Willingness was not my problem. But when I thought of all my allergies, especially the severe ones to nuts, fish, seafood and sesame, I realized that much of the world would be impossible for me. How can you be a diplomat if you can’t sit down for a meal with your hosts? Time for a new career plan.
So my latest trip, to Kuwait, Turkey and Israel, was definitely straying into danger territory as far as food was concerned. I’m now just over a week into it, and I think I’ve only had one day without a swollen throat. I’ve been eating a lot of beef jerkey (which I brought from home as a potential source of protein) and dates (which I bought at a market in Kuwait, and are the most delicious dates I’ve ever eaten).
I also feel — guility is not quite the right word, but sort of peer-pressured because everyone keeps raving about how great the food in Turkey and Israel is. It is like I’m letting them down if I don’t at least try. Today I tried to have lunch in a restaurant, and, of course, got sick. Not bad enough to need an epipen, but definitely antihistamine and tight throat territory.
So tonight, when I got dropped off from the tour I was on all day, I found the busy Jerusalem market. Bread is too dangerous (sesame seeds are everywhere), but I figured cheese and fruit should be a possibility.
Yes, there were plenty of stalls with bin after bin of nuts. They also had bins of dried fruit, but cross contamination risks were too high. I avoided those.
Hi Tema… methinks UR gonna lose W8 on this diet!!!
nowgogetpumped!!!