I'm a bit frustrated here as once again I wrote out quite a bit and somehow it disappeared into cyberspace.
so in my second attempt: Allison, you bring up a crucial issue that I think most of us have faced in one way or another. I don't feel you need to apologize as the details aren't as important as the principle - we do eat differently than most of society and it is challenging when we are faced with a situation of sharing food. There are many way of responding, alot depending on your own condition - if you are seriously ill, I wouldn't even consider compromising. But I think alot of us have compromised, and in different ways - the bottom line is can we afford it, and if not, how to deal with it (by afford I mean, how ill do we get as a result of eating off).
With me, I eat best when I travel, as I make it a point to cook my own food - and I make it as simple as possible. I prepare different condiments to take with me to make the food more interesting (roasted seeds/nuts, gomashio, dried fruit), pre-measure the grains or beans and put them into sealable bags, and then get as good a quality organic vegetables as I can wherever I go to. I take with me as few equipment as I can, but I have learned not to rely on other's kitchens - I'm amazed constantly on how others manage and I've learned that I'd rather not be surprized. It might sound like a pain, but having done it a few times, I get better and better at it. I know someone who even has a well stocked suitcase with little bottles of everything that might be needed, with little pockets to store it all (kind of like an elaborate toiletry case).
That's not to say I don't compromise - I do - sometimes I pay the price, sometimes I'm lucky - but everytime I'd rather be eating my own food!!!!! But there are times when I just feel like being treated, keeping in mind I might regret it afterwards. But at least during the eating, I enjoy myself because I've accepted that this was my choice, not foisted on me.
I'm sure all of us have some kind of similar experiences with people who find mb either weird, or ridiculous or other non-supportive ways - yet these people are part of our lives and we choose not to have battles over food (or we do have battles and regret it and learn to get on other issues which create pleasanter conversations and not discuss (hotly) food).
I'm way past where I try to "hide" that I eat differently - and past where I insist only my way is healthy - I love talking about mb if asked, but I do try to gauge my audience and see if they're really interested. If I'm just being "tested" I minimize it, and just say I enjoy this food - that's enough, they don't really need to know more.
It's not been easy as I love mb so and of course want everyone else to be loving it - but we just can't make people come over by force, so why try?
But I'm posting here to get back on the original topic - I don't know if everyone on these forums looks at many of the other links for mb info, but one of the ones I love is The Macrobiotic Guide out of England. This just came in a few days ago. I highly encourage everyone to sign up there and also look over some of their many older articles:
About Local or Japanese imported macrobiotic products?
Read what David Kerr, Christina Cooks, Leila Bakkum,Craig Sams, Carl Ferre, Hiroshi Umemura
Phiya Kushi, Jane Steinberg, Joe Waxman, Angelo Macrocasa, Steven Acuff,
Paul Kern, Jean Richardson, Gero Plath, Michael Potter and Roberto Marrocchesi have to say at
Do we need to eat so many Japanese macrobiotic products?