The work dinner gathering: stay home or face the SAD crowd? Please help!

Hello friends,

I am seeking your guidance once again. I have a work dinner tomorrow, that is a benefit for cancer. It costs $75 dollars, all of which is a donation to cancer research. For the $75 donation, folks that own the restaurant are hosting a dinner there, which will be a sit-down SAD dinner. Lots of meat. Lots of narsty cooked food that I honestly don't think I can stomach being around. Maybe I can eat the salad, but it will be a $75 dollar salad, at least the money will go to good cause. Anyway, I have grown a bit of a reputation around work as the girl who brings a cooler of fruit to work, everyone pretty much thinks that I am "vegetarian" or so that is all they can understand, I don't bother getting in a discussion about being super hard core LFRV because they just don't understand (like if you make a funny noise to a dog and they tip their head to the side, like, "huh?") kindof like that. SO I try to avoid explaining to people unless they show genuine interest. Anyway, I digress...

So I have been invited to this dinner. I have managed to avoid all similar engagements in the past. But I really don't know if I should go. I will be horribly uncomfortable for me, as all I can eat there is salad (and it will be a tiny SAD salad) not my typical huge, lovely, as big as your lap bowl salad I usually have every night.

What should I do?! Thanks everyone for your help and guidance. Hugs and blessings,

rachel

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Permalink Reply by Ben Nana on June 23, 2011 at 2:23pm

I was in a similar situation last week, where I paid $70 to attend a post-race gala after the 5K I ran in, and all I got out of it was a plate and napkin (for the bananas I was wise enough to bring with me), a cup of water, and live music (vegetarian fajitas? puh-lease!) I proudly left my pile of peels on the table for passers-by to gawk at (and hopefully start up a conversation, though it never happened). I kept thinking, "why are all these 'athletes' eating Tex-Mex and drinking margaritas?"

I say, go to the dinner, enjoy your $75 salad, and if anyone asks, "you paid $75 for just a salad?", tell them, "yes, it was the best $75 salad I've ever had, because I know I'm doing my part to prevent cancer, unlike the rest of you folks who are just begging for it with your diet."

It pains me when I see a cancer fundraiser offering meat and other garbage food that only contributes to the very problem.

Be the light!

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Permalink Reply by Diospyros on June 23, 2011 at 2:34pm

Not only that, but much cancer research is mostly a business in conventional, dangerous treatments. Where has all the research money gotten us so far? Cancer and mortality rates at an all time high!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Newcomb on June 23, 2011 at 3:20pm

It pains me when I see a cancer fundraiser offering meat and other garbage food that only contributes to the very problem.

Exactly! I went to a breast cancer walk about a month ago and they were serving up sodas, cookies, and chips to everybody. It's just beyond insane...

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Permalink Reply by jay on June 23, 2011 at 2:30pm

Hi Rachel,

that is quite the conundrum.

Personally, I wouldn't go. I don't give money to charities who claim to 'research cancer', because I think it is fairly easy to see what really 'causes' cancer. Read any Natural Hygiene book and you'll find the answer.

The cancer industry is a big one and seems more bent on 'fundraising' than actually doing anything to really help people. At most, they are researching ways to create synthetic pills that will 'cure' cancer so that the patients may go about their unhealthy lives a little longer, rather than researching and promoting truly healthy lifestyles.

Also, If you go, your colleagues will REALLY notice the difference in your diet to theirs, so if you go, expect many questions.

If you don't go, they will likely forget that you weren't there in a few days, and you have saved yourself the ordeal of being interrogated.

Plus, $75 is a little steep for a tiny salad.

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Permalink Reply by Diospyros on June 23, 2011 at 2:38pm

You can get like 5 durians for $75. Now that's something!

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Permalink Reply by Bianca Milione on June 23, 2011 at 3:00pm

Ironic that a dinner where the money goes to cancer research is serving the food that promotes cancer! I wanted to point out that as Jay said in her reply, the money would NOT be going to a good cause most likely. Cancer research is usually aimed at finding a drug cure that will financially benefit pharmaceutical firms, and it ignores nutritional steps that can be taken right now that would significantly benefit many people. The first couple of chapters of the China Study make this very clear. Research has already been done that provides enough information to make a big difference now, yet what we know is ignored and swept under the rug in favour of drug miracle cures.

So while I would be reluctant to give them my $75, going provides an opportunity to set an example to others and open their eyes to the possibilities. Dealing with a few questions is a small price to pay for that, and you won't suffer about being different if you just remember to be proud of what you are and what you do. You really should be, it's a great thing. I know it's tiresome sometimes to deal with questions but just think, you may benefit and inspire someone, who knows. If I did go to the dinner, I would make sure I went satiated first. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Rawbert on June 23, 2011 at 3:07pm

I wouldn't go for sure.

I'd donate half of that money to an animal rights group, the other half to 30BAD!

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Permalink Reply by Michael on June 23, 2011 at 3:27pm

Good suggestion!

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Permalink Reply by Allyourwatermelonarebelongtome on June 23, 2011 at 4:11pm

It is not a good cause, it's a scam. If you went that $75 would fund cancer, not 'cancer research'. Shysters. Spare yourself and fund your own anti-cancer with some good organic fruit. Always amused how 'cancer research' is funded by selling some of the crappiest foods (I'm looking at you Safeway!). These people aren't looking for a cure for cancer, they're looking for a 'cure' for the SAD that keeps themselves well funded. Funding them just perpetuates the misinformation and bad habits of people and ill state of the nation. Even if we 'found a cure' then all it would do is give people another excuse to not fix their bad lifestyles and make it even harder to convert people to a proper way of living. Think of the people who have tons of problems and their reply for everyone of the problems is 'It's okay, I have a pill for that!'. Some of your coworkers may not understand, but this is a situation where what is right and wrong is not obvious to many and deceptively reversed from what many think. And if anyone asks why you didn't go perhaps you'll have a chance to enlighten someone. Be the one to break free. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by BIG FIGS on June 23, 2011 at 4:12pm

I'd be more concerned about donating $75 dollars to cancer research. In my opinion it is not a good cause. Cancer is a mega bucks industry and all of those supposed "good cause donations" are horribly misused. But that's another story.

In general it seems like a bad idea to let diet get in the way of socializing but the event you describe sounds particularly like a drag. I don't see the harm in skipping it.

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Permalink Reply by Rachel S on June 24, 2011 at 1:57pm

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions! I love this community. I decided not to go. I'm gonna spend my 75 on my next fruit haul from the farmer's market this weekend. Thanks again!

Rachel