Planning the Big Day!

Yep, it's happening! After two and a half years dating my lovely girlfriend, I am going to propose to her! Trying to plan this engagement has not been easy, and because of it, I have been overly stressed. I’m not having second thoughts, don’t think that at all. I am just trying to make it perfect for both of our dietary restrictions.

My girlfriend is a vegetarian.

She is a food scientist, and has chosen to be one based on what she sees on a everyday basis. I of course have to be real careful when it comes to food. I started researching restaurants that were great for a special occasion, that met both our needs. Let me tell you, it was not easy to do! I first had a reservation at one of the top vegetarian restaurants in the city of Philadelphia. This would be great for her. As the weeks were flying by, I really started to think about me.  What was I going to eat? I don’t eat vegetables! Now the stress really started.

Ok, maybe I exaggerated a little bit. I really would love to eat tons of vegetables. I also ate tons of them before getting Crohn’s. I do eat some vegetables, one or two times a week. But a whole meal? I can’t. I would be in the bathroom for a long time. Ugh the urgency and the gas/bloating that comes with eating vegetables is not fun. But isn’t this night all about her? Was I being selfish?

So I changed the restaurant to a place where there were vegetarian options, but not a vegetarian restaurant. Basically they had one or two items on their menu. So I went back to the drawing board. By the way, this made me extremely nervous and stressed.

My stomach was in knots.

Just before writing this article, I found a restaurant that was really great for the both of us. I called the restaurant to make sure that there were still using the vegetarian options that was on their online menu. I then explained to the the hostess that I had Crohn’s Disease and that there were things on the menu I was concerned about. I did ask if the items could be altered. She made sure to go talk to the chef as I was on the phone. She came back and told me that he will do anything I asked when it came to preparing my food. They were more than accommodating to me. She went on to say that somebody close to her also was suffering with Crohn’s. She complimented me for having so much courage to explain my situation on the phone. I thanked them for taking time to make sure my special night was extra special. Free of Crohn’s issues, an issue that can of course alter a good time if you are not prepared.