Vacation Week - & travel!!!

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:21 pm

Hi everyone. It's been awhile since I've posted.

I am on vacation this week. It's already Monday and my hubby and I are still at home. I don't mind traveling north to visit my husband's family because it's a smaller rural area and it's easier to get around, but this trip is to go to IL to see my birth daughter, birth granddaughter, and a couple of my family members who still live in IL.

I have been on this forum since the end of Nov., 2011, but it has taken me time and will probably take even more time to fully understand what types of foods to eat (and where to find them while traveling). Since I'll be going to IL (very close to Chicago), I've decided to prepare foods ahead of time which means I've spent all day in the kitchen. I feel fully prepared for this trip, unlike many others in the past. On some of my previous days away from home I've taken a few things along, but then relied on being able to find restaurants that could provide proper foods for someone with MC. Although the area my husband's family is from is a more rural city, I ended up VERY frustrated when I wasn't able to find adequate foods. When those types of feelings occur, I don't look forward to the next times away from home.

BUT - I want to thank everyone who has shared not only their experiences but also their recipes. I have utilized some of them, and in the process have started becoming more creative on my own (which really has surprised me since I never liked cooking).

Foods I will be taking with me:

Chicken (already cooked, skins and bones removed)
Pork (already cooked and bones removed)
Sweet potatoes (already cooked and removed from the peelings)
Green Beans (cooked)
Tuna Salad (quinoa noodles, tuna, sea salt, pepper, small amounts of celery & onion)
GF lunch meat
GF Buns
Lays Potato Chips
Tortilla Corn Chips
Rice Cakes
Chex Cereal
GF Brownies (I made)
Bananas
Avacodos
Earth Balance (SF)
Almond butter
GF peanut butter
.. and probably a couple more misc. things I can't think of at the moment

To be honest, I haven't taken the Enterolab tests yet, so I am not certain if I am intolerant to any of these foods. But for now I am just going to do the best I can with what I do know.

Anyway, if I am hungry I will have my own choices. I will also be checking the internet for restaurants for specific towns I will be in.

Again - I thank everyone here. Since being diagnosed with LC finding this site has been the best thing that has happened to me. I still have a lot to learn, but I know I'm headed in the right direction.

Paula

desertrat · Post by **desertrat** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:42 pm

Paula,

That is awesome! Looks like you've got everything under control! Great selection of food to take. Yes, it is difficult, but doable. I was just in Palm Springs and it wasn't too hard to find restaurants that had gluten free meals. I was only there for three days, but I made it, and so will you!

As a side note, one of my daughter's friends has a severe food allergy and she brought all her own food. She gave me some to eat and it was really good. So it can be done. Here is a picture of the lady who has digestion problems and she danced in the competition. Yes, you can get your life back and even dance!

The lady in the silver dress is the one who made her own food. My daughter is the one in the turquoise dress.

Cha Cha Mandy

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:53 pm

Have a great vacation, Paula!

Here is a link to GF-friendly restaurants in the Chicago Area:
http://www.glutenfreelakecountyillinois ... ester.html

It sounds like you have planned your food list and prepared well. That is the best strategy, IMO.

I am in Lake County - I don't know if you'll be near here, but there are several good grocery stores in the area. Some are chains and have stores in other Chicagoland locations. They are: Sunset Foods, Garden Fresh Foods, Dominick's, and Jewel. Sunset Foods and Garden Fresh have dedicated gluten-free sections, taking up about 1/2 an aisle. There are several Whole Foods stores in the north suburbs and Chicago proper also.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. Of course you're welcome to stop by and visit, but I understand what it's like to visit family. They want you all to themselves, and rightly so.

I hope all goes well and you have a great visit with your daughter and granddaughter.

Mandy,
Wow! Your daughter is beautiful!

Gloria

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:49 pm

Wow! Great picture Paula.

Have a wonderful time.

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:59 pm

Mandy - thank you for your encouragement on traveling and GF foods being available out there. You have a beautiful daughter. And (her friend) looks great too!

Gloria - thank you for the link to GF restaurants/grocery stores in Lake County area. Yes, I will be in Highland Park and Deerfield, so Sunset Foods and Jewel are available to me. I grew up in Highland Park. I think I had my thinking backwards. The smaller rural areas that I've been to are not gluten friendly at all. It is easier and faster to get around in those areas vs. the Chicago area, but it sounds like I won't be as disappointed because there will be restaurants available that have gluten-free foods. Thanks again.

Paula

coryhub · Post by **coryhub** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 3:11 pm

Hi Humbird,
Have a nice holiday and I wish you a healthy tummy time!
I just returned from Toronto but I cheated and was on Entocort the whole two weeks.
I liked your list of foods to bring. You are prepared. I'm going to look for some GF peanut butter next trip to the supermarket. It sounds yummy and I did not know there was such a thing. Happy travels!

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:52 am

Well, I am back from vacation.

Gloria - I thank you again for the link you provided for me with restaurants that have GF menus or are GF friendly. I was amazed how available GF foods and restaurants are in that area. I had a great time, and many great meals.

I thought I had been GF here, but I always seem to get the gurgling and then, of course, the WD after eating even the simplest meals from home. I still don't understand why that would be. When I say simple meals - I mean it could be a meal of chicken, rice or sweet potato, veggie, and using earth balance (soy free), and sea salt. Or even pork or fish as the meat. ???? Confused why that could be. But when I went out to eat at restaurants in IL, I didn't have those symptoms after eating.

I have (so I thought) been GF/DF/SF since at least Jan. of this year - that's almost 7 months - and I still have D every day. Shredded WD!

Paula

Post by **tex** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:49 am

Hi Paula,

Welcome back.

Hmmmmmm. If you didn't have certain symptoms after eating at restaurants, that suggests that it's time to take an extra close look at everything in your kitchen. Are you using any cutting boards, wooden spoons, cast iron pots, pots, plates, pans, or bowls that have cracks or deep scratches that might be hiding residual gluten? Any pots with non-stick liners that might be hiding food residues?

Did you stop taking any supplements or change any other habits while you were away? What foods or seasonings do you eat at home that you didn't eat at any restaurants?

The missing piece of the puzzle is there somewhere -- you just have to find it.

Tex

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 9:18 pm

Hi Paula,

I'm glad the GF restaurants worked well for you. I'm surprised that you were better after eating in restaurants than you are at home. It is puzzling.

I agree with Tex - it would be a good idea to compare what you ate in the restaurants and what you eat at home. Also, taking 1/2 - 1 Imodium might supress your symptoms enough so that you will have some good days. It's very difficult to determine what food or process is bothering you when you don't have any good days. The nice thing about Imodium is that it only stays in your system for one or two days and it's easy to start or stop it at any time.

Gloria