Vacation in Hawaii

[Rosie]

Tomorrow my DH and I are heading to Hawaii for a week with some friends to celebrate our 40th anniversary.

I want to thank all the people, especially Gloria and Dee, for their helpful information on traveling with MC. We have rented a cottage B & B with a kitchen so that we can do some cooking (after carefully cleaning all pots, pans and dishes). The B & B, and tour groups seem to be pretty aware of food intolerances, so I'm hoping that I'll be OK. But of course most people who don't have to deal with it aren't very aware of the cross-contamination problems or the need to scan every ingredient. I've found that suggesting OK items works best. For example, at the B & B I suggested scrambled eggs cooked in olive or canola oil, and hash browns done the same way. They also will have Rice Dream, fruit and nuts for me to put on the cereal I'm bringing, in case I don't want to take a chance.

I got a food dehydrator for Christmas, and have been busy making beef and turkey jerky as emergency protein food in case I run into a problem. I'll be half my suitcase is packed with food!

I can also make and prepare other food items to get me by when on the road, especially lunch.

So I'm hoping to get by without getting "glutened" or "soyed" and have a fun vacation without any major digestive problems. It sure does take a lot of pre-planning, but is worth it. Seven months ago I would never have even considered a trip like this, so I've made a lot of progress, thanks to this Forum!

Rosie

[JLH]

Have fun in Paradise. Which island?

[Gloria]

Have a great vacation, Rosie!

Please let us know how you fare with the food preparation and eating. There are a lot of us out here just itching to take that long-awaited vacation once we are in remission.

I always carry on a "food suitcase" with dry products and pack the liquids (ghee, mayonnaise, sunflower butter) wrapped in bubble wrap in the suitcase that I check. I also have a check list that I put in a plastic sleeve so that I don't forget anything.

I'm so excited for you! I hope you enjoy the sun and the water.

Gloria

[barbaranoela]

ALOHA ROSIE!!!!!! have a WONDERFUL vacation-----I always wanted to go there but Hawaii doesnt seem to appeal to mr. Louie--

Be sure to tell us all about it when U get home~~~~


Barbara

[Rosie]

Thanks for the good wishes! Joan, we are going to the big Island, the one with the active volcano. We went to Maui for our 25th anniversay and Kauai for our 30th. With this visit, I think that we have covered Hawaii, and will have to expand our tropical horizons. Polly, you have developed your "food suitcase" to a fine art. I'm just in the beginning phases, but have a good start thanks to you! Barbara, tell Mr Louis that he's missing out on a wonderful time. The first time we went to Hawaii for our 25th anniversary, some of our friends were scoffing, like Hawaii is just an over-done tourist trap. But it isn't that way at all, not if you stay in a B & B away from the crowded, noisy, beach hotels. The only disappointment we have had is going to a luau......very crowded with bad food, watered drinks and cheesy entertainment. We saw the "other" Hawaii, and it's gorgeous.......

Rosie

[Jan]

Rosie,

Soak up some of that sun and warm weather for the rest of us. I've been there many times and did 2 years of high school on Oahu.

Jan

[tex]

Rosie,

Hopefully, the hash browns will be made from scratch, because I believe that some of the food service hash browns and French fries are "washed", or soaked in a solution to enhance flavor and crispness, and some of those products contain gluten. As commercial hash browns go, for example, those made by Ore Ida are certified free of gluten.

I hope you have a great time.

Tex

[Gloria]

The only frozen hash browns I can eat are the cubed ones from Ore Ida. All the rest contain gluten or soy. If I want shredded hash browns, I shred my own using my food processor. They taste better and are cheaper. Then I add Jones sausage links and tomatoes. My favorite breakfast 'cause I can't eat eggs.

That doesn't help for your vacation, but I would ask if the hash browns are fresh or frozen.

Gloria

[Rosie]

Wow, thanks for the warning, Tex and Gloria! Since I always make my hash browns from scratch, I wasn't even thinking about the possibility of someone using "prepared" hash browns. Even after 7 months of this, I can still miss things......... Gloria, your hash browns sound yummy! I'll have to try my hand with that.

Rosie

[MaggieRedwings]

Hi Rose,

Aloha!!! Have a great time and I want you to know that I really envy you. Hawaii is the only state I have not visited and have also visited all of the Canadian provinces. It is my dream trip and want to do it like you - away from the tourist traps.

Enjoy and Happy Anniversary. Love, Maggie

[CAMary]

Rosie-

Have a great trip! We went to Hawaii for our 15th anniversary this past summer...we stayed in a suite with a full kitchen so we pretty much ate in - we did go out for one nice dinner and I had no problems (though *all* I have to avoid is gluten - you multiples have a harder time, I think!)

There is so much there to do that *doesn't* revolve around food - you will have a blast!!! I really enjoyed the big island - my brother was married on a black sand beach there 14 years ago...
Take in the scenerey, sunsets, and have a wonderful trip

Mary