Well, I have not eaten out at a resturant for the past 2 weeks now (a BIG deal for me) and I've been extra checking all of my labels......(although mostly everything I eat these days are whole foods).........and guess what? I feel great!!!!! I really can't believe it is true! The only symptoms I really have right now is if I sit too long with my legs crossed, my knees hurt a little, BUT NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE PAIN BEFORE!

Buuuut, I'm going to Palm Springs Florida in a couple of weeks, and I'm already starting to worry about getting sick from something. We're staying with my fiance's parents (they have a winter home down there), but 2 nights we are going to South Beach and one night we're going to Orlando....so, any tips?

What do all of you usually do when you go on vacation? What are little things that help you get through it without a problem? I know that I'm only going to Florida, but I really know nothing about Florida's food stores and resturants........actually, I'm still too scared to eat out I think because even when I thought I was being extra careful, in the begining, I would still get sick from eating out somehow.

So any suggestions? I love feeling healthy!

Dani-
I do several things when I go on vaca:

-Find local restaurants with gluten-free menus (like pf changs etc) and local wild oats or health food stores
-Contact a local support group for area tips etc if there is one
-Pack food! I take lots of snacks and I take things I can supplement a meal out for me--say, a thai kitchen noodle bowl (all I need it hot water for it--any restaurant or fast food joint can provide that..and it helps supplement a salad per se). In addition to the snacks I pack salad dressing and Bragg's soy sauce.
-I call my hotel, explain I have food allergies and get them to put a fridge in my room, if there isn't one already.
-I also bought two coolers--one is large and plugs into your car and regular outlet. I use that for long trips. I also have a smaller, foldable travel cooler. I use those frozen packs to keep stuff cold. It works great! I took it on the plane with another carry on recently.

Hope these help! I say the more prep you do up front, the less you have to worry on the trip.

Wow! Good ideas Jen! Thanks!

That's a great idea to ask the hotel to provide me with a mini fridge.....I didn't even think of that! So I'll be able to store food in there as if I'm at home! That's great! Hmmmmm........I'm going to research which food stores are around there, hopefully a whole foods.......

We're taking a plane, not driving, so I can't bring anything that has to be refridgorated on the plane........but there's a lot I can bring.....

Have you ever been to a hotel where they had a problem with supplying you with a mini fridge? I love that idea! THanks!

http://www.lifegrocery.com/PDFDocs/9/9AD71...QF8HNFF04CF.PDF

page 8 of this pdf file is my article I wrote on Gluten Free Holiday Travel... check it out and let me know what you think. Hopefully it has some hints that can help you on your trip.

I've only been to Orlando once since being diagnosed. It was my first 'gluten-free' trip and I must say, I was terrified at the time! They do have a PF Chang's (it was my first experience ever at PF Changs....and now I'm an addict!) Like Jen said, I would bring the mini-salad dressings (I think the ones I have are hellman's?) that are gluten-free so wherever you go, you can at least survive with a salad (I know, not my favorite either, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do, I've learned!) Whenever I travel to my in-laws or my parents house, I bring a little bag of gluten-free flour, and usually a gluten-free pasta for "just in case."
Good luck and hope you have a great trip!

I haven't had a problem with getting a fridge so far. Now, I don't endorse lying but if they don't take you seriously...there is always the option of saying you are diabetic too--which requires a fridge.

Also--for the plane etc--ck this cooler out, not the same, but simliar to the one I bought for traveling. http://www.amazon .com/gp/product/B0002JHGR...glance&n=284507 You can buy some of those blue frozen thingys to keep inside it with the food--and it works like a charm! I brought meat, cheese and a few other things with me on the plane in November out to Vegas. You may want to invest in one eventually. Most sports stores carry them, even Walmart too usually. (Might be a bit harder to find this time of year though...)

Thanks guys! Great tips! Actually, I'm really really really scared to eat out, so I'm thinking I'm going to bring a meal everywhere I go!

It's so interesting how much life changes with just changing your diet. I mean, I'm going to a lot of planning before I go on this trip. Usually, I would just pack the night before and go!

Thanks for the help though! I'm going to get to work on planning out my meals and snacks!

That was a great article! Lots of good tips there. I also scrolled up and read the article that suggests a link between Diabetes and milk. Interesting.

I agree, it was a really good article. Thanks!

you are welcome and "thank you!"