I am going to a festival where most of the breakfast, lunch and dinners are all buffet type events. I remember at some point after transplant I was told to avoid them if possible. Does anyone have any advice as to how to stay safe during something like this.
Has anyone had issues with buffets? I appreciate the advice.
Hi. I would think that if your cbc's are showing your immune system is doing fine then it should be o.k. mine dips occasio ally due to cmv (keeps relapsing) treatment, but my dr. lets me know to stay away from risks or stay home and isolate totally when that happens. Hope that helps x
Awkward situation!
If I wanted to go badly enough, I would bring own food. I was told “no buffets.” I don’t care if people think it’s weird. My kidney is more important to me. I don’t want to end up dialysis because I got food poisoning from a buffet.
Hard boiled eggs if you can. Bread. Apples. There’s lots of flavors of meal replacement bars.
Whatever you decide - please avoid lettuce. It’s very easily contaminated. Definitely stay away from anything with a sauce that’s cream based as mayonnaise has a high chance of going bad if sitting out.
And stay away from sprouts
I know! I freaked out I had been eating these wraps that had “Chicken, carrots, greens,“ etc. I thought that meant lettuce since that was what I saw. Once I pulled open the wrap intending to just eat the tortilla part and freaked out when I saw a very small clump of alfalfa sprouts! I had no idea they were there. This place was delivery only, you couldn’t go inside. I figured that was just a fancy way of saying “lettuce.” Won’t make that mistake again.
Hot foods should be hot, cold foods should be on ice. No fresh onions, fruits or vegetables. If questionable, don’t eat it. If I know the vegetables/fruits have been throughly cleaned like I do at home, ok to eat with caution. I’ve been doing this for 28 years without major illness.
Try to be there when the food 1st comes out. So you are the 1st to touch it and it is fresh. Definitely, explain to your fellow diners so they let you go first. Grab a few whole apples, oranges, kiwis and bananas, fruits with their own "packaging" and rinse them again yourself. Bring some to your room. Avoid raw, prepped stuff, like salads, carrot sticks, cut up veggies and cut up fruits. Stick to the hot foods. They should be steaming hot. Make 2 plates on your 1st round, so you have a safe "seconds " in case you want more. Or introduce yourself to the chef/waiter and explain your situation. Maybe they will make you something fresh and triple wash your greens. Generous tips usually help 
Good luck!
This is what I do too (foods in own wrappers, no buffets, hot foods, freshly washed and made foods, etc). I have gotten better at explaining to people why I need to get food before others and people have always been kind and gracious. I still feel a bit sheepish, but I do it anyway. I spend a lot of time with children and adolescents and they have also been very sweet and understanding and have looked out for me - teachable moments.
My transplant team also said no deli meats, soft cheeses, etc.
If I eat at a restaurant I avoid salads, which makes me sad because I would like to eat the healthy foods, but I am not confident about when and how the veggies were washed.
I always carry a nutty granola-type bar with me as a backup in case I am not comfortable with the food situation. That is what I would do for a festival! If staying in a hotel, individual oatmeal packets have been helpful too - lightweight and small but filling.
Water is always an issue for me - probably more so than food when traveling. Make sure you have a way to carry enough clean (as in treated municipal water, reverse osmosis, or distilled) water with you.
Have fun!
If possible try to be the first one there and stick to the warm food options or packaged options (like cereal boxes. If you can heat it up, that will help. Avoid raw items as much as possible unless you can clean it or trust the source that cleaned it. These are the protocols I try to follow with these opportunities.
I appreciate everyone's suggestions and advice. I did check to see and there are restaurants close to the hotel and area where this event will take place. I probably will skip the buffets and avoid any possible complications. I do intend to call the hotel catering service to see exactly things will be prepared and if I can get a plate separate from the buffet. If that doesn't work then I do have options. On the lighter side....heck if I don't eat much over that extended weekend (Thurs-Sunday) I may drop a few pounds which my nurse practitioner wife wants me to do. 😀
the choice is yours i was never told not to eat at a buffet i have been to hundreds of them over the years the only thing i can say is have a bottle of hand sanitizer and disposable gloves for the utensils that every one touches i eat at a local family owned buffet once a week they have sanitizer and gloves on bar since covid. i hope you have fun no matter what you decide to do i have been transplanted now for 40 years.
40 years!! Such an inspiration. May i ask if you’ve had any complications along the way or anything you attribute the longevity to?
was a kidney from my brother he to doing well today. yes with the drugs a few rejections in the first few months of transplant and a lot of the same things others in here are going through. remember transplantion was very different back then so after my 1st year i decided not to let transplant stop me from living life . i try to be cautious but not afraid to keep moving forward. life never the same as before and always bumps in the road . just keep smiling and be thankful for what i have. i also think that keeping busy with work and hard work it is keeps me alert. i wish you all the best do what you think is best for you
I’ve been very relaxed about these things since my transplant . I’ve been lucky so far . I stay away from the obvious things like seafood , prawns etc and the salad bar . Other than that I eat everything else. What’s a holiday if you can’t enjoy the food .
Have a great time
You never mentioned how far out from a transplant you are? I am 74 and my transplant was in 1999...so almost 25 years post-transplant. It's just me, but after a while you have to live your life. For me, I am not worrying about "everything" and am enjoying life, within reason. I have had the most recent COVID and Flu vaccines. My husband and I travel, even to Europe. I have not stayed away from eating at buffets. You can look at most food and tell if it is fresh & hasn't been sitting in the steam table for a long time. The buffets I have eaten at - the restaurants are very busy and are always bringing out freshly cooked food.
Talk with your nephrologist and express your fears about eating at buffets
Take care and enjoy the festival!
My husband was only on a "buffet" restriction during the early months when his immunosuppressants were high. After they were lowered, he was free to enjoy them using common sense. The issue with buffets wasn't so much the food - stomach acids are good at nuking bacteria - but the handling of serving spoons by multiple people, the close proximity of people going gathering around the buffet stations, etc. Hand sanitizer and masks can reduce the "people" risk. My hubby has been to many buffets with no issues. He's almost 3 years post transplant.
someone asked me how far out of Transplant I am. I am coming up on 14 months on Flag Day. I am also 72 years old and got my kidney from a close friend. We are even closer friends now.
i JUST DON'T GO BUFFET ANY MORE, I MEAN RESTAURANT, BEING AN ELDERLY PERSON, I DON'T EAT THAT MUCH ANYWAY, WHY SPENT $30 FOR AN BUFFET?
Hello, I know for me I try not to eat at too many buffet, if I do it is definitely sparingly. when I do go I always wear my mask and gloves, if they are provided and I always try to get my food from the bottom of the trays. If the food is low, I would ask/wait for them to bring out more food. I hope this helps a little. Stay safe and blessed!
Kidney transplant 23 years my gfr now is 13 percent but I want no dialysis.
Tacro /adoport toxicity 
Sauna post-kidney transpant
My brother needs a kidney and advice
