I would eat the ENTREE....skip the starches......eat the vegetables and salad.....skip the bread.....and F it, I'm eating the cheesecake :).

Eating out I just assume its cooked in crap oil, but that is why I just don't eat out often. When I do eat out I allow myself these concessions.

I'd let one meal slip out of my control, enjoy myself, and think life could be a lot worse :)

I am all for avoiding seed/vegetable oils as much as possible, but in this situation, I would just deal with it. No bread, but I'd eat the crappy iceberg and the beef, and maybe see if you can get both entrees instead of the potatoes and carrots? Personally, I'd eat plain potatoes and try not to eat more than a few carrots, but if you're leaning out, just avoid those.

Check your paleo ego at the door and just eat. Paleo isn't about rigid rules, it's about guidelines to maximize health given whatever you've got.

Skip the rolls and the cheesecake, everything else seems rather innocuous.

I would eat a great meal before going and then eat the salad and maybe the beef as well...

Honestly I would eat it and enjoy it. But from what it sounds like in the comments the food is not that great? Unless you are going to react badly with something like gluten then I think just having one meal like this is probably not going to be a problem, and it shouldn't be. I think we fear food too much.

If it is to do with dieting then easy, count your calories and thus have lower calories options throughout the day. But honestly I do not think having one higher carb meal is going to make that much of a difference in the grand scheme of things.

What is more important, having one meal or like you said feeling awkward at the table? You can always order the plates and just not eat everything. This is possibly the best of both worlds.

Also it is cool for starting table conversation:

"Why are you making a potato-castle?"

"Because I like to keep my triglycerides low."

"Oh? (raises eybrows)"

"Yes, that's how I roll."

"Bread?"

"Nope not that kind of roll."

Options are -

1. Explain that you can't eat all of that and ask them to prepare something else for you
2. Eat everything but the starches, bread and dessert, and just say "f*** it" about the rest
3. Don't go

I do No. 2 at similar events

My advice: Explain to the organizer that you appreciate the effort, and you are really looking forward to the event. However, you have some food allergies (gluten, lactose, peanut, take your pick!), as a result of which you have to make a decision: attend and eat something different, or stay home. Tell the organizer you would off course love to attend, but that you are in for a world of grief if you eat something wrong.

With that you do several things at the same time: - appreciate the effort they have put in organizing this. - demonstrate your willingness to participate - define your constrictions - involve them in the decision making process

The beauty of it is: the organizer will either allow you to make changes for your benefit, allowing you to be there, or will say 'no can do'. Off course that means you are off the hook, with the blessing of the organizer..

I guess I would first ask how much of your work reputation is riding on this?

If it is a lot, just have them serve the food to you, and nibble at what looks the least unappealing. If it is a networking deal, you will be in a better position if you aren't having to focus too much on the eating anyway.

If it is just one of those mandatory things, and no one really cares, eat a big ol' meal before you go, of food you actually like....then, while you are there just have cocktails (or sparkling water and lime if that is your gig) and enjoy yourself. Bonus points for pretending you are in Fellini film, wearing a big ol' pair of Jackie O. glasses, and cultivating your mystique amongst your office mates by telling tall tales while everyone else is stuffing their faces.

• don't eat the bread
• only eat the potatoes if you like them
• if you don't like the potatoes then ask for extra vegetables
• cut the carbs during the rest of the day in order to compensate for the extra carb intake
• If you really like cheesecake consider whether eating the gluten is worth it or not
• enjoy your evening and don't sweat it :)

Just go on an intermittent fast. I've gone to restaurants with coworkers and not eaten a thing.

I'd lie and say I have allergies/ am coeliac - and make them offer me an alternative.

I'm pretty severely gluten intolerant, so I usually call in advance, tell them I have celiac and ask if they can "help me out at all." Usually they'll offer to set aside a piece of meat and broil it for me and just serve it with some veggies and butter.

but you WILL look like an ass if you do that and then eat the cheesecake, so watch out. (I've seen people do this and.. GRR)

This can be difficult with social gatherings.

The way I see it is that if you are eating paleo as much as you can most of the time, then I think you can afford to have cheats whether those cheats are at home or eating out. Obviously eating out normally involves cheating a lot more in one session!

Don't worry about it, it just makes things worse. However if something genuinely makes you ill like dairy or gluten then give it a miss and go for something else (talking to the waiting service can help if you are just honest). Sometimes they go out of their way to help you, sometimes they don't. As I say don't worry, enjoy the company!

Eat a light meal ahead of time with what YOU like.

Then you'll be in a comfy position to eat items that appeal or not at the moment... You won't be driven to bad decisions by hunger.

If it is a forced attendance event, coworkers should be even more understanding about your take it or leave it attitude.

Pack yourself an AMAZING breakfast and lunch, and take a good break to eat it. At the event, order the meal, cut it up, and engage in profuse conversation -- when mealtime ENDS, you'll have had wonderful social time, and... WHOOPS... no time to eat more than a couple of bites (probably of the meat). If they are giving a presentation through the meal, pay close attention to it... take NOTES even... It will bolster the perception that you're an amazingly astute employee, and nobody will care that you didn't eat your dinner.

Honestly, we make a big deal about these things, but at events like this, most people are worried about how THEY are being perceived... they're all concentrating on their own issues, and unless one draws attention to oneself, probably not really paying -any- attention to anyone else. That knowledge has always helped me to get through these things without a major panic attack, so I hope it helps you, as well.