Sheryl,

You did a fine job choosing the best of what was available when dining out.
That is what you need to keep doing.  You do the best you can with what you
have, where you are.  If you eat more cleanly at home that's great.
Balsamic vinegar is not the worst of things you can eat; ditto for tamari
soy sauce or a little salt here and there.  Just aim to be in the ballpark,
be aware of how things affect you, and make adjustments as needed.

There is a spectrum of changes possible, if you keep improving the overall
quality of your daily  diet you will surely feel the benefits.  Some things
that may seem hard to go without now you may find you are less attached to
(or find unappealing) down the road.  Other things you may find agreeable as
long as you don't eat them too often or in too large a quantity.  Those with
health problems may need to be more careful than those who don't have
nagging health problems.

When dining out just look for a good meat, a salad, cooked vegetables, get
sauces on the side, ask for substitutions, drink water or herb tea, fresh
fruit if they have it and you want it.  Aim to be in the ballpark.  With
friends, you could ask about what they are serving, say you are on a special
diet, then offer to bring a couple of side dishes, if for example, you know
they'll be grilling chicken or making a roast.  A few non-paleo ingredients
shouldn't be a problem here and there.  It is when these things take up a
large part of the diet, crowd out other nutritious foods, or create
unpleasant symptoms and imbalances that undermine your well being that they
are a problem.  For some, vinegar poses no immediate reactions or noticable
problems; however for those with autoimmune disorders or intestinal
problems, reducing use of this or cutting it out could make a big
difference.  It's a matter of degree.

We have not had any problem with company.  People we've had over are people
who enjoy baked, broiled, or roasted chicken, turkey, beef, or lamb with a
colorful salad, homemade salad dressing, roasted vegetables or soup, and a
simple dessert----baked, poached, or stewed fruit, or a fruit salad with a
nut or coconut garnish, or a simple pudding I've made.  We always have
several types of herb tea in the house, several types of fruits, nuts, at
least two different salad dressings, etc.

Cheers,

Rachel