Do we have to celebrate everything with food? Ugh.

So, we’re celebrating my birthday – with dinner and cake, ugh.

When my mom asked me what we should do for my birthday, I told her how going out to eat was pretty much a non-fun/tedious thing for me anymore and suggested we do something other than have a big meal, cake, etc. I suggested miniature golf (of course it’s raining buckets right now so that wouldn’t have worked) or even a movie or some other activity, which didn’t involve me sitting there eating 5 bites and watching everyone else eat and eat.

So, what is my family gathering to do? Go out to eat. I asked her what happened to celebrating with something other than food, and she says "Well, we all have to eat dinner, you can have a few bites of something." -- I guess I’ll bring a book to read.

I don’t want to seem ungrateful and I love them dearly, but it’s like my family has not been too supportive throughout this whole process and it gets to me after a while. I know my OH family would understand. Thank goodness for this place!!

Enough of the wah, wah pity party – I’ll go and enjoy their company (and smells of food I won’t be eating).

I totally understand and agree.  I have said this myself in the past.  I notice it especially at church, everything surrounds food and there are a lot of church people who are either overweight or diabetic or both so it makes no sense to me.  On fellowship sundays I always bring something I can eat  as well as a sugar free, low carb desert.   Next time plan your own birthday with a pot luck that you assign food items to bring.  Plan some games like bingo or pictionary that are at least fun and everyone can play.
Happy Birthday!

I know what you mean.  My birthday is in a few days and my husband wants to take me to dinner.  Thoughtful of him, but i really could care less about eating out.  I eat so little, it's just not enjoyable for me.  I'm going to mention to him that i'd much rather just go see a movie.

Funny..making breakfast this morning..I made the family sausage links and french toast..I told my husband to leave me 1 sausage link...he said 'well how about i leave you two'..which again, was nice of him..but I said 'i don't WANT 2'..leave me one..geez..   They mean well..

Our whole culture is food oriented. It is no wonder that obesity is such a national problem.

This is one of the hardest things since surgery for me too.

Like yours, my family celebrates everything with food. Massive quantities of it. Tons of yummy Italian food, desserts, you know the whole shabang.

I give you credit for ATTEMPTING to make it not centered around food and going mini golfing!!
Pat on the back for thinking of it..Though if youre anywhere on the eastern seaboard Irene wouldnt allow it..

I try to plan celebrations that include the meals out for the rest of the family, but also have something non meal centered...even if it's seperate... I took my daughter on a half day trail ride this summer for a celebration; we went and had facials together (booked them in the same room, so we could bond !)

Took my dad to an Indian Casino so we could play blackjack together....

Yep, it's hard -- but I figure that since I rarely order anything for myself ( I just eat off of someone else's dinner!) that I'm a cheap date, these days....

That sucks.  What happened to it being YOUR birthday? 

Maybe I'm a terrible, selfish, spoiled person, but I would nicely tell my mother that I don't want to sit in a restaurant smelling food and watching my family eat for my birthday.  If my family refused to go play minature golf or go bowling or to a movie followed by coffee &conversation, or some other activity that I wanted to do for MY birthday, then I'd probably go do something with a friend who would. 

Your birthday is supposed to be those who love you celebrating your being in this world and in their lives.  A celebration is supposed to be fun, especially for the guest of honor.  I have to give you credit for trying, though.  Better luck next time!

Thanks for all the support and advice everyone! Sorry I didn't reply sooner - my power was out from the Hurricane for almost 2 days, finally back up today.
The dinner wasn't too bad. I had stuffed mushrooms with crabmeat for my entree and a few bites of salad and most importantly good conversation. I really ate slowly so I wasn't just sitting there for too long, plus mushrooms don't fill you up too much.
I think I will take a more active roll in the planning - usually, it's 'what do you want to eat', so I need to make it more 'what do we want to do'.

Thanks again for chiming in fellow OH-ers!