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Hypothetical Question

Poppi

By Poppi
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Poppi Enthusiast
Poppi
Posted

So, imagine you are in a survival situation. You've shipwrecked on an island or something and the only food in your survival kit contains gluten.

Do you eat it? Would it make a difference if you were alone or with your children?

***********************

I'm not sure if I would eat it. I wonder if the resulting diarrhea in a place with no health care, clean water or electrolyte drinks would kill me faster than I would have starved to death. Even if it didn't the pain and fatigue and mental issues would probably make it harder for me to do the other things necessary for survival like searching for safe food and water and constructing fire and shelter.

On the other hand, wouldn't it be silly to starve to death if you had food available to eat? If I fed it to my kids and didn't eat it myself then all I'm doing is ensuring that my kids have to fend for themselves alone after I starve.

Hmmmm...

Oh, and my apologies for a morbid start to the morning. :unsure:

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  • Replies 56
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kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Can't you use one of the kids as bait & catch a really big fish? ;)

If my boys are there, I would let them have the food. They would catch some fish, build huts, etc. Your family can swim over to our island.

Jestgar Rising Star
Jestgar
Posted

If gluten causes diarrhea, you'd do yourself in more quickly from loss of electrolytes as well as starvation from not absorbing the food.

And you'd die feeling like crap, instead of just feeling hungry. :P

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

hmmmm....well, hopefully, MY survival kit would have gluten-free foods in it...otherwise, it is NOT a very well-planned survival kit for me at all! :lol:

It's funny, but my cousin has suggested having a "to go" kit ready with gluten-free snacks and last month, I found myself in a scary, emergency situation (hubby was in the ER and I knew I would be there for a few hours waiting) and I had to scramble to make a sandwich, bring some water and fruit because I knew the cafeteria would be a gluten landmine. :unsure: Good thing my brain has cleared a bit and I could calmly think that through. whew!! six months ago, I would have dissolved into a weepy, anxious gluten-headed useless mess... :lol:

karen, if my survival kit got washed overboard, I would have to borrow your boys for a few days...okay by you?? :lol: :lol: :lol:

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

I have often imagined a similar scenario except mine is: what would you do if you were on a reality TV show such as Survivor or The Amazing Race? On survivor the "rewards" are often things like pizza, burgers, cookies, etc. What if a challange involved eating gluten? would you do it for a million dollars? I watch the Amazing race all the time and there is always an eating challenge. They have had to drink a bootful of beer, eat deep fried starfish (I am allergic to shell fish, I wonder if I could eat it?) and other battered and fried seafood, sushi (not all kinds are gluten free), and on the most recent season they had a challenge that involved eating a big pot of cheese fondue by dipping bread into the pot. Just watching that episode made me ill. I don't think I could do it. Not for a million dollars. My husband would probably try to eat it all so I didn't have to but I would not want to let him do it either. If stranded on an island I would try looking for coconuts, berries, and edible roots before I resorted to eating gluten. Maybe I could figure out a way to fish, depending on what I had when I was stranded. I think the bigger concern would be finding safe drinking water because without water you're not going to last very long anyway.

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

hmmmm....well, hopefully, MY survival kit would have gluten-free foods in it...otherwise, it is NOT a very well-planned survival kit for me at all! :lol:

It's funny, but my cousin has suggested having a "to go" kit ready with gluten-free snacks and last month, I found myself in a scary, emergency situation (hubby was in the ER and I knew I would be there for a few hours waiting) and I had to scramble to make a sandwich, bring some water and fruit because I knew the cafeteria would be a gluten landmine. :unsure: Good thing my brain has cleared a bit and I could calmly think that through. whew!! six months ago, I would have dissolved into a weepy, anxious gluten-headed useless mess... :lol:

karen, if my survival kit got washed overboard, I would have to borrow your boys for a few days...okay by you?? :lol: :lol: :lol:

I HAVE such a kit. I bought a small lunch bag that looks like a purse at Target. I always keep things like Enjoy Life Bars, Lara bars, almonds, craisins, rice cakes and a jar of peanut butter and some plasticware in it. There is a little pouch for an icepack so I can add a cold drink or a container with salad or other cold food if I know I'm going to be gone all day. I take this cooler-purse with me everytime I leave the house, however. It is my emergency food bag. There have been times when I just planned a short trip to the store but got stuck in traffic on the way home due to an accident or had something come up where I needed to stay away longer than I planned. I'm a little hypoglycemic and when I get hungry I get dizzy and lightheaded and nearly pass out. So I always have snacks with me. It's been a life saver many times.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

hmmmm....well, hopefully, MY survival kit would have gluten-free foods in it...otherwise, it is NOT a very well-planned survival kit for me at all! :lol:

It's funny, but my cousin has suggested having a "to go" kit ready with gluten-free snacks and last month, I found myself in a scary, emergency situation (hubby was in the ER and I knew I would be there for a few hours waiting) and I had to scramble to make a sandwich, bring some water and fruit because I knew the cafeteria would be a gluten landmine. :unsure: Good thing my brain has cleared a bit and I could calmly think that through. whew!! six months ago, I would have dissolved into a weepy, anxious gluten-headed useless mess... :lol:

karen, if my survival kit got washed overboard, I would have to borrow your boys for a few days...okay by you?? :lol: :lol: :lol:

If you bring the pretty cat... I'm sure my boys would help you. They have a weakness for animals.

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IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I HAVE such a kit. I bought a small lunch bag that looks like a purse at Target. I always keep things like Enjoy Life Bars, Lara bars, almonds, craisins, rice cakes and a jar of peanut butter and some plasticware in it. There is a little pouch for an icepack so I can add a cold drink or a container with salad or other cold food if I know I'm going to be gone all day. I take this cooler-purse with me everytime I leave the house, however. It is my emergency food bag. There have been times when I just planned a short trip to the store but got stuck in traffic on the way home due to an accident or had something come up where I needed to stay away longer than I planned. I'm a little hypoglycemic and when I get hungry I get dizzy and lightheaded and nearly pass out. So I always have snacks with me. It's been a life saver many times.

Awesome idea!! We always have a cooler in the car now for water and fruit and sometimes a Lara Bar. But I am thinking I should have one of these bags ready to go with me , too...Thanks for the suggestions! ;)

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

I might use the gluteny food as bait to catch fish. ;)

As other folks mentioned, I'd eat the Larabars in my purse first! I never leave the house without an emergency snack.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

If you bring the pretty cat... I'm sure my boys would help you. They have a weakness for animals.

:D This crazy cat has more than nine lives(she's a real story for another day!) so I am sure she would not only be with me, she would swim to the island with me, find food for me (she is quite the hunter) and then, curl up and keep me warm. :D

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

Awesome idea!! We always have a cooler in the car now for water and fruit and sometimes a Lara Bar. But I am thinking I should have one of these bags ready to go with me , too...Thanks for the suggestions! ;)

Target has lots of cute ones right now: Open Original Shared Link

I have one similar to this one: Open Original Shared Link

It looks just like a casual purse or small diaper bag.

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted

It depends on how dire the situation was and where the island was located. What natural foods fruits, veg, herbs, roots, nuts would be available? Is there fresh water? Are there cannibals on this island? What types of venomous creatures are located there and how big are they? :P

All that aside, I would like to think I would not resort to gluten but to be honest would if it was a matter of life and death. I don't get physically ill from gluten so that would make the decision easier. I think I would go into survival mode and would do whatever I could to live, gluten or not. It would be selfish to give up gluten if it was my only chance of survival and leave my husband.

My chronic back pain and fibromyalgia cause me far greater pain than celiac does (although of course I know what goes on internally if gluten is digested) so being comfortable would be priority; my husband would have to hunt and fish for us (he would love that, anyway).

I have found very few purchased snacks palatable so would have homemade stuff along instead. As they are not processed they don't last as long, though. I would rather eat a roasted tarantula or fat grubs over a fire than some gluten-free snacks out there! :lol: Have never seen Lara bars but have heard of them lots on this board - can we get them in Canada?

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Target has lots of cute ones right now: Open Original Shared Link

I have one similar to this one: Open Original Shared Link

It looks just like a casual purse or small diaper bag.

You are so sweet!

Actually, I do have a cooler bag like that in my pantry--now I just need to pack it!

thanks!! :)

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Have never seen Lara bars but have heard of them lots on this board - can we get them in Canada?

They are really good. Handy. Fruit and nuts, some with coconut. hmmmm I do not know if they are in Canada---you could order them, I am guessing??

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted

They are really good. Handy. Fruit and nuts, some with coconut. hmmmm I do not know if they are in Canada---you could order them, I am guessing??

I finally got around to checking and yes, we can get some in Canada! I just checked the website and am astonished at all the yummy-looking flavours available. Key lime pie? Chocolate chip cookie dough? Where have I been? :lol:

Salax Contributor
Salax
Posted

Fun question, no I wouldn't eat it. But since I am on an island, I assume there is water out there with fishes in it. Fish works for me. :D

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I finally got around to checking and yes, we can get some in Canada! I just checked the website and am astonished at all the yummy-looking flavours available. Key lime pie? Chocolate chip cookie dough? Where have I been? :lol:

um...on a deserted island?? :lol: :lol: :lol:

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Fun question, no I wouldn't eat it. But since I am on an island, I assume there is water out there with fishes in it. Fish works for me. :D

okay, girlfriend...that seals it....you're in charge of fishing.... :lol:

Lori2 Contributor
Lori2
Posted

I love Lara bars and ordered 3 cartons of the Cinnamon Roll flavor. Guess what--they give me diarrhea. Obviously gluten is not my only problem.

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted

um...on a deserted island?? :lol: :lol: :lol:

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: I guess so...

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I love Lara bars and ordered 3 cartons of the Cinnamon Roll flavor. Guess what--they give me diarrhea. Obviously gluten is not my only problem.

oh no! sorry, hon....

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: I guess so...

:lol: :lol: :lol: you're so cute! I know this if off topic..but did Spring come to Canada yet??..it finally arrived in NYS and it's already 90 today B) I love it and my irises and rock cress and lupines are open...YAAY!!

sorry I wandered off there, gang...back tot he island..okay, we've got lara bars, some tasty bugs and seeds and fish so far...

Poppi Enthusiast
Poppi
Posted
  • Author

Wait Wait Wait!

You are all breaking the imaginary rules of my hypothetical situation. You don't have Lara Bars and you can't use your children as bait. :P

You are not prepared! You have nothing except the standard emergency kit in the cruise ship life raft which contains 3 days of drinking water, high calorie/high protein bread, some fire starting stuff, flares and a first aid kit.

There. Now what? Huh?

Poppi Enthusiast
Poppi
Posted
  • Author

I know this if off topic..but did Spring come to Canada yet??

No. :angry:

Well, not on the West Coast anyway. April and May have been the wettest and coldest on record. It's miserable out there. I bought a new COAT today.

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

So, imagine you are in a survival situation. You've shipwrecked on an island or something and the only food in your survival kit contains gluten.

Do you eat it? Would it make a difference if you were alone or with your children?

....

I can't see eating the gluten just cause its there. Isn't that why we go to desert islands in the first place, to get away from the gluten?

Target has lots of cute ones right now: Open Original Shared Link

I have one similar to this one: Open Original Shared Link

It looks just like a casual purse or small diaper bag.

Yum, a diaper bag full of gluten-free food, sounds tasty! :)

...

sorry I wandered off there, gang...back to the island..okay, we've got lara bars, some tasty bugs and seeds and fish so far...

Sounds like the ingredients for a big batch of stone soup!

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