Dear Annie: What’s the best way to communicate dietary restrictions to your host for a dinner party?

Expensive Annie: My husband and I have been invited in excess of to evening meal with two partners we’ve just grow to be pals with. My worry with having at other people’s houses is that I have a strict food plan that I stick to. I have shed 30 lbs . over the previous six months by chopping out fried food items and processed meals.

I really don’t want to be rude if they serve meals that I simply cannot eat.

Ought to I say some thing forward of time to the hostess? I never want her to make anything at all exclusive for me, but I really do not want her to be offended if I never eat what’s served.

What is the greatest way to take care of this? — Picky Eater

Pricey Picky Eater: Certainly, interaction is critical. The hostess desires you and her guests to enjoy the meal, so if you have distinctive dietary limitations, she will want to know. Just be very clear from the beginning so there are no surprises.

Dear Annie: Thank you for the wise tips that you give to your readers. I have normally taken your tips and utilized it to my condition in everyday living. But this is a new situation for me.

A dear good friend of mine died a few of a long time ago (not of COVID-19). She confronted dying pragmatically and fearlessly. Getting managed the at-home treatment of her mothers and fathers when they had been in failing overall health, working with paid out caregivers, she instructed me she had directed her brother to provide her rental and donate the proceeds to a charity that helps families by offering subsidies to keep unhealthy grownups in their possess households.

I a short while ago discovered that her brother is renting out that apartment as an alternative of providing it as she wished. Probably he has produced a donation to his sister’s chosen charity from other sources of funds and has honored his sister’s needs in that way. Maybe he is disregarding her needs.

Do you assume I really should dare to ask my friend’s brother why my friend’s condo is staying rented and not bought? I threat shedding a friendly relationship with that person and his spouse, who I also know and see much more generally. They may perhaps not know why my buddy at any time mentioned the matter to me. I absolutely have no proof of her discussion with me.

Loyalty to my buddy and to her intentions for her “estate” is my only determination. I have assumed of inquiring the charity if they have gained any funds soon after my friend’s demise. The apartment was well worth hundreds of hundreds, and my friend explained she was satisfied to donate that much for the reason that if her moms and dads experienced lingered lengthier, the resources for them would have operate out. But I do not know the name of the charitable organization that she meant to give the cash to.

You should support me discern the ideal point to do right here. — In a Quandary

Expensive In a Quandary: I am definitely sorry for your loss. You sound like a wonderful and faithful close friend. You could point out it to her brother but not in a confrontational way — much more like, “Did you know that these ended up her needs?” If he ignores you or suggests it’s none of your small business, then, simply because she still left it to her brother and not to you, I would say consider a move again and let it go. You could also make a donation in her identify with your very own income to honor her, if you are equipped to observe down a comparable charity or recall the title.

Perspective prior ‘Dear Annie’ columns

“How Can I Forgive My Dishonest Husband or wife?” is out now! Annie Lane’s 2nd anthology — that includes preferred columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is out there as a paperback and e-ebook. Take a look at Creators Publishing for extra details. Send out your thoughts for Annie Lane to [email protected]