pen and trip to ER<br /><br />I think that the suggestion to have a vegan (and no nuts) option is a great one. It would also be great if there was a way to allow people to bring their own food and not have it be "wow, look at that picky freak show". That would allow affected individuals to really, safely, manage their medical conditions.<br /><br />No one wants a speaker/job candidate to pull out an epipen or call an ambulance-talk about awkward social situations!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-58977753478994351932012-02-14T10:08:30.000-06:002012-02-14T10:08:30.000-06:00My dept has an annual picnic event at which the ma...My dept has an annual picnic event at which the main staple is grilled beef and pork. Most of our Indian students stayed away from it. Finally I explained the dept chair why, and we now cater some Indian and Chinese food as well. The only problem is that everybody pigs out on samosas, and then the intended users are left without.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-23664062334648307512012-02-14T09:56:33.948-06:002012-02-14T09:56:33.948-06:00The times I've set up food for people I tend t...The times I've set up food for people I tend to have that "vegan option" i.e. vegetarian without eggs or milk/cheese. It's hard where I'm currently am, but in worst case I try to make vegetarian things with cheese and hope for the best.<br /><br />At a party my old boss hosted a few years back I was embarrassed since he had made wonderful pork dishes... and then he told Israeli delegation "there is some shripm over there you can eat instead of the pork"... yeah... well... hmm... ^^ The ended up havin cheese and crackers with grapes. That was the only option left.challnoreply@blogger.com