Hi Everyone

I need to pick the "Foodies" brains to help me set a menu for a weekend camp I am organising down here in New Zealand for the Yahoo Group of WLS people. It looks like we could have about 50 people attending. From non-WLS people such as partners, friends and pre-oppers to various stages of post-op.

Breakfast and dinner aren't such an issue but what to set for lunch is giving me problems. It will still be summer/spring down here. We don't have to do the cooking, the people running that camp will do that, but I will be setting the menu with them.

So my friendly neighbours..............suggest away!

Barbara

I say a nice shrimp salad unless chilling food is difficult. Or the gourmet chicken salad that was in the recipe of the week. Both cool and refreshing!

Barbara, this is a nice thing that you are doing. I don't envy you the organizing though. You will reap so many benefits from getting together with so many people who are living the same lifestyle as you. Think of the ideas and help that you will all be able to give each other!

About your menu. Could you tell me a bit more about what you are expecting? Is there a budget limit per person? If you do seafood, you will have to have another meat, perhaps chicken for people that either can't do seafood or don't like it. So many people have dietary restrictions and when you are planning a large menu, you have to take that into consideration. You should also offer a vegetarian or vegan alternative. Most of the recipes you would choose will probably be diabetic friendly so that one shouldn't be an issue but be sure that whatever you offer, you are able to spout off the top of your head the ingredients and even the nutritional info if you have it.

Anyway, I don't want to go into too much detail here but if you could give me more of an idea of what you are looking for, I am sure I could give you several options.

Golly Celadon, so many questions

To be honest you've really got me thinking hard, which is why I haven't responded before now. I'm going to see the catering manager at the camp on Monday so I really need some ideas before then.

As far as the budget is concerned it's only $NZ60 per person for the weekend which includes 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and a dinner. So basically it's rather minimal.

I'm still none the wiser on what to suggest for basics for meals. I guess you can't go wrong with chicken and although I eat a lot of fish I'm not sure what sort you would feed to a crowd. I am asking people the date of their surgery and any special dietary requirements so I guess I can address those closer to the date but at the moment I'm heading for the "middle of the road" for post-oppers.

As far as the nutritional value goes I'm not going to be worrying about being able to tell people the breakdown of the meals. If they can't let that go for one weekend?.................well I will be keeping things to the surgeons guidelines of <5gm of fat and <10gm of sugar per 100gm and high protein of course.

I'm not sure if you're any the wiser Celadon but I'd sure appreciate your input...............and others of course.

Please feel free to fire any more questions my way.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Barbara