Camping and road trip food suggestions

raemckee · Post by **raemckee** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:47 pm

I will soon be taking my first road trip since becoming ill with CC. I would appreciate all suggestions of food purchases and meal preparation ideas for camping out of a car. Luckily for me I now have one that has a potty on board.

I joked with the Dr. during my last visit about how long it took me to get comfortable speaking about my stools. Of course it varies according to the audience. Thank you so much for the support you've extended online. My partner may be growing fatigued with my constant banter.

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 1:52 pm

I didn't go camping, but I did take a road trip a couple of years ago and I posted my preparation and experience here:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10275

Since then, I've eliminated several foods and have purchased a vehicle that will make the trips a little easier. The thread on determining a vehicle for travelling is here:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13272

We were going to take a road trip tomorrow, but have decided it's too soon after our recent trip. We just returned from flying to Utah 10 days ago. We've only gone on day trips with the mini van, but so far the microwave, cooler, and crock pot have all worked great!

Good luck and have fun!

Gloria

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 2:58 pm

Hi,

Have fun! Gloria's threads look pretty thorough! We are lucky to have her on the board. Brandy

raemckee · Post by **raemckee** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:18 pm

Gloria: that post was helpful. I wasn't aware that Olive Garden had a gluten free menu too. I noticed in your food intolerances that you've listed Pepto Bismol. I was recently told by gastroenterologist to add 3 pills 3 times a day to my 9 mgs budesonide, for 2 -3 weeks to help with the inflammation, stool volume and pain. How did you determine that it was a problem for you? I have new mid abdominal pain (umbilicus region) since starting the budesonide.

I understand your crying. It is very frustrating. Last weekend by partner playfully tugged on the belt on the back on my robe and the pain was so bad in the front that I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. It took a couple of days to recover from that and I was very cranky. Thank goodness he's been super supportive about my dietary restrictions and helping me pick out costly GF alternatives, etc. I always had a strong and independent personality and a lot of energy before becoming ill. It is quite an adjustment and I welcome the times when I feel like my old self again. I am hoping that the time away from work, relaxing around a campsite and strolling along some hiking trails goes a long way to reinstating my sense of good health.

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:41 pm

Rae,

I see in your intolerance list that you can't eat chicken or beef. The Olive Garden GF food items that I used to eat included both. Since I can't eat them anymore, I haven't eaten there. They do offer another item that is GF, but I can't remember what it is. Check out their menu online before you go.

I noticed in your food intolerances that you've listed Pepto Bismol. I was recently told by gastroenterologist to add 3 pills 3 times a day to my 9 mgs budesonide, for 2 -3 weeks to help with the inflammation, stool volume and pain. How did you determine that it was a problem for you? I have new mid abdominal pain (umbilicus region) since starting the budesonide.

I took Pepto Bismol before I took Entocort. Within a day or two, I began having D worse than ever. I was up during the night and went all day long. I tried it a second time a few weeks later, thinking it was an anomaly. The same thing happened and I haven't taken it since. My GI's nurse couldn't believe I had a bad reaction to it. When I joined this website a few weeks later, Polly told me that she also couldn't tolerate it. I believe she became nauseated while taking it. Not many react to Pepto Bismol; we suspect the salicylate ingredient is the problem. I don't know if your pain is related to taking it. Perhaps someone else can add some insight.

Gloria

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:15 am

Rae
pre MC i did alot of camping (went away every 6 - 8 weeks), even then i found having things that were precooked, that were quick and easy to heat up worked well, no messy prep, less cooking time, more time beside the fire!!

if i was going for more than 2 nights, i would make things the weekend before and freeze it, take one nights dinner defrosted, the other two nights frozen in the esky (i think you call them cooler bins??). This also helped to keep the cold stuff cold (less ice needed)

precooked stew made from your safe meats and veges,
at breakfast make up a sweet or a savour pancake mix, and take the cooked pancakes/crepes for your morning tea on the hike?
if you can tolerate eggs, boil some eggs at breaks so you have a protein to have at lunch
left over veges with some egg lightly cooked as a fritata, again you can eat this cold during the day....

post MC, i have found a rice protein powder that i mix with the GF/DF/SF coconut milk. this is fantastic when i am out and about for the day or when i have to attend all day meetings with catered lunches. I make it up in the morning and freeze it for about 45 mins, packing in a small esky bag with some ice bricks it stays cold for 8 hours...

again it is something that has minimal prep, minimal mess which is great when you are camping!!!

ENJOY!! :noworries:

Deanna in CO · Post by **Deanna in CO** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 8:26 am

Rae,

I don't have any thoughts about camping. My family has camped a couple of times each summer, and lately it's become more and more difficult for me to manage, mainly b/c of the chronic D. (I didn't get a diagnosis until late January but I've had gradually worsening D for maybe 10 years.)

But I do have a couple of thoughts about side effects.

a) Some abdominal pain seems to be a common side effect of the budesonide. I've been on this forum for several months now and I see people mention it from time to time.

b) After a few months on this diet, I developed stomach pain (clearly in the stomach area, well above the intestines and almost under my breastbone). My nutritionist suggested it might be due to low acid production in my stomach thanks to so much less sugar and starch. After finding minor relief drinking a tablespoon of lemon juice in a very small amount of water (tastes awful, but it made the pain go away for a few minutes), I started taking Betaine HCl - basically a weak form of hydrochloric acid - and my stomach pain cleared up.

c) I also can't tolerate Pepto bismol, but in my case it makes my ears ring. If you've ever had that problem with aspirin, you'll have it with Pepto as well. It's a serious side effect as it indicates a toxic reaction to salicylates and can permanently damage your hearing. If I ignore it, I end up becoming dizzy and having other hints of inner-ear problems.

Hope that helps!

Deanna

raemckee · Post by **raemckee** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:12 pm

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll be sure to pay attention to the ringing in my ears because I have had that sensation before. I had extreme dizziness during my brief trial with Bentyl. I have a bad headache today. I've been on the pepto bismol treatment for 4 days. I'd like to blame the headache on the weather. If the pepto bismol doesn't settle things down, I've been advised to start a very low dose of liquid imodium (1/4 tsp. 4 x a day). I feel like I am going to have to put up with the increased abdominal pain, which may be from the budesonide, until my symptoms subside. I am trying to figure out what to eat now that I have received my results from Enterolab. They recommended no gluten, dairy, eggs and soy and to work my way down the list of the other 11 ingredients in order of greatest immunological response. I'm highly motivated to heal and feel better. The gastroenterologist also recommended the FODMAP diet.

Ginny · Post by **Ginny** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:45 pm

Rae, I love camping! As you can see I have many food intolerances, but camping has allowed me to enjoy other places and the outdoors! Gabes suggestions are right on. I do a lot of preparation before we leave for a week and freeze. I make a ground nut, squash and ghee like "brownie" that I freeze in squares. I also use buckwheat and quinoa as pancake batter with ghee and cinnamon for breakfast. If you can tolerate applesauce, there are a few brands of organic in cups. I also make plain tortillas with any acceptable flour water, little oil and salt and then freeze. Thaw out and add a nut butter. I also take packages of quinoa & buckwheat noodles to boil, if that is possible. I prepare raw organic veggies in a baggie that I will be cooking throughout the week. I also freeze soups that can be thawed and used upto 4-5 days.

Camping is what keeps me sane! There is nothing like the outdoors. I am now referred to in my family as Danielle Boone!

Have a great time! Love, Ginny

Bifcus16 · Post by **Bifcus16** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:41 pm

Hi Rae,

What you cook when camping depends a lot on what you cook normally, and what cooking facilities and refrigeration options you have. I like to do 'proper meals' even when I am away. If you are just using a tent and your car, you should be able to carry one of those little singleburner butane stoves (and spare canisters).

Typical stuff I do when away:
BBQ meat with potatoes cooked in foil in coals, or sliced thinly to cook on hotplate. (Sweet potato and similar vegies should work just fine this way). Green salad if it is early enough in the trip that I have some. Cook extra and eat it cold as lunch the next day.

Pasta ( I have a favourite buckwheat one) with tomato sauce - fry onions and bacon(optional), add canned chopped tomatoes and italian herbs (and a dash of red wine) - simmer. Sometimes I add meat (often mince) at the start.

Not-quite paella - fry chopped onion, a mixture of bacon/chorizo/chicken(or whatever meat you tolerate), add rice and stir, then add a little white wine, cover with water and stock cube (Massell), turmeric/smoked paprika/dried oregano or other green herb/little bit of dried chilli. Bring to boil, then turn down to simmer for 5 - 10 minutes. Add whatever veg you have - dried peas, fresh carrot, beans and capsicum if possible. Chopped tomato (or dried strips) is a must. Simmer until tender about 20 minutes total. Add extra water during the process if it looks like it is getting dry.

Stir fry - Meat and whatever vegies I have (last trip I used frozen). Make a sauce using homemade curry powder or satay sauce, and a bit of coconut milk. Serve with rice. If doing on one burner, I boil rice till almost done then let it sit in it's hot water while I do meat, then give rice an extra heat up before draining it to serve.

Breakfast - To save time I often just have a GF cereal (Carmans Deluxe muesli) with fruit juice (or little choc soy milks). Those little individual serves of fruit (peaches/two fruits etc) are handy. Otherwise bread or eggs (though I know eggs won't work for you). I have been known to make up a batch of bread mix and cook it in a frypan in the morning, to use as (flatish) bread for the next day or so.

Lunch - often leftovers, or I make sandwiches using safe bread. These can be made up and frozen, to slowly thaw in your day pack. My favourite lunch at the moment is just to cook up meat patties (with just a few herbs and salt), and refrigerate them, putting a couple in my day pack.

Snacks. I always take plenty of my favourite junk food, but find I only eat them if the day has gone really badly and I am setting up camp at 10pm and it's cold and dark..... Red wine and junk food cures most ills.

Whatever you plan on cooking, try making it at home first, so you know you can do it on one burner if that is what you have. Depending on how long you are away, you may want to consider using a cryovac on both fresh and prepared food to help it last longer.

I am spoilt, with a camper trailer with two burner stove, one big fridge, and a second which I use as a freezer for longer trips.

At the moment I am just back from a week away over Easter, and am currently planning a three week trip to the South Australian outback, where I will have very limited access to buy stuff for most of that time. I am planning our meals based on using fresh veg at the start of the trip, and resorting to canned and frozen stuff towards the end (do you know you can get canned stir fry vegie mixes?). By the time we get back to civilisation I expect to crave fresh vegies.

I know some of my favourites won't suit, but they might get you thinking of things that would work for you. My friends do lots of dried packet meals, but that just isn't an option for me.

Lyn

raemckee · Post by **raemckee** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:54 am

Thank you for all of the suggestions. Now to get the abdominal pain under control so my DH doesn't cancel on me. Stayed home from work again today. Stepping down on the budesonide from 9 mgs. to 6 mgs. Any idea how long before I should reduce to 3 mgs? If anyone else suffered increased abdominal pain, did take a reduced dose help you?

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:36 pm

Hi Rae,

It seemed like a gal from New Jersey or NYC posted recently...I want to say in the last 45 days-3 months that she had "stomach pain" while taking Entocort. She kind of used the exact terms that you used. Maybe she'll see this post and be able to elaborate. As I vaguely from her posts her "stomach pain" maybe lasted a week or two. It didn't last months or anything.
I didn't have stomach pain while on Entocort it was more like spasms of my bowels trying to figure out how to work. Again none of us are doctors so if it seems severe you might want to get it checked out. In terms of step down from 2 to 1 I would say mostly to listen to your body. I think a lot of users seem to be on two pills anywhere from 3-6 weeks. I was kind of unusual as I was on two pills for two weeks but got constipation for 3 days in a row so I stepped down. As a general rule as I reduced dosages the side effects went down accordingly.
Also I'm hoping you've seen Tex's recent posts regarding "total time on Entocort for best efficacy." I believe he recommends 4-6 months for best efficacy even if you are on an extremely low dose towards the end.

I'm a CCer who is off of drugs. I believe that the studies of patients having problems getting off of Entocort were made with patients in a general population who were not on GF diets. I believe Tex estimates 90% of those users with diet changes and Entocort will be successful.

Have fun camping! Brandy

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:57 pm

Hi Lynn,

Great idea to make not-quite Paella! I think I'm going to make a large pan and fill my 1 pint ziplocks in the freezer. Yum!

PS. Your post reminded me fondly of a camping trip to http://www.nps.gov/cuis/index.htm Cumberland Island. I was supposed to go with about 5 couples and 5 toddlers. One couple backed out due to unseasonably cold weather in Georgia. We had 3 memorable parties in advance testing "boxed wines" to take camping with us. I believe the Australian wines won hands down.

Brandy

Bifcus16 · Post by **Bifcus16** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:46 am

Thanks Brandy,

That paella turns out very like proper paella when I am at home, and sometimes a vague yellow rice dish when I am making do.

Love versatile recipes.

Glad you enjoyed the Aussie wine. I always have an open cask of red in the pantry and white in the fridge so I can add a slurp to cooking (or the cook). Same usually applies when camping. It's easier to travel with than bottles.

raemckee · Post by **raemckee** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:22 am

Thanks Brandy. I wish I knew what the Entocort was doing for me besides stopping the diarrhea. It's hard putting up with the pain if it is from the medicine. It seems that remission means lack of symptoms. Following the necessary diet also equals lack of symptoms. I'm hoping the pain will diminish as I ease off the Entocort. But maybe the pain is part of the diesease and not the result of the Entocort? It does feel like an additional pain though. I had a sudden onset of this illness in December and have gone downhill fast. I used to have a lot of energy and was very active at work and home. Now even my brain feels muddled.