I have this consistent problem. If I eat out at a restaurant, and it’s after 7:00 p.m when I eat, then I can count on having a rather sleepless night, tossing and turning with indigestion. But the other night I got the opportunity to eat at a very expensive, gourmet restaurant. It was a special night they have once a year with an optional half-price menu. Though even with the 1/2 price menu, my bill still came out to over $50, due to all the extras I enjoyed.

We didn’t even get seated until 7:30, so I knew it would be a rough night but I was going to enjoy my meal at this restaurant.

And I did. I started with Hearts of Yucca Salad with several different sliced cacti in it. Then I moved on to my entrée, Elk Steaks with a fancy glace. This entrée came with wonderful sides of steamed baby broccoli, half a stuffed tomato, grilled red bell peppers and onions, etc. With it I savored a crusty piece of sourdough bread, spread with fresh whipped butter. It was all magnificent and went perfect with my glass of Whoop Whoop Shiraz from Australia. I wanted dessert so I ate about 2/3 of my dinner, and packed up the rest to take home. Next I enjoyed a decaf cappuccino with a little caramel syrup in it—yummm. Lastly, I ate half of my Crème Brulee with Wild Flower Infusion, then swapped with my friend and ate half of her Bittersweet Chocolate dessert. It was to die for. I stopped when I was full. I did not stuff myself. And everything was done to perfection, and I could tell I was eating healthy.

Lo and behold, I went right to bed when I got home around 11:00 (I can never go right to bed after a late meal), and slept like a baby all night long.

So now I think that my indigestion problems were not because of the lateness of the meals, but because of the fattened, fried and unhealthy foods prepared at most American restaurants. (Btw, I also did not gain a single pound from my 3-course meal.)

And I’m faced with the desire to eat out only at the finest, gourmet restaurants. It’s worth the expensive price to eat the best-tasting food, in the nicest environment, with the greatest service, knowing that my meal is good for me and that I’ll experience no indigestion and gain no extra weight. I feel like I should eat at home if I can’t eat at a well-done restaurant.

This must be what the wealthy do.

Yesterday two different friends wanted to take my family out, and I ate at two common and inexpensive American restaurants. I had bouts of stomach gas and indigestion all day long.

What is one to do?