Good morning,

I am after some suggestions on how people cope when invited to an event such as a birthday afternoon tea at a coffee shop.  I have been asked to such a gathering and do not want to be the only one with an empty plate.  Would scones and butter (do not think they would be home made) be an acceptable alternative to the sweet cakes and biscuits.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I basically accept that for gatherings like that, I'll be very careful, but I can't avoid getting a bit of sugar.  It's a bit like what the book says about a kid's birthday party.  If they end up eating sugar one day, it's not the end of the earth, you just get back on the horse the next day.

I went to Fiji recently (during the cyclone) and it was all you can eat.  the desert bar was amazing but i stuck to it and had small proportions of fruit and plain yogurt - their pineapples are amazing.  when i was asked why i drank water with my breakfast i gave a basic explanation.  my friends thought i was weird not drinking juice and basically said - juice is natural sugar - anyway i didnt gain any weight and my friends gained heaps.  One of my friends adult children collapsed with heat stroke and when asked by the treating doctor if she was hydrated her reply was i have had 3 cans of soft drink i thought i would be fine.  (hate to say i told you so)