Wedding coming up. LCHF advice?

[gintyc]

Morning all. I have one of my niece's weddings coming up mid September, below are the menu choices.

I have chosen menu 1 as it looks overall less dangerous for an LCHF diet.

I am happy to "donate" my dessert to one of my massively tall nephews 😂 and not eat any potatoes/bread that might go alongside. I don't want to make a big deal of my new eating though at this event, my family do know I am on it, but I really don't want to be causing any fuss if I can help it.

I will probably have a little wine / toast with champagne etc.

Is it a disaster to look at it this way, re: not wanting to be a fusspot? I am very confident I can go straight back on plan again after the wedding meal.

I think I will try avoid the honey roasted beetroots and broad beans, I don't think anyone will question that if I leave them on my plate.

Any opinions, advice will be grateful for as this is the first time since starting I will not be in any control of what's put in front of me.

Cheers! Marie xx

Menu option 1:

Beetroot cured loch duart salmon with cream cheese, baby honey roasted beetroots, cucumber and fennel

Black garlic roast chicken breast with pea purée, wild mushrooms, asparagus, broad beans, pea shoot and charred leek sauce

Tonka bean panna cotta with torched berries, honeycomb and morello cherry sorbet

Menu option 2:

Cauliflower panna cotta with caramelised cauliflower purée, dehydrated grapes, cauliflower textures, crushed hazelnut and mint

Summer squash arancini with courgette puree, crumbled vegan feta, charred baby aubergine and purple basil pesto

Vegan Brownie

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi gintyc,

I think you need to go with what you feel most comfortable with and menu 1 sounds lovely, but isn't it funny that you feel that specifying an LCHF way of eating would be causing a fuss. If you were vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, lactose intolerant, kosher, halal, diabetic, low salt/fat, or had allergies, your dietary requirements would be met without question.

If the meals are being prepared on site, then it would be very simple to ask for a 3 course selection of meat, veg and berries that suit you, regardless of which menu they come from. However, as was the case with my niece's wedding at the start of my LCHF journey, the food was brought in from elsewhere (pies and roasted root veg) and all they could come up with for me, was a very small, dry and boring grilled chicken salad, no starter, as that was a charcuterie board with only processed meats which I don't like and no dessert as that was apple crumble and custard.

It's one day and the food is just a very small part of it, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. If you think you might be hungry, you could consider taking a snack box with you

[gintyc 3 stone 2024 July in reply to moreless]

Thank you so very much for the advice, yes you are right, most dietary requirements wouldn't be questioned haha.

It's a great idea with the snacks, have done that travelling now, so I can be prepared for all eventualities.

Appreciate the help, as it's a bit nerve wracking for me, I don't want to undo all the good it's done me so far, but I am sure all will be well. Have a great day 🌞

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to gintyc]

You've proved yourself an LCHF superstar, so this wedding won't even register as a slight blip

[gintyc 3 stone 2024 July in reply to moreless]

Oh thank you so much, that's so encouraging. 😊

[Frenchfields Restart Jan 2025]

As its just one meal, and you’re confident of getting back to it afterwards I would allow yourself to eat and drink what you want to. In restaurants now I just let them serve the food from the menu and leave what I don’t want to eat. I once said no potatoes and could I have extra veg and ended up with a huge pile of rather unpleasant boiled carrots, so I don’t bother any more. At least its not the dreaded beige buffet which is just about the worst thing for LC. I hope you have a good time at the wedding.

(Aren’t dehydrated grapes what we usually call raisins 😀)

[gintyc 3 stone 2024 July in reply to Frenchfields]

Thank you very much Frenchfields. Yes, I agree. I am not very keen on potatoes and bread I over eat so I will avoid them. I am not that into sweet things so that's easy too but otherwise I will probably just enjoy the meal. Hahaha re: the grapes, I agree lol 😂

[ScottishKaty 1kg Restart Jan 2025]

They both look absolutely delicious. My take would be to enjoy the day, and eat what you feel like eating, and do it in moderation. I would go for the beetroots and broad beans (i love both) but swerve on the bread and dessert if you feel that you must.

My personal approach is not to get to much in my head about the counting of carbs / calories and think of it as a long term goal, enjoying the days such as a wedding as they come (and birthdays, meals out etc), and focussing on the meal plan at other times. If you beat yourself up about it, then it won’t be sustainable for the rest of your life (embedding healthy food plans is more important imo)

[gintyc 3 stone 2024 July in reply to ScottishKaty]

Thank you Katy, yes I think definitely need to just enjoy the day as it is, and it's not likely to happen very often so in the scheme of things it won't make any huge differences. I am more than happy to skip on potatoes/bread/sugar but otherwise I think I will just enjoy what I have I definitely want it to be sustainable. Thanks again, it really helps to refocus on what is important in making lifelong changes. ❤️

[earlydaw 4 stone]

Blimey, I am drooling!! Its a lovely way to handle your eating regime - going public, so to speak. Very low key, giving respect to the Day. The chicken dish sounds a good balance, champers and wine , well it would be rude not to. I agree with you about extraneous bread biscuits potatoes ect. But do enjoy and if a spoonful of panacotta passed your lips , shrug. Good that you have taken the time with this

[gintyc 3 stone 2024 July in reply to earlydaw]

Thanks so much earlydaw I am feeling nice and prepared, so not worrying at all now and should be a lovely day

[earlydaw 4 stone in reply to gintyc]

Enjoy, it's gonna be a good good day!!

[Aginghippy 1st 7lbs]

Enjoy, you've got the rest of the month to be good. No carbs in white wine and it all sounds lovely. When it's pizza, chips and beer that you need to worry. X

[Loraine518 2st 7lbs]

Hi gintyc,

I would say go with whatever you want to do. When I was following LCHF, I mainly tried to stick to it, but if I had a special occasion and knew I would go straight back on plan the next day, I enjoyed the day, but didn't feel pressured to eat anything I didn't really want, but enjoyed what I wanted to have.

Now I am fasting, usually for between 20-22 hours and on a fairly restrictive diet, low gluten and sugar because I am intolerant and carbs because I'm not really a fan, but I still decide beforehand if I am going to have an indulgence day or several if it's a holiday.

Menu 1 does sound delicious and if you are happy to have that and eat the bits you want, leave what you don't and either eat your pudding, because you really want it, or donate it to a nephew, because you don't, then I would go with that.

I do think moreless is right and we shouldn't have to justify any type of dietary requirement, it should be our right to specify our requirement and no one should make us feel bad. Taking a snack box with you is a good call too.

I'm sure you will have a wonderful time and it's one day, so you won't undo all the good you've done, but it is your choice to make. 😊xx

[gintyc 3 stone 2024 July in reply to Loraine518]

Thank you Loraine, I really appreciate your words. I am sure I am not alone in "getting in my own head" about food, so it's really kind of you all to be so supportive and have some really good practical advice. Feel really reassured and I know I will go straight back on it after, just looking at my non swollen ankles in amazement will bring me back haha. Don't want to go there again, or feel like I felt before I started. Thank you again, it really helps having support on here 😊

[focused1 Maintainer 13kg]

I danced my food off and didn’t get madly drunk as whilst dancing I got my kicks from this . Great way for me to avoid those strange deep conversations with relatives too .