This Diet Changes Everything...

[holiday16]

My sons 5th grade class went on a 3 day trip and we had to put food together for 3 days. I was up so late last night making pizza and bread plus we spent a bunch of money at the store getting smaller sizes of things to send, snacks and some frozen gluten-free meals. Then I had to put together his menu and instructions on how to prepare away from the other food etc. I think we did pretty well as the only thing we forgot to send were a package of hot dogs, but I sent extra protein bars and peanut butter and bread in case he was still hungry after eating his gluten-free food. Since he's been on the diet his appetite has really picked up.

He's supposed to go to a one week boy scout camp this summer and I'm already trying to figure that out. My dh called and he keeps being told they can handle it, but when he talked directly with the lady handling food she seemed pretty clueless. We may have to make a special trip there just to educate them and check out the facilities. Travel I think has been the biggest change for us and the biggest challenge.

[CeliacMom2008]

Kudos to you!! Great job on a HUGE task! My mom and I were just saying today at lunch that we've got "at home" down pat. It's outside our houses that is hard. Even eating out at a restaurant is tough, let alone a trip, let alone a trip without us around! Great job on all the extra effort. Now rest up for that scout trip!

[Pattymom]

I was just this morning contemplating how to handle scout camp this summer. My son is cub scout so is only going for 2 nights with his Dad, but I'm wondering how to handle it. I hadn't thought about sending the prepared frozen meals, like little TV dinners? My ds would probably like that a lot if I can get creative in the packaging. What gets me is that I am paying for the meals he can't eat, and going to a lot of effort as well.

We are all going to family music camp in 5 weeks, and with three of us gluren free the cost issue really got to me. I usually do well eating salad bars, meat, veggies, but my kids need all the desserts and such that are always around, so I need to pack the cookies, and fun things. And, when I asked I was also assured it wouldn't be a problem, but you never know, and it still means I need to bring baked goods. We went to a different camp last year, but I was the only one on the diet so it was pretty easy, and the camp staff was great. the head cook had a wheat allergy herself, so she kept all my food seperate, and made it clear what I could and couldn't have. I'm hoping to get lucky again!

Patty

[ryebaby0]

When my husband and son have gone to Scout camp, we sent all their food (frozen home-prepared meals, packaged and labelled for each day) and it was kept in the kitchen walk-in. I also visited camp in person to talk to the cook My dh would get their food and nuke it himself (the kitchen was unbelievably unkempt and run largely by teenagers). Nobody got sick, but we were always profoundly annoyed that we still had to pay full price for camp. No amount of negotiation could get the council to move on the price! We have done similar things for the times my son has travelled alone and it has gone well. Always talk to the people who are in the kitchen -- not just the managers.

[Pattymom]

I am feeling better about his food safety at camp now, but our council also isn't flexible on the price. It just bugs me to pay for something we clearly aren't going to use, Maybe he can try to drink a lot of bug juice to make up for it.

Patty