Fed-up mum refuses to go for family Christmas meal over dietary snub
A woman has been left furious as her family and friends want to book Christmas Day dinner at a venue where she "can't eat anything".
Every year people celebrating Christmas discuss looking forward to their festive feast for weeks. A lot of people choose to dine at home and eat a classic roast dinner, while others speedily get restaurant bookings nailed down. But, imagine if you dreaded the big meal because you're allergic to all the options.
One woman, who wishes to remain unnamed, is in the midst of a dilemma as her family and friends want to dine at a restaurant which previously left her with "severe stomach issues".
She believes she suffers from a gluten allergy after becoming "very ill" on Christmas Day 2022. Despite warning her family she may not turn up this year, her loved ones say "it's our yearly tradition" to go to the same restaurant.
The woman anonymously took to Mumsnet to ask, "am I being unreasonable to not go to the Christmas meal out as there's nothing for me to eat?". Speaking about the predicament, the concerned woman said: "Every year my family and a family friend's family go out for a Christmas meal at a local restaurant. It's always the same restaurant, as it's liked by everyone and there’s something for everyone there."
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She continued: "In the last year I've had some quite severe stomach issues, and I recently tracked it down to gluten. If I accidentally eat something that turns out to have contained gluten I get very ill immediately - I'll spare you the details. I don't yet have a diagnosis of coeliac disease, as I can't face eating gluten for six weeks for the diagnosis."
She commented that the restaurant the group attend every year does not provide gluten-free options aside from steak, and she is a vegetarian. "The only thing I think I can have is a bowl of chips," she added. "I do not want to go just to sit there whilst everyone tucks into a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings? Everyone is telling me I have to go as it’s our yearly tradition."
A number of Mumsnet users rushed to share their thoughts on the problem. One individual said: "I would go on the meal but check first if the restaurant can offer gluten free and if not that you will bring your own food or eat before or after you go." But another wrote: "You can't bring your own food to a restaurant. There is no way they will allow that.
"Maybe if it is a bread roll and you are eating everything else off the menu but no way could you bring a whole meal and occupy a seat for the duration of a sitting." One suggested: "Call the restaurant and ask if they can accommodate you. Gluten free menus are increasingly popular."
A fourth said they have had a similar experience, adding: "I've got a similar problem. I'm lactose intolerant so cant risk eating or drinking anything at my parents who are expecting me on Christmas Day. I've been taking lactose free milk round there when I visit so I can simply have a hot drink. I will be eating at home before I go. They wont like it but they would like diarrhoea over their pedestal mat even less. I concede gluten intolerance is even harder though."
Another individual said: "Tell everyone that you have zero intention of making painful and explosive diarrhoea part of your annual festivities, so if they want to carry on eating at the same restaurant each year, they’ll have to accept that you won't be joining them. I think it might help if you get really, really graphic when you describe your symptoms. They'll agree with you just to get you to stop talking."
Another added: "It's a bit silly to be trying to change plans or threaten to pull out without even contacting the restaurant to see if they can't accommodate you. Sounds like your family are long standing and valued guests."
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