Nothing for Me, Thanks

July 30, 2010 ↓ Comments (2)

How to Go to a Bakery and Order Nothing

Last night I went to Last Thursday with Gwenn and our friend Dave. Last Thursday is a monthly outdoor street festival here in Portland (see pictures). Dave wanted to stop at a one of his favorite bakeries and so we did.

Dave knows I’m off sugar, or at least he’s been told so in the past. Yet, he kept asking if I was going to get something, in a nice way. He’d be like, “You’re not getting anything? Did you look?” I simply said no thanks several times. Dave got a white chocolate thing and Gwenn got a chocolate thing.

Dave Dessert Gwenn Dessert

The good thing is that Gwenn got something otherwise Dave probably wouldn’t have gotten anything. That’s why you (unsweet person that you are) are no fun to go out with. When people want to get dessert and you don’t, they suddenly feel self-conscious and want to deprive themselves of their confectionary desires.

Don’t Look

I didn’t even look at the array of sweet delights that the bakery had on display inside their glass counters. That’s the first step to avoiding sweets. When you can’t see what you’re missing it’s a lot easier to not want it.

Ask the Server

What I did instead was ask the server at our table, “Do you have any sugar free desserts?” Doing this always produces a strange reaction on the server’s face, but they’re usually really sweet (pun intended) and say something like, “I don’t know. I don’t think so. I’ll check.”

Asking if there’s any sugar-free dessert at a bakery is a bit like asking if there’s any alcohol-free beer at a bar. Most likely the answer is no. However, candy shops often have a sugar free section but the stuff is usually sweetened with Maltitol. Not good.

Anyhow, the server returned with the desserts and placed them on the table before she remembered to ask if they offer anything sans sugar. She made a display of asking another employee right in front of me and the other employee said no. I was not surprised.

Drink Water

I sat and observed as they ate their desserts. I drank water. It was hot outside. I also noticed that each and every table at the bakery had a huge jar of sugar on it. As if the desserts weren’t sweet enough, you might just feel the need to add a little more.

AddSugar

Keep in mind that I’ve been off sugar for about five years now. Had I been just starting I would have ordered something without sugar to eat. An appetizer, small salad or sandwich would have kept me busy and not made anyone feel odd nor would I feel left out.

Comments · Nothing for Me, Thanks

Connie
Jul 31, 2010

I’ve never thought of how other people feel when an unsweet person doesn’t order dessert at a time like you described. I’m working in a preschool this summer and one of our children had a birthday yesterday. Her mother brought in cupcakes for everyone. They didn’t even appeal to me! Also, I know that “one is too many and a dozen would never be enough”. Monday I celebrate one month sugar free and I feel WONDERFUL. I know I still have a lot of work ahead of me but I feel I’m on my way. To anyone who is thinking about beginning a journey of sugar free - it’s so worth it.

DavidVanadia
Jul 31, 2010

Congratulations on one month, Connie!