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Week-long retreat in the mountains with shared food as part of routine. Help!


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I have signed up for a Benedictine-style retreat at a mountain camp in Colorado in August with a dozen of my colleagues.  When I got the first email, I realized that the structure of the retreat involves each participant planning and leading the prep on one meal. Eating together is part of the experience.  (Of course - I should have realized that - but didn't focus on it.)   

 

The instructions indicate that we are supposed to list food issues/allergies so that each planner can take them into account.  The retreat leaders will do the grocery shopping beforehand.  We'll be "up on the mountain" for a week.  There is a basic kitchen at the camp.

 

There is no way this group is going to be following Whole 30 guidelines, and I dread explaining them.  I don't necessarily plan to be on a strict whole-30 while I'm there (I'm on Day 22 now and plan to pretty much stick to the rails indefinitely).  But I can't imagine dealing with pancakes, sandwiches, pasta, casseroles and all that stuff for a whole week.  I don't want to make everybody else frustrated and miserable, either.  I think I could come up with a plan to feed myself when necessary, but it kind of throws a monkey wrench in the spirit of the thing.  Also, I don't want to spend the whole week debating nutritional theory with people.  

 

It's almost enough to make me inquire about canceling , but I REALLY want to go for all the other things we will be doing.  I took the picture there last year  See what I mean?

 

Need encouragement/reality check/advice/tips!

 

thanks.

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How soon do you need to let the camp food shoppers know your food needs? If you have time, I'd suggest going through a forma reintroduction period so that you'll have clear information about what foods you want to reintroduce.

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 (I'm on Day 22 now and plan to pretty much stick to the rails indefinitely)

 

Do you mean for 8 more days or are you referring to the rest of your life?  I know group retreats can end up being a carb fest.  It's cheaper and stretches the food budget.  Bread, pasta, rice and soup. 

 

A Whole 30 is only 30 days.  If you do a Reintroduction Phase and test the waters, experiment with foods - one bite of non-compliant food means the Whole 30 is over.  Going indefinitely is not possible unless you plan to meticulously reject even one and every bite of non-compliant food.

 

Dallas Hartwig says the Whole 30 is a Learning Tool but not a Lifestyle.   It should be used as the springboard into the rest of your life.  I believe his words in this recent link will help you with what you have planned. 

 

"But here’s the thing: the Whole30 program itself is also not a lifestyle. It can and should open the door to a new lifestyle, but our specific rules are not intended to be a way of eating long term, nor is it a benchmark to live up to or a lifetime of “perfect” to be obtained.

 

In fact, eventually, we hope you won’t need the Whole30 at all… because the Whole30 is a plan designed to make itself obsolete as quickly as possible."

"The Whole30 can be the gateway into a whole new life. Don’t hang out at the doorway. Walk forward, go beyond."

 

- See more at: http://whole30.com/2015/05/whole30-learning-tool/#sthash.kF3sazUP.dpuf

 

http://whole30.com/2015/05/whole30-learning-tool/

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Thanks for the responses.  I can see that I need to clarify my question a bit.

 

I have to give a response on the food right at the end of this Whole 30, so I won't have time for reintro trials before that.  

I may be assuming too much, but I don't think I have strong reactivity to any particular food.   I think that my problem has been a diet dominated by grain, dairy, and hidden sugar.  I don't really know if legumes and soy are a problem - they were not a huge part of my diet, and I can find that out in reintro.

 

Also, I realize that the Whole 30 as a STRICT regimen is not designed for a permanent approach.  On the other hand, my impression is that sticking to a diet (not Diet, but what-you-eat) with as little grain, dairy, legumes, and sugar as possible, and greatly moderating alcohol- and completely leaving out stuff that you are reactive to - IS the long-term goal. At least, it's my long term goal.   I'm not worried about stuff like dijon mustard made with wine or vanilla extract or a couple of strips of sugar-cured bacon.

 

I guess what I'm saying is, you are right, this is not a during-a-whole-30 question, it's more of an post-whole-30, adapted lifestyle question:  How to handle a retreat where the fare for a whole week is likely to be the complete opposite of what is good for me, in a situation where I need physical stamina, and where there is a certain amount of pressure to not be picky and demanding (not that I ever want to be). 

 

thanks again!

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Yes you don't want to become ill the whole time

No you need not explain yourself other than list what foods you were "allergic" to before If they weren't a part of your life preW30 why add them in?

I would see if they post online their pot lucks or recipe ingredients if you'd be able to review anything first might help you decide also

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