DEAR ABBY: I am on a self-imposed strict diet to try to curb my weight. Often when my spouse and I are invited to a couple's house, I will ask what they are serving and let them know about my diet. Is this rude? Would it be more rude to say nothing and eat beforehand?
I have fallen into the pitfalls of overeating, and I'm afraid that if I let myself splurge for even one night it could spiral. It has happened before. The last time was at a party where all they had was pizza. When I politely declined, the host joked that "I was too good for their food." Was I wrong? -- STAYING STRONG IN TENNESSEE
DEAR STAYING STRONG: It's not rude to bring the fact that you are watching your weight to your host's attention when you are invited. A considerate host should ask the guest if there are any food allergies, restrictions, etc. If that doesn't happen, it's all right to inform the host if there are foods you need to avoid. If guests prefer to lessen the temptation to pig out by eating before going to a party, that's fine too.
P.S. As to that pizza party -- were you warned in advance what kind of party it was? If not, your host was extremely rude to call attention to the fact that you weren't eating and to ridicule you by "joking" about it. Now that's tacky!