Sugar free house guests

Well done for keeping to non-sugar. I would advise the hosts. Enjoy the meal with them.

Food fads irritate me unless it is a medical or allergy issue. Just warn your host in advance.

I have been diagnosed as prediabetic about five weeks ago. I have been invite to visit friends a couple of times just for a cup of tea. I asked the first friend if it could literally just be a cup of tea. It was fine. The second friend ( the invitation had been made prediagnosis)had made a lovely fruit loaf sliced and buttered. It looked lovely but I refused and explained why. She and her husband ate the fruit loaf. It wasn't a problem. I have enough images of diabetic abuse in my head to take away the urge to eat anything sweet.

My 'guests' (friends) are welcome to anything I have but if they are terribly faddy then they might starve unless they bring some sort of self survival items. We would discuss this of course. We might laugh, ridicule or admire whatever is going on but at the end of the day we're friends so.... pretty much anything goes.

I can't see it being a problem. DS's partner is lactose and gluten intolerant. If I haven't made a gluten free dessert or we've run out of soya milk it's not a massive problem. She doesn't really drink alcohol either but most of my friends can take it or leave it. I think the host's job is to make their guests feel comfortable whatever their particular needs.

I love desserts but my group of girlfriends never have dessert . They all prefer a starter & main course . I am the only one who takes dessert . If you feel better why not tell them it’s for medical reasons & so far you are feeling so much better . I don’t drink much alcohol & I insist on pouring my own drinks when at friends . They all think I’m drinking gin & lemonade but I just pretend I have put the gin in . Funny how people get annoyed at you fir not drinking . What they don’t know won’t hurt them ?

If you let your hosts know in advance, take what you will drink during the meal with you and don’t make a fuss you should be fine.

Many congrats Meta! I'm so impressed because I've been trying to lose 8lbs left over from the 'We're not going anywhere so I can look a little bit fat!' time and it just won't GO.

The issue for me here is not processed sugar as I've only ever used this for Wedding/Christmas/Birthday cake decorations and to offer to builders.
Just please let them know what you mean by "sugar". And in answer to your OP, I would be irritated (not annoyed) if you hadn't told me.

Good for you Mel. I admire this very much. Let people know in advance that you are off all processed sugars so they can provide natural only - unless you're off that too. But let them know you're dietary requirements in advance. I think people should be getting used to people choosing, for whatever reason, healthier diets. My daughter did exactly this to the extent of reading packets in our house when she visited, for hidden sugars - and they are always there. She lost loads of weight this way and I felt quite inspired. Perhaps give your hosts some suggestions because it can be difficult sometimes to accommodate people. We also have vegetarians in the family who need special requirements. My daughter didn't break her processed sugar avoidance even at Christmas and Easter.

I’ve been doing Bright Line Eating for a year - lost four stone and feel so much better. It means I don’t eat added sugars or flours -including sweeteners of any kind - I’m actually finding it’s not a great issue. As others have said I let people know in advance, and say I eat everything else including fruit etc and make it plain I for them to carry on and enjoy what they want to eat as doesn’t bother me. Enjoy your stay.

I have guests who refuse all sorts of things for all sorts of reasons. Some guests I find irritating because I know that this is the latest fad but others I respect their wishes due to good reasons, mainly to do with lifestyle changes and weight/health issues. I also visit friends and have refused alcohol preferring fizzy water or a soft drink. I don't take sugar in tea or coffee and have never done so since childhood. Sometimes I will accept cake/biscuit but I need to be in the mood for this the same goes for puddings. I think you will find that people accept things without fuss. Go and enjoy.

It depends on what you mean by sugar free. Just deserts, cakes and biscuits etc or none at all? eg baked beans contain sugar so would you eat those or not, drink a glass of juice. If I was having to scrutinise everything I might serve up them that could be difficult!

No alcohol doesn't bother me as I rarely drink. But what will you have instead? Are you OK with just water because most soft drinks contain sugar.

I would be totally supportive but I would also want to be a good host so please let them know in advance so they can cater for you appropriately

Wouldn’t bother me at all, just tell them in advance…. Doubt I could have your will power tho!?.

I also don’t drink I always take juice with me but you could take a sugar free cake with you, then you can also eat cake and not look like a party pooper or you could just watch them eat cake ? lol

How can it be rude? Just say you're having a sugar free time at the moment and that includes glasses of liquid sugar, sorry alcohol. They're your friends, they'll understand. BTW where is it written that nobody can have a good time without booze and buns?

I like to cook the same for everyone really (or lots of smaller dishes so people can pick and choose) so it's important to know early on what people don't eat and don't like.

I would let your friends know beforehand that you have been advised to refrain from all sugary food, just in case.

Tell host. If everyone is having a drink, ask for water, squash, fruit tea, whatever. Cake ditto - you are not hungry, just had xyz... - I haven't eaten cake for years (wheat gives me migraine) - good friends understand, others I suspect think its a bit weird but I'm not making myself ill to please them! - At worst have some on a plate but be too absorbed in the conversation to remember to eat it! (You can have it in a napkin to take home for later, give it away to someone who would enjoy more etc - there are ways). Keep busy with conversation and be interested in everyone's doings. If food or drink come into the conversation - steer another way - some 'kind' person might otherwise try to fix you! Stick to your guns Gal!

Stick to your guns - well done. However, you should warn your hosts in advance so that you don’t have to keep apologising for not eating all the delicious food that has been prepared.

From you list of ‘no no’s’ Shropshirelass, what are you allowed to eat? Not being rude, just curious.

I eat mainly keto and avoid all sugars (including things like maple syrup, any kind of so-called "healthy" sugars like honey, and anything that ends with -ose). It's tricky when you're doing it simply to feel better rather than for a recognised health issue like diabetes but I agree with others - tell them in advance and offer to take a pudding or "cake" that you can eat, to save them any trouble. If we're staying as guests, I usually say "get me raspberries or strawberries" (which are lower in sugar than you'd think) and take my own coconut yoghurt (something like Coyo) or a soya yoghurt, and 85% chocolate. Try to make it easy for them.

It wouldnt bother me at all. Is there something else you would like in place of pudding. If you would like fruit,I would do a fruit salad! I suppose you could always take whatever it is you would prefer to drink. Tell your host in advance, but dont make a big issue of it

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest, I'm always happy just with water and I love fruit for my sweet fix. Your choice and well done.

I would want to know well in advance, that’s all, and would be very irritated if that wasn’t the case.
More than once I’ve had guests who told me only after they’d arrived that they were veggie or diabetic. Both in the same family (distant relatives of dh) funnily enough, but different occasions.
They’re now on my ‘never again’ list.