Hi Heidi, I am an A+ and have been following the BTD for about 6 months, on and off. When I have strayed from the diet I have had the most terrible wind, bloating and cramps (one of the main reasons I started the BTD) which is good enough reason to keep me on the diet.

Cooking at home is one thing, but one problem I have encountered is eating out and the limited choices. I find myself having to choose between 2 avoids, which is when I wish I knew exactly what they will do to me, so that I can choose the lesser of the two avoids.

Perhaps others out there could let me know what they would choose if they were an A type, given these options for example:

a) A piece of organic beef fillet, served with a side salad

b) Smoked Salmon with a viniagrette dressing, served with slices of brown bread

c) A vegetable lasagne (eggplant, mushroom, sweet potato, loads of tomato sauce and melted cheese)

d) Chicken breast (not organic or free-range) stuffed with brie and served with white wine risotto

This is a fun test, I would like answers in order from good to bad. What's a girl to do? Especially if you are with friends and don't want to make a fuss and change ingredients… I would appreciate any input at all. Thanks, and seasons greetings! - Vanessa



Hello, Vanessa! I'm very pleased you've found that the A diet does the job!

In considering your eat-out situation, I want to encourage you to go right ahead and DO ask for a different preparation or "hold this" or "add that." People do that everywhere, have done for years ~ even just on the basis of liking one thing over another, and restaurants expect it. After all, you are paying them for a good meal and service.

I also thought you might take hold of the situation and never be faced with such execrable choices again! Suggest a restaurant with more amenable choices the next time you go out with your friends. It's an odd place indeed that has organic beef, but no organic chicken! ;-)

I'm not type A, but I have a type A in the house, so I'm claiming the prerogative to give an answer to your VERY fun test!! If I were type A and given the choices you listed, I'd order the following:

An appetizer of smoked salmon, then a main course of the beef fillet with a side of risotto, PLUS a little piece of the lasagne (who could resist? of course, I'd pick around the eggplant, which I just despise). Finish off with the green salad (plenty of "olive" oil and vinegar in the vinaigrette I hope?) and a nice hunk of brie. Right about now is the time to sample my favorite single malt scotch: Springbank 10 year old (any older, it's Summerbank or Fallbank in my opinion. ~;->).

Of course, I wouldn't forget to Plan Ahead! That is, to set aside those three or four days needed afterward for a full recovery.



I challenge anyone in our readership to come up with a better choice!





ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS, VANESSA!! ~:-D

Hi Heidi, Just lOVE the black on pink!! very spiffy!! Just a note to wish you a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year! and a thanks for all your help this year! love sue P.S. the ear seems to be doing just fine now (said with a huge sigh of relief) - still don't know what caused it though.

Sue, thanks for your kind wishes! It's a relief indeed that your pesky ear pressure thing is better now. We may never know what caused it... if it never bothers you again, you won't care what caused it! That is my wish for you... and all of us!! :-)

Joyous Holidays to you, my dear! :-D

Bonjour Heidi, Actually, no questions or comments. Just wanted to wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS, and great health, happiness and prosperity for the New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!! with love, Abby

And to you, chère Abby! Joyeux Noël!! And the most prosperous of New Years! I look forward to many questions and comments from you, soon ~~ they make it Christmas all year round for me! :-D

Hello dear Heidi - I don't have a question for your today. I simply wanted to write in at this most holy time of year to wish you a very wonderful Christmas celebration.

Most of all, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there every day when I turn my computer on, and for the wonderful loving support you provide to each and every person who has questions/concerns about their health and how the BTD can assist. Thank you for all that you do, and particularly for the things that you do that I am totally unaware of. Blessings to you! Janet

Dear Janet ~ thank you for your loving kindness, now and all through the year. Before we first met, I thought my great esteem for librarians could not possibly be enlarged. I was wrong. :-}

You remind me that indeed, I wish we all thought to ourselves how holy each and every day might be -- how utterly holy each day is, in truth! and how blessed we are to be alive in this sacred world with its infinite possibilities. Some 9th century Irish monk daydreamed in the margin of a manuscript:







to all our readers, may the grace of your existence be ever in your hearts ~~ and may joy, peace and prosperity follow you all the days of your life! {I'll try to help out on the health part!}

Magnificat anima mea Dominum!

be well, everyone ~ and have fun with it! :-D