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Dietary restrictions and not being a pain about it

I have recently made the decision to embark on an eating lifestyle that I have done in the past and I know makes me feel better in my body and in my life. I am also a die hard foodie and these two things do not always work very well together.

If you have ever had any sort of dietary restriction and you love food then you know how daunting it can be to look at a menu and see it as more of an algebra equation as you try to figure out what to eat. I promise you , when those orders go to the kitchen, it can make a chef''s life a nightmare if you are not competent at the way you order.

So to give a little context, in my world I have opted to go into a low carb high dietary fat eating style.  Also known as Ketogenic due to the process it begins in your body of using stored body fat for energy.
I wont get too in depth in my reasoning except to say there is excellent evidence to support this way of eating in the fight against cancer and other body ailments that I am genetically very prone too. I am taking matters into my own hands to give an ounce of prevention so they say.

So what does this mean for the food? That is why we are all here! It is not hard really, It is not up to me to ask a chef to totally rearrange the menu when I walk in the doors. I love food and I know there are small tweaks that can be made to most things that can make them work.

Rule number 1 : Plan ahead if you can. Most menu's are online. Most places have enough choices that you can opt out of the pasta and go for the steak and veggies instead . Going for Mexican? No problem, yes to pork rinds, no to rice and beans.
Have an idea of what you can do with what is already available instead of asking the chef to rearrange his signature dish for you.

Rule number 2 : If you have an allergy, then fine. It is absolutely important to let them know ahead of time but, if this is just a preference or an intolerance, please do not say you have an allergy as the kitchen is required to completely sterilize to avoid cross contamination. If it isn't going to kill you or cause a systemic reaction then allergy is not the word you want to use.  If you are deathly allergic to seafood, eating at a steak and seafood place should probably just be avoided all together.

Rule 3 : Just be respectful.  Simple courtesy goes a long way.

I look forward to sharing with you my journey as a keto foodie as we continue down the path to eating every where and anywhere we can.

Chef  D is not on this particular roller coaster with me, just watching from the sidelines and I am excited to get to share the ways in which we can have totally different food experiences at the same places.

SPOILER ALERT: next month I will be going to New York City with a friend for a week. All bets are off. I wont change a thing on those menus. I can not wait to share with you one half of the Vagrant Foodies in Manhattan!

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