Pot Luck Vent

[Christine]

I'm not really mad about this but I do find it kind of odd.

Today we are having a pot luck luncheon for a woman who is retiring. As with pot lucks, everyone is required to bring something. Two of the organizers of the pot luck or on low-carb diets (South Beach). Both of them are making food. One is making pork barbeque (made with Splenda) and another is making cole slaw (made with Splenda).

Now, I know that dieting and weight loss is important, but I don't happen to think that a pot luck is the place to show of your diet recipes. I, for one, hate Splenda and another woman in my office gets "the runs" from it.

A few other people in the office are also grumbling over the Splenda. I just think it's weird. I often make dietary stuff for myself at home, but would never bring these into a pot luck meal. It would be like me making my potato salad and using soy mayonaise instead of regular.

 

[eeyore kelly]

Maybe they are bringing it so they will have something to eat without getting off their diets. I know when I was on Weight Watchers, I brought a recipie from my cookbook, so I wouldn't use a days+ points on one meal.

 

[KirstenB]

Gee I dunno, when I think barbecue, I always think Splenda, mmmm!! Just kidding! --I look at potlucks as a chance to make something indulgent that I don't usually make at home, because I know I can just have a taste of it.

It seems inconsiderate to have everyone else follow the Splenda diet just because they're on diets.

 

[Christine]

Gee I dunno, when I think barbecue, I always think Splenda, mmmm!! Just kidding! --I look at potlucks as a chance to make something indulgent that I don't usually make at home, because I know I can just have a taste of it.

It seems inconsiderate to have everyone else follow the Splenda diet just because they're on diets.

Well, I guess that is exactly my feeling.

Eeyore Kelly--I do understand the dieting issue, having dieted myself. But with a good diet (and South Beach is a sane diet) you should always be able to find something to work into your diet.

 

[BabyTigger99]

When we do potluck at work, people tend to forget their diets, just for that day!

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Isn't that the basis of a "pot luck" -- you don't get to specify what someone else brings? When someone is trying to lose weight, it is important that they remain consistent. "Cheating" on the diet just undermines its efficiency as well as one's willpower. No one is being forced to eat the "Splenda" barbeque or cole slaw. As long as they identify that they used Splenda as a substitute, there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Are there other options for people not doing the low-carb thing? Or is the pork barbecue with splenda pretty much it for a meat?

If there are other similar choices -- someone else bringing fried chicken, for example -- then that's fine. Otherwise, I do think it's a little rude, to be honest. Would it have been too much trouble to make two batches, one low-carb and the other "regular?" No pun intended to the woman in your office. Besides, if the pork is the only meat available, I hope no one that sticks to a kosher diet will be there.

 

[Christine]

Isn't that the basis of a "pot luck" -- you don't get to specify what someone else brings? When someone is trying to lose weight, it is important that they remain consistent. "Cheating" on the diet just undermines its efficiency as well as one's willpower. No one is being forced to eat the "Splenda" barbeque or cole slaw. As long as they identify that they used Splenda as a substitute, there shouldn't be a problem.

Okay, well these two women who organized it, told us what to bring. THEY are providing the only main dish (pork barbeque sandwiches with cole slaw). So, that is the "lunch" dish. The only other choices for eating will be side dishes (potato salad, chips, sodas, dip).

 

[Independent]

Just don't eat it. My goodness. I applaud the ladies for sticking to their diets. What I am hearing is that they should be forced to fix and eat "non-diet" food because your group doesn't want to eat diet food. Hmmmmm....sounds a bit hypocritical. If you get the runs, then don't serve yourself any. I really don't think the ladies should have to cater to the others in your group. Their food choices are just as important as yours. I think it sounds like a wonderful variety of foods. You will have foods that are high in carbs and those that are low carb. Something for everybody.

At least they told you they were making it with Splenda. Now you have the choice to eat it or not.

 

[Christine]

Are there other options for people not doing the low-carb thing? Or is the pork barbecue with splenda pretty much it for a meat?

If there are other similar choices -- someone else bringing fried chicken, for example -- then that's fine. Otherwise, I do think it's a little rude, to be honest. Would it have been too much trouble to make two batches, one low-carb and the other "regular?" No pun intended to the woman in your office. Besides, if the pork is the only meat available, I hope no one that sticks to a kosher diet will be there.

It is the main dish. Also, it is a small pot luck (only 10 people invited). This is typical of this woman though. Several years ago, she was on an extreme low-fat diet. She made pork barbeque then, also, but she made it "low fat". I didn't have a problem with it because it didn't have "additives." (Can you tell that I dislike Splenda?)

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

Soy mayo...{shudder}..

I agree, I hate having diet nastiness at our potlucks. There are a few women who do this and one that uses some kind of tofu/soy vegan things in her dishes that are so nasty tasting that I make sure I know what dish she brought. On the other hand my homemade mashed potatos or whatever I make usually goes quicker LOL.

 

[Independent]

Ok - I posted before the answer that it was the ONLY meat dish.

I would have the others rearrange the "assignments" and somebody else bring a suitable lunch dish.

 

[Christine]

Just don't eat it. My goodness.

No, I won't be eating it. And no, there is not something for everybody. If there was, I wouldn't have a problem with it. We do huge potlucks in our other office with about 80 people in attendance. There will be at least 3 different types of chilis, several casseroles, etc. There you have the opportunity to avoid certain things. At this one, you don't. Except not to eat. So, I will have potato salad, chips, dip, and a coke. Just to be polite, I will eat some of her barbeque, but I know of at least 3 people who won't be eating an entire sandwich.

By the way, I'm not really "upset" about it. It's just that I would never dream of doing this myself (and believe me, I go on diets). I just wouldn't put that on other people. I was really just wondering how common it is to do this.

 

[mickeyboat]

I agree with Obi-Wan. As long as there are other alternatives for a main dish and side dish, I would not have a problem with some of the offerings being made with Splenda, especially if they let you know in advance that they are using it.

Pot lucks are great opportunities for participants to both to show off their particular favorite recipes and to try something new.

Denae

Edited after reading the updates. I agree with the OP. If there is no other main dish, then it is just wrong. Splenda really does not agree with a lot of people.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Okay, well these two women who organized it, told us what to bring. THEY are providing the only main dish (pork barbeque sandwiches with cole slaw). So, that is the "lunch" dish. The only other choices for eating will be side dishes (potato salad, chips, sodas, dip).

D'oh! (Slaps forehead sharply) In that case, this is quite inconsiderate of them. They should either provide a couple of main dish options or allow some other people to bring a main dish. A lunch of potato salad, chips and dip? Ugh!

 

[Christine]

Soy mayo...{shudder}..

I actually used to use this stuff when my DS had an egg allergy. Made him potato salad with it. And yes, it is "shudder worthy."

 

[Daxx]

Why don't you point out to the women that not everyone enjoys pork and maybe there should be an alternate main dish. While you're at it, why don't you offer to bring the alternate main dish?

You could just bow out of the entire pot luck thing altogether ... or next time, help to plan it and have your voice heard.

Instead of complaining, do something about it.

 

[DoeWDW]

If I were in your shoes, I think I'd just bring some regular barbeque. I wouldn't ask ahead of time, I'd just bring it in a crockpot, along with whatever else I was assigned. I'd have plenty to share with anyone else who didn't want the Splenda version.

Why complain about it when you can just handle the situation by bringing an alternative and sharing it. This woman will get the hint when your normal barbeque is gone and she's taking leftovers home.

If I were the one eating low-carb and the only option was regular barbeque, I'd have no problem bringing some low-carb barbeque and sharing it with those who wanted some.

 

[Christine]

Why don't you point out to the women that not everyone enjoys pork and maybe there should be an alternate main dish. While you're at it, why don't you offer to bring the alternate main dish?

You could just bow out of the entire pot luck thing altogether ... or next time, help to plan it and have your voice heard.

Instead of complaining, do something about it.

Someone else tried to point it out. She doesn't care, she is VERY inflexible and has been for years. Also, she is my "client" and I cannot be confrontational with her. Someone else wanted to bring a platter of chicken wings and she said "it's not needed and besides I can't eat chicken wings because they have sugar in them?"

Sorry if I'm coming off as a whiner and I realize you all don't know the dynamics of this office, but this is pretty much par for the course for her, yet we cannot get it to stop. I was told to just bring some bags of chips. I agreed but also volunteered my homemade potato salad because many people ask me to bring it and I thought we needed some more food.

 

[Maleficent13]

I sympathize with you, Christine. And I also understand that sometimes you cannot just "do something about it" (ie, office politics prevent it).

I agree if it's the only main course, that it is very rude. Did the person who has an adverse reaction to Splenda tell the woman making the BBQ? If so, what was her reaction to that?