Feeling down

[Baby-Panda]

I need a pep talk.

We went out to dinner with family, and…there was bread. And some people ordered desserts. I was not expecting the emotional distress that it caused.
There was even a point where I snuck a tiny piece of bread, then I felt bad, so I very discreetly spit it into a napkin. Gross, I know. And so embarrassing.
I never knew that sugar had a smell. Like, there was a giant cinnamon roll sitting in front of my nephew and the sugar made me feel, well, like I was high.
So, I’m sitting there, scraping the last bits of food off my plate to try and look occupied, and trying to enjoy the conversation but all I could think about was how everyone else was eating dessert and I was sitting there with my water and a pile of bread that I couldn’t eat.

I’ve never felt that uncomfortable or embarrassed. It ruined the whole night for me.

I had planned out what I was going to eat days ahead, but it didn’t matter.

Also, little rant: who the heck lets their kids drink as much full sugar, caffeinated soda as they want, then orders a dessert for each kid?! They’re not my kids, but holy sugar high when those kids get home. This was at like 8pm. Before keto, even I wouldn’t have been able to sleep after that.

Slightly bigger rant/PSA: ordering dessert for your family is fine. But when you’re out with people who are obviously not getting dessert, it’s just so rude to make them sit there while you leisurely eat your 3 scoops of ice cream and your kids smear chocolate syrup over the table!

I feel better…maybe just needed to get this all out. DH is wonderfully supportive, but it’s his family and they’re… inconsiderate.

[Westieholic]

Sounds like you were very strong and did well!! Kudos!!!

I would have ducked out early, though.

[jules4]

Another time, could you order a coffee with their desserts, so you have something to do? I’m UK, cheese boards are usually on any dessert menu so I’d happily have that & leave the crackers, don’t know if they have them in US?
I know what you mean about the bread though- went out for the first time as a ketoer the other night, & the brought out some lovely freshly made bread, although I was more tempted to just eat the butter pats! Luckily my friends are low carb too, so none of us had it!
Feeding children that much sugar is scary!

[PaulL]

In the U.S., the pattern is to serve salad at the beginning, and to omit the cheese course altogether. A restaurant would have to have some significant Eurocentric bias (notice how carefully I am avoiding the word “pretentious” here, lol!) in order to even think of providing cheese at dessert. The run-of-the-mill diner or cafe probably won’t, and a chain definitely won’t. One could ask, however, and they might just be able to provide some cheese. Maybe. But one’s chances would be better asking for berries and heavy cream (or in a really fancy place, perhaps crème fraîche).

Myself, I am often so satisfied by the main course (especially if I pick wisely) that I rarely bother with dessert, and your suggestion of coffee works admirably well. In fact, sometimes I am the one who delays everyone else by insisting on afters, in the form of a cup of coffee!