Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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So I just met with my school health services trying to get exempt from the school's meal plan. I explained that my Dr. has recommended I go on a grain, legume, dairy and vegetable oil free diet (the truth!) and that it is impossible to eat that way with the schools cafeteria options (truly terrible processed you guys.) Instead of being respectful or understanding the woman responds by asking if I have ever been diagnosed with an eating disorder and books me an appointment with the school shrink.

HOW DO YOU MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO BE HEALTHY?!

flag	asked Oct 17 at 14:06 bbode13 171●1●3

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I bet the health services lady was overweight and unhealthy. Ah, the blind leading the blind. – Elunah Oct 17 at 14:28

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I feel as if the way I was eating before tranistioning to Paleo was disordered. Fat and worked out and couldn't lose weight, food comas, irresistable binging, defeated about my body image... People say I have an eating disorder I say yes: Everything about the way I was eating was disordered before ! – polynesian_metal Oct 17 at 15:03

Free shrink! Wow whatta school. Tell him you decided to stop eating candy bars and start bringing your own lunch. – thhq Oct 17 at 20:25

Oh my. My university had a mandatory meal plan as well, and the only way I could get out of it was a doctor's note. This was pre-gluten free, so I didn't have a good reason to get one. Oh, if I could do it over... – Michelle Oct 17 at 20:29

MathGirl72 · Answer 1 · 2012-10-17 14:14:36Z UTC

I'd start by canceling the appointment with counselor. If you haven't already asked for it, get your doctor's recommendation in writing. Ask what forms the school requires be completed and have them signed by your MD. I loathe schools that require meal plans when they serve highly processed foods, things that might pass for meat if you are desperate, and limp vegetables. Don't stop fighting for yourself and your health!!!

Matt · Answer 2 · 2012-10-17 15:01:50Z UTC

You used the word 'paleo' in your discussion, didn't you? I wager if you simply said you were under doctor's recommendation to eliminate those foods, she wouldn't have brought up eating disorders. There are quite a few folks who are paleo that do have eating disorders though.

Debsagos · Answer 3 · 2012-10-17 15:36:58Z UTC

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PLease do not say you are allergic to it. It really takes away from people with life threatening anaphylactic immune response when ingesting/touching/inhaling offending substances. It makes it less likely for allergy restrictions to be adhered to.

answered Oct 17 at 15:36

Debsagos
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Oh, bullshit.... – MathGirl72 Oct 17 at 16:11

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More people saying they're allergic and refusing to eat this food makes it LESS likely for allergy restrictions to be adhered to? Whatthefuh?! – Anthony D'Amato Oct 17 at 17:09

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I am allergic to wheat (anaphylactic response) I feel that the more "popular" allergies have became the harder it is to get people to take me seriously. I already do not eat at restaurants for this reason. – Veganvspaleo Oct 17 at 17:59

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I've been sitting here for 5 minutes trying to comprehend how this really makes sense. The only time a restaurant will get it right is if you tell them you have an allergy. They'll be clear with you what goes in what fryer, what absolutely has wheat/gluten, and what doesn't. If you just say "I ain't eatin' that!" that's when I can see some ignorants not taking anyone seriously. No restaurant (or whatever the case) will want someone having an allergic reaction on their behalf so they'll take precautions. – Anthony D'Amato Oct 17 at 21:10

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I don't know the correct definition of allergy maybe, but when I have wheat I do have symptoms that can lead to very bad things. Not necessarily hives or not being able to breathe or anything.... but severe emotional and mental troubles as well as just random health problems like feeling lethargic, bad skin, bloating, weight gain. But mainly the horrible emotional/mental consequences cause ME to sometimes say I have an allergy. That way people will take it seriously. Because it IS serious, even if it's not a "real" allergy. It's still serious. – Little Rain Oct 17 at 21:15

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joanna · Answer 4 · 2012-10-17 14:48:54Z UTC

this has happened to me, too. my GI doctor knew that i was a vegan for a long time and told me i needed to see his shrink and dietician for my eating disorder. i told him i was already seeing a therapist and he said it obviously wasn't helping. people are just ignorant jerks and don't know anything about nutrition. if you aren't eating SAD, then there has to be something wrong with you.

Eve · Answer 5 · 2012-10-17 14:45:50Z UTC

I'm wondering perhaps this lady can't comprehend that there is anything left to eat once you've cut all the things he sees as 'staple foods' - she maybe genuinely thinks that you're trying to use paleo as an excuse to just not eat.

If you could somehow show her that there are plenty of filling foods that are paleo then maybe she'd get off the 'eating disorder' trip?

BaconHealsChic · Answer 6 · 2012-10-17 19:26:59Z UTC

I am sure she was well-meaning/ignorant but mostly avoiding liability that could fall on the school. That being said...it is a total load of crap. It makes me afraid for my girls as they get older and what they'll encounter. No wonder all the kids are fat.

BoneBrothFast · Answer 7 · 2012-10-17 14:19:14Z UTC

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You have no obligation to go to the counselor. But you should go anyway and rip the counselor a new one.

answered Oct 17 at 14:19

BoneBrothFast
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Right...because that would be so very effective. The one that needs a new one ripped is the one that suggested the OP has an eating disorder. – MathGirl72 Oct 17 at 14:24

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Exactly, what did the counselor do? The woman who referred the OP to the counselor is the one who made the (bad) judgement call. – Laina Oct 17 at 17:15

The fact that the counselor is even making her go over the situation is ludicrous and a good indicator the counselor is incompetent as well. – BoneBrothFast Oct 18 at 1:02

Mia · Answer 8 · 2012-10-17 15:27:54Z UTC

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just say you are allergic to it.

i was just tired and sick of explaining people that i eat that way because of my pcos / diabetes. a allergy is something everybody understands!

answered Oct 17 at 15:27

Mia
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That's lying and doesn't help communicate to the world the real story. – chipaleo Oct 17 at 17:16

Paleo= Eating disorder?!?

8 Answers