By Carrie Fancett Pagels
1)
If
you have food allergies you could either end up at the hospital instead of your
destination.
2)
If
you have sensitivities you could end up sick or in bed instead of enjoying your
trip.
3)
Now
you’ve just impacted the others on your trip, too, if either of the above
happens.
4)
If
you think something isn’t quite right—don’t eat it. Better safe than really, really, really
sorry!
5)
Sneaky
ingredients make their way into all kinds of fast food and restaurant
food. If in doubt—ask the wait staff to
check for you. It is a little embarrassing
but worth it.
Tips
for the road.
Pack
an insulated carrier with carrots, apples, etc. (things you aren’t allergic or
sensitive to) and refill by stopping at grocery stores instead of popping into
fast food joints. Pack nonperishable
items such as raisins, nuts, and other dried foods that you are able to
consume. Keep a pack of bottle water and
juice and order a cup of ice. Many
places will sell you an ice cup on the east coast.
Pack
a small hot pot if your room doesn’t have a microwave. Bring a manual can opener and cans of food
you can consume such as gluten-free soup, tuna, etc. Bring a couple of spoons and a large mug that
you can eat from.
Request
a small fridge. If your room doesn’t have one, some places will rent you
one. Goat’s milk is something that I can
tolerate and since I must have coffee (or I growl!) and can’t have milk nor
most artificial creamers, I’ve found canned goats milk to be something I can
bring and refrigerate. Also, if no
fridge, those tiny Styrofoam coolers keep most things chilled—just keep
replacing the ice.
How
about you? How do you plan for trips and
eating where your food concerns might impact you?
Giveaway: Last day to leave a comment for a chance to win one of Colleen Coble's 40 books! Your choice. International winners--Kindle ebook only.
I'm very limited in the types of foods easily obtainable because of many allergies (nearly all raw fruit, vegetables and nuts). I always travel with those few snacks I can eat (roasted or dried), that will keep for days. Always.
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ReplyDeleteCarrie great thought provoking post today. Thankfully the only food allergies I have are to cranberries and my youngest son shares that with me. :( We (sons and I both) have been known to break out in hives for unknown reasons. Both sons have been tested and neither have overwhelming allergies so it seems to be a mystery as to why the hives. So when packing for trips I always make sure to have children's liquid benedryl. The liquid works a lot faster than a pill, just in case of hives.
ReplyDeleteExcellent tips, Carrie! We always take lots of water and non-perishable snacks (especially trail mix). With most of us having milk sensitivity, water and juice works best. On one summer trip to Miami in our 1968 VW Bus, we drove all back roads, stopping at local groceries to get fresh goodies. That was one of our most fun trips!
ReplyDeleteI check online menus since my body is intolerant to the most miniscule amounts of salt and sodium. If I leave the house I ALWAYS have my own little stash in case I'm unable to eat things at a friend's house or a restaurant or whatever. I'm a "low-carber" to boot, so things can get tricky. My purse has almost always got a super dark chocolate bar for emergencies. =-P
ReplyDeleteI drink bottled water whenever I travel to prevent stomach upset. I usually drink it at home as well but especially avoid tap water when on the road. I like to carry trail mix as well for a quick healthy snack when there is not other food readily available. Cliff bars are good too. :) And when I fly, yogurt in airport terminals is my best friend!
ReplyDeleteGood plan, LORI! You never know. I have gotten slack about keeping wheat-free products with me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that tip about liquid benedryl, TERESA! These days cranberries are more common, too. I wonder what chemical is in the cranberries that does that.
ReplyDeleteANNE, you just never know when milk or a milk product will be in something. I was so shocked recently when someone who I told I had a milk intolerance then got me stuff with cheese! Hello!!! It's funny but some of my best trip memories are stopping off the road, too, instead of at these fast food places. And going to little fruit stands or to a local grocery store.
ReplyDeleteTEDDY, that sounds really tricky. I can tolerate a lot of sodium. Wow, I love your emergency food, lol!
ReplyDeleteELAINE, you bring up a good point--water in other areas may have differing levels of "stuff" in it than you are used to. And your tummy may not like it. Bottled water can offset that. Wish I could eat yogurt. Well, I can have goat's milk yogurt.
ReplyDeleteReally great tips for the Weight Watcher members in my class too, CARRIE, who are struggling with vacations and how to still have a nice loss when they arrive back home. I believe I will share some of these tips with them in class.
ReplyDeleteTaking an insulated carrier and a hot pot are great ideas, and I have done this before when going to the beach and trying to MAINTAIN my weight loss goal of 50 lbs. Thank you for the tips!
DIANA, I am so proud of you! Much harder to do the maintaining than the losing. Losing is hard, though, too! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips. I will be sure to remember. Diana, I just joined WW. Awesome about reaching your goal and good for you on maintaining.
ReplyDeleteI maintained until the fast few yrs ladies (which as you said, CARRIE, is harder than the losing), but thank you. And I'm working to get back to goal.
ReplyDeleteJULIA, I also meant to mention that I wish you much success in achieving your goal!
ReplyDeleteYes, best wishes JULIA!
ReplyDeleteDo you like goat milk, CARRIE? I've tried it and goat cheese, too, but... ugh! Hubby really likes it, though...
ReplyDeleteWe don't travel much or far, so we can buy what we need everywhere.
I like goat's milk fine now, MARIAN! In fact I had a gluten-free vegie pizza with goat's cheese at Pizzaria Uno for lunch with my daughter and son!
ReplyDeleteOur WINNER this week is JULIE BEE LIPPO!!! Congrats, Julie! You can pick any of Colleen's 40 books, any format. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteHappy reading, Julie! And good luck picking out one book from amongst Colleen's 40 books! ;)
ReplyDelete