Carnival Cruising Gluten-Free

Carnival Cruising Gluten-Free

http://www.carnival.com/

Hello everyone! Just thought I'd put my 2cents in on cruising. I've been taking cruises for years...on just about every line.  I have to say that for the price Carnival is probably my favorite.  It seems to be younger cruisers...activity is planned pretty much around the clock if you want to participate...and I honestly find the rooms to be some of the most comfortable.

Which is why we booked Carnival last Spring for a little Family Reunion on board Carnival Sensation. And I did the whole thing GlutenFree with no problems at all…starting with dinner at Port Canaveral. We arrived the night before departure and went out to dinner at Fish Lips in port. They had a GF menu with quite a bit of selection.  They even had a most incredible dessert that I ordered to go...just because I could...and enjoyed it later that evening in my hotel room.

The cruise was easy. There is a form you'll need to fill out when you book your cruise. It's really simple and you can get it online or from your travel agent. I got mine from my travel agent…filled it out…and emailed it in...a copy to the cruise line, and a copy to my travel agent just to be certain.

Once on board I checked in with the main dining room just to warn them I was there and would need a GF meal plan. They told me to come back at dinner time and speak with the Matre'd…which I did. She was great!! She handled all my meals from then on. The first night my choices were limited to what was already prepared and would be GF…but she knew what was available. Then each night she would bring me the menu for the following evening and I could choose ANYTHING that I wanted and it would be prepared GF just for me. Anything!!  Oh joy!!  I even ordered Crab Cakes one night.  I haven't had a decent Crab Cake in years.  Heaven :-)  The only thing I didn't enjoy was the bread…it was that white rice cardboard that most of us have tried at least once since going GF. I'm pretty certain no Chef has ever actually tasted that stuff...or they'd be using it to scrub down the sinks instead of serving it with their wonderful meals.  Dessert was no choice…but different every night and delicious!!

Breakfast in the morning was in the Main Dining Room again and totally Gluten-Free. We discovered some time ago that the Food Services on ship are all done under some incredibly strict rules and guidelines and the food and service in the Main Dining Room make it the safest place to eat.  So every morning we met at the Dining Room for breakfast and I got the fluffiest GF pancakes every day with fresh fruit, eggs and bacon. I didn't bother with the bread.  In fact…as soon as I got home I wrote them a letter introducing both Udi’s & Rudi’s breads and baked goods.  I’ve since heard back that they would consider them…but nothing since.

Lunch on the Lido deck was a bit more challenging…since I had no-one to guide me or ask questions of. As always the Wait Staff were all very knowledgeable and understanding even though their options were much narrower. But when I wanted something more than breakfast or dinner it really worked out pretty good. I just had to be a little more selective and careful.

Carolanne LeBlanc

Website:  http://glutenfreeforlifeexpo1.blogspot.com

Email:  GlutenFreeforLifeExpo@Gmail.com

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida

Meeting:  4th Saturday of every month except December
               Imperial Palms, East Clubhouse
               101 Imperial Palm Drive
               Largo, Florida  33771

Keeping it clean...and Gluten-Free

Keeping it clean...and Gluten-Free

People often ask me what the best way to get started is.  My house is 100% Gluten-Free and has been for many years.  Some families maintain that without going 100% they can still keep a safe environment.  I’m afraid I have a hard time believing this and truly can’t recommend it.  I have Potluck Dinners every month in my home, and large Potluck Parties 3-4 times a year at my house, and those are the only times gluten might find its way into my house. My friends and family know my needs, and they’re truly, extremely careful in my home.  But there have been occasions after an event where I’ve found myself spending the next few days sick.

After which I go back to the beginning and clean my kitchen from top to bottom once again.  If you're transitioning from eating gluten to a gluten-free/wheat-free life the first thing to do is clean, clean, clean. Empty all the cabinets and wipe down all surfaces…I like to use those anti-bacterial wipes only because I know it may be quite a while before I ever do anything like that again. I may even sprinkle a little borax into the corners just because I live in Florida and bugs like to share everything. Overhead cabinets, and underneath cabinets, all counter tops…everything should be pulled out and every surface wiped down. Don't forget to clean the fridge and freezer too. It's going to take time…so I suggest you handle one major area a day and don't feel like you have to handle it all at once.

Use the dishwasher…a lot. In fact I have a rule in my home…if it doesn't fit into the dishwasher it goes into the trash. So run as much as possible through the dishwasher before putting it back into the cabinets. There are times when I’ll even wash the same load twice, letting is run through an entire cycle.  The second time I don’t use any soap but add about 2 cups of white vinegar instead.  Hand wash everything else and rinse, rinse, rinse. As you're putting things away do a quick inspection of anything that might be tough to clean…like those pots and pans…anything with cracks and crevices. Run your fingers over the surfaces…any bumps or lumps are suspect and need to be cleaned off or you may need to consider tossing the items. If you can see any metal through the scratches on non-stick surfaces those will need to be tossed anyway…so don't waste your time cleaning them. Deep non-stick scratches are great hiding places for gluten and every time you use the pan you're poisoning yourself with the exposed metal anyway.

You’ll need to replace your toaster, and perhaps anything plastic or wood.  I kept my first toaster oven, but scoured it clean and then ran everything removable through the dishwasher.  Keep in mind the more smooth, and less porous the surface the better when replacing your kitchen tools.  Personally, I love glass and use that as often as possible for prep, cooking, baking and storage.  Glass cleans up beautifully and I have no worries when others borrow something for their glutenous foods. I only use wood cutting boards and spoons, even those get thrown in the washer, then get treated with oil before being put away. 

Read the labels of all food items as you're putting them away. If you're feeling ambitious go ahead and give the packages a wipe down with one of those anti-bacterial wipes too. Sort out any suspect items and set them aside to be donated to a food pantry. If you really can't part with a favorite item…then Google it. Go to Google.com and type in the name of the product along with the words "Gluten-Free" and then see what comes up. You can make your decision then as to whether you should keep it or give it up. I generally have a rule that if I can't read the ingredients or pronounce the words I don't buy it and don't use it. For me the fewer ingredients the better; I avoid processed foods as much as possible.

Going Gluten-Free can seem so overwhelming and you feel like you're losing many of your favorite foods. After 25 years I still look at a good donut and just sigh…ah well. I have many friends who keep a Gluten-Free home, and save their glutenous desires for when they eat out or visit friends :-)

Carolanne LeBlanc

Website:  http://glutenfreeforlifeexpo1.blogspot.com

Email:  GlutenFreeforLifeExpo@Gmail.com

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida

Meeting:  4th Saturday of every month except December
               Imperial Palms, East Clubhouse
               101 Imperial Palm Drive
               Largo, Florida  33771

Disney World Parks - Gluten-Free Safe

Disney World Parks - Gluten-Free Safe

Enjoy Magic throughout the year

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

Ok…so I told myself I was never going to do this.  I mean, truly – Google "Disney Gluten-Free" and a ton of stuff comes up.  Everyone has a review of some restaurant at the park that they want to talk about.  But then I realized…that’s the point.  Most of the reviews are restaurants…and I generally don’t do those…probably because it’s nearly impossible to get everyone to sit down for more than 15 minutes when we’re doing the Parks.  Living only 1.5 hours away from the Mouse means we generally get to visit him quite often.  And since I’ve been Gluten-Free for years now I have to say I’ve watched the Disney World Parks improve by leaps and bounds.  Disney World is by far one of the Gluten-Free safest Parks to visit…and I can say that without any prodding from the Mouse.  I’ve stopped at the little Downtown Stores…and found treats clearly marked “Gluten-Free”…Yahoo!!  I’ve stopped at the Street Vendors to ask questions about their product and they generally know the answers :-)  I’ve stopped at their ‘Fast-Food’ style Eating Emporiums…lol…and been treated like royalty with quick, honest answers and knowledgeable staff!!  Dang!!

Whether it's a day with visiting family, a trip to support Gay Days, or just a weekend away with my girls and the grand kids, honestly, I have no fear when visiting any of the Disney Parks.  Last time we were there we stopped for lunch I think it was Pinocchio's Place.  Anyway, I just got in line with everyone else...and asked to know what was Gluten-Free and safe for me to eat.  Almost like magic a Manager appeared with a GF Menu for me to choose from.  She personally took my order, told me to NOT accept any food from anyone else but her took my order into the kitchen and re-appeared a few minutes later with my hot Mac n Cheese, Fresh Fruits and Brownie and a drink.  Then because she felt the Brownie was still too cold she also gave me a free Chocolate Chip Cookie to hold me over...lol.  I don't know how my prices compared to anyone else's...but seriously, when I can receive such individual attention and enjoy a safe meal...I really don't care if I have to pay a bit more for it.  So if you're planning a Disney Day, go ahead and pack a treat or two just to make yourself feel better - but don't worry at all about enjoying a snack or meal with your family in any of Disney's establishments...no reservations needed!!

Carolanne LeBlanc

Website:  http://glutenfreeforlifeexpo1.blogspot.com

Email:  GlutenFreeforLifeExpo@Gmail.com

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida

Meeting:  4th Saturday of every month except December
               Imperial Palms, East Clubhouse
               101 Imperial Palm Drive
               Largo, Florida  33771

Just getting started...Gluten-Free

Just getting started...Gluten-Free

 For someone starting their new Gluten-Free journey learning to navigate their own kitchen can be just as challenging as traveling to a new country.  I always get questions from people who are new to living Gluten-Free and they're usually feeling pretty overwhelmed. It can certainly seem like Gluten can hide in anything. They want to do what's best for their own bodies, or their loved ones, but there's just soooo much information to try and process. And they want to feel better fast. Sometimes the best thing to do is to stop a moment, take a step back and begin again with a slower approach.

Yes, you want the Gluten out of your life – but it's not going to happen overnight.  Be patient with yourself.  Give yourself a little time and go back to basics. Once you manage to remove the gluten from your life…please don’t race to replace everything with Gluten-Free substitutes.  That’s the biggest mistake I see so many people making. It’s one of the reasons why so many people still feel so sick many months after going 100% Gluten-Free. 

You have to remember that your gut has been damaged…it’s going to need time to heal. Once you break that gluten addiction you’ll probably go through withdrawal, you’ll have some incredible cravings, a roller coaster ride of emotions, your body may want to purge all the junk out of your system through every conceivable orifice, and you’ll wonder more than once if you’re doing the right thing.  Hang in there…it does get better!

I normally ask people to dedicate the first 6 weeks to just cleaning up their diet. Learn how to eat real food again.  Go back to basics…real proteins, real fruits, real vegetables.  Good quality foods that feed the system and the soul.  Understand exactly what gluten is and what it is not.  Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in Wheat (Durum, Emmer, Spelt, Farina, Farro, Kamut® Khorasan Wheat, and Einkorn), Rye, Barley and Triticale. Gluten helps foods maintain their shape, acting as glue that holds food together.

CLEAN UP - start with a good cabinet cleaning and don't forget the fridge and the freezer too. Get rid of the obvious – WHEAT – and while you're at it learn how to read ingredients. Take some time to read up on Gluten, but get rid of the wheat in your diet ASAP. Don't worry about replacing it right away. Give yourself time to get used to pulling things out of your diet without adding Gluten-Free items back in. Gluten-Free foods can be expensive…and often times very disappointing at first.

NOTHING PROCESSED - which means if it comes out of a box or a can put it back on the shelf and step away. Eat real food. Focus first on quality foods…real meat, real fruit, real vegetables. Try making everything from scratch…so that you know exactly what goes into it. Frozen fruits and vegetables are fine…provided that's all that's in the package.

NOTHING WHITE – generally the whiter something is the more it's been processed.  Just replace your whites with a bit of color. Instead of white potato try sweet potato, instead of white sugar use brown or raw sugar, honey, or molasses.  Instead of white rice use brown or wild rice…you get the picture. Even milk…if you can handle it try an alternative…or go organic and get lactose free. Many people with Celiac have lactose intolerance due to the damage already done to their gut. Try going lactose free for a while and you might be able to go back later without the distress.

VITAMINS & MINERALS – if you haven't started with these yet…it's time to find one that works for you. I generally recommend liquid or capsules, powders are great too…stay away from tablets. Your gut already has a hard time digesting, why add to its distress.  You should be taking a good multi-vitamin, multi-mineral every single day.

Give yourself just six little weeks to get used to all the new changes you'll be adding to your life. Don't let yourself get so overwhelmed. You can do it…one step at a time.

Carolanne LeBlanc

Website:  http://glutenfreeforlifeexpo1.blogspot.com

Email:  GlutenFreeforLifeExpo@Gmail.com

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida

Meeting:  4th Saturday of every month except December
               Imperial Palms, East Clubhouse
               101 Imperial Palm Drive
               Largo, Florida  33771

Busch Gardens is NOT Celiac safe :-(

Busch Gardens is NOT Celiac safe :-(

Busch Gardens - Where the UNEXPECTED comes together

http://www.buschgardens.com/

Well, as much as this disappoints me, I have to say that Busch Gardens is NOT a Gluten-Free safe place to visit.  Not only did they not have a clue...but didn't seem overly concerned about it either.    And I have to say that I was really looking forward to doing a positive review after my visit.  Sadly, that's not something that I can do.  Thank goodness I always pack something to eat...just in case.  This time I only grabbed a couple packs of Schar's Crackers just to share with my sister, who is also Gluten-Free. 

It was an incredibly beautiful day so we took ourselves and the grandkids to the park for the day.  I really didn't expect any trouble with finding something safe to eat.  I mean we've been to visit the Mouse before in Orlando.  And the care and understanding were second to none.  I honestly expected nothing less at Busch Gardens Tampa - one of the largest tourist attractions in my area. Not so in Tampa.  First of all none of the employees that I spoke to had a clue.  In fact I had to repeat my request because it appeared they'd never even heard the words 'Celiac' or 'Gluten-Free' before and didn't understand what I said.  I will give them credit...they immediately turned to a supervisor for guidance.  But even that didn't seem to help.

My lunch consisted of chicken and grapes...that was all I was told I could have...then they plopped the standard roll on top.  When she saw my daughter poke the roll (my baby always watches out for me :-) and pull it off the plate...then begin pulling off the area of chicken it had touched...she came back and took the dish back with an off-handed comment.  She then dumped the dish into the trash with a look of disgust on her face...and disappeared back into the kitchen.  She returned a few minutes later with a fresh piece of chicken and grapes.  When I asked if there was anything else available to me she said no…that was it.  Apparently it was a huge bother for her to take care of my needs.  I was charged full price for the disservice!

When my sister arrived about 10 minutes later she received the exact same treatment…with the roll plopped on top of her chicken and grapes…very sad.  Trying to find dinner was no easier…I ended up eating my last package of crackers, with my sister getting a side salad and everyone else eating a full meal.  Our questions always met with the same uninterested, uneducated, ill informed answer and a ‘who cares’ attitude.  I might even have understood if the park had been filled to its normal capacity…but it wasn’t.  The park was practically empty with only five-minute waits on all the lines.  It was perfect timing for us to enjoy the day without lines…the kids loved it.  And it also meant that the restaurants were uncrowded.  In fact, our dinner restaurant had NO-ONE else there…and our lunch restaurant had very few people.

So my suggestion??  Pack a full day’s supply of food!!  Because you’ll have a very difficult time finding anything safe to eat…and when you do you’ll pay quite a bit for the risk.  Pack sensibly, sandwiches, dry fruit, nuts, protein bars...much the same as you would for a plane trip.  And don't be shy when the guards go poking through your bag.  Make certain you tell them exactly what you're packing and why.  I've never had any problem bringing food into any park...especially after I've paid $85.00 for the privilege.  They want my money...I want to be safe.

PS – I was sick for the standard three days after my visit :-(

Carolanne LeBlanc

Website:  http://glutenfreeforlifeexpo1.blogspot.com

Email:  GlutenFreeforLifeExpo@Gmail.com

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida

Meeting:  4th Saturday of every month except December

               Imperial Palms, East Clubhouse

               101 Imperial Palm Drive

               Largo, Florida  33771

Gluten-Free Emergency Disaster Kit

Gluten-Free Emergency Disaster Kit

While this isn’t exactly a travel tip…it is about being forced to live outside your comfort zone for a bit.  What will you do if an emergency hits and you have to live without decent food, water and the other comforts of home?  It always amazes me, when you ask if someone is prepared, the common response is they’ll stock up with a few extra cans of tuna and some granola bars.  These people are lucky…they’ve obviously never had to miss more than a single meal due to an emergency.  Oh no!  My phone is broken…bring out the granola bars!

When you consider that the average disaster/emergency could be about 1-2 weeks without a proper stove or refrigerator what are you going to do?  Truthfully I never even thought about it myself…until one year when I actually had to use those Hurricane Shutters I had installed on my home.  That’s when I realized my family would be able to find food if they were desperate…but what about me?  Was I willing to eat unsafe foods simply to survive?  And would I survive if I did that?  One day = 3 meals, 1 week  = 21 meals, 2 weeks = 42 meals…and I’m not even willing to voluntarily do the gluten challenge to get properly diagnosed with Celiac Disease.

So I decided to pack an emergency `bucket' to store in the closet just in case. Home Depot sells those bright orange "Homer" buckets with tops that seal up tight. They're brightly colored so you can find them regardless of your home's damage. And once the tops are tapped into place they're pretty waterproof too.

Just fill the bucket with your emergency gear...including Gluten-Free food...and seal it up. Stow the bucket somewhere that's easily accessible.  They have handles that make them easy to carry...but be careful not to make it too heavy.  If you need it you'll be functioning under less than optimal conditions and you'll want to be able to handle it yourself. And don't forget to put it where you can actually find it.  I keep mine stored inside the house in an interior walk-in closet that might actually become my shelter in the event of a Tornado.  I also store blankets, jackets & sweaters there as well.  During Hurricane Season I’ll probably stash water in there too.

Once it's closed its water tight…so you'll want food that has a long shelf life…something you won't have to worry about for a few years.  I spent quite a bit of time researching online for Gluten-Free Emergency foods and found a couple sites. They have many Gluten-Free choices and you can purchase things in smaller airtight pouches, and the shelf life is five to twenty years.

I decided not to include anything that might have a shorter shelf life.  I could always pack those things separately a little more last minute if needed.  Protein Bars, Energy Bars, Vitamin/Mineral Supplements, Dried Fruit and Nuts...these are all things I keep well stocked during the Season, but continue to use rather than waste storing them beyond their freshness dates. Even if you do need to open the bucket to remove any outdated 'goodies' and replace them with fresh, don't worry - you can get a new top at Home Depot to reseal the bucket.

And don't forget to store your sunscreen (the strongest you can find), some chap stick and of course bug spray!! Here in Florida these are just about as indispensable as the Gluten-Free food is.

If you get evacuated to an Emergency Shelter take the bucket with you. You’ll find beds and clean linens and hundreds of people without a clue about eating Gluten-Free.  So take care of yourself and bring everything you’ll need with you.  That way you can still eat safe and the only thing you’ll need to have is water to prepare your own food.

I packed my bucket for about $150.00 – a 1 weeks supply of Gluten-Free Food along with Antiseptic, Band-Aids, Batteries, Bug Spray, Flashlight, Freezer Bags, Garbage Bags, Gluten-Free Dehydrated Food, Hand Sanitizer, Knife/Fork/Spoon, Pens/Paper, Playing Cards, Pocket Games, Scissors, Soap, Stick Matches, Sun Block, Toilet Paper, Water, Work Gloves.  I’m honestly hoping that I’ve wasted my money…I don’t ever really want to need to use what’s been packed inside that bucket.

Wise Company, Gluten-Free Food Buckets

We carry a wide variety of gluten free survival food and invite you to take a look at the many different gluten free survival food kits we carry.

https://www.wisefoodstorage.com/emergency-food-kits-supplies/gluten-free-food-storage.html

Legacy Food Storage, Gluten-Free Collections
Legacy Food Storage. Enjoy a large selection of truly delicious, long term emergency gluten free food storage.

https://www.legacyfoodstorage.com/collections/gluten-free

Augason Farms, Gluten-Free Food Kits

At Augason Farms we have everything you need providing vital nutrition for the individual with the most meticulous of dietary requirements. And of course, all of our gluten free products have an extensive shelf life and are designed with emergency preparedness in mind.

https://www.augasonfarms.com/gluten-free

Carolanne LeBlanc

Website:  http://glutenfreeforlifeexpo1.blogspot.com

Email:  GlutenFreeforLifeExpo@Gmail.com

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida

Meeting:  4th Saturday of every month except December
               Imperial Palms, East Clubhouse
               101 Imperial Palm Drive
               Largo, Florida  33771

Discovery Cove, Orlando FL – Gluten-Free Safe

Discovery Cove, Orlando FL – Gluten-Free Safe

http://www.discoverycove.com

No crowds. No turnstiles. Imagine a place where you and your family can touch and swim with dolphins, wade with mysterious rays, snorkel among thousands of exotic fish, hand-feed tropical birds in a free-flight aviary and relax on pristine beaches. Discover an all-inclusive day resort experience that’s one of a kind. Because attendance is limited to about 1,300 guests a day, ensuring no overcrowding and extraordinary guest service. Discovery Cove is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

Discovery Cove was incredible!  To my surprise, Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida turned out to be an incredible place to visit and be Gluten-Free safe.  Who knew?  This Park is pretty pricey but it’s all-inclusive…which means that for your entry fee they provide everything you might need for your day.  And I mean everything!  Sun protection, all you can drink, all you can eat, snacks, towels, life vests, wet suits, and even snorkels and masks…everything.  And once inside the entire park is designed for you to spend the day in your bathing suit and water shoes.

You can tackle this park in two directions…relaxing or exciting. If you like things calm, relaxing, & tranquil start with the Wind Away River up front and work your way towards the back to finish off your day swimming with the sharks & stingrays.  If you like things active, exciting, and adventurous then head straight for the Grand Reef and work your way forward to finish off your day with a relaxing float.  Either way works out to be a wonderful day.

One of the rules that are strictly enforced, to protect the safety of the animals, is that you’re not allowed to bring anything but a change of clothing into the park. So that means you’re not allowed to bring in any kind of Gluten-Free foods or drinks. I have to admit I was extremely reluctant to spend an entire day trapped in an amusement park with nothing but my bathing suit, water shoes and snorkel.  Especially since I know they’re an affiliate park to Busch Gardens in Tampa where I’ve been terribly disappointed in their ability to keep me Gluten-Free safe.

Now I don’t know about you, but having the trots in a wet bathing suit is most definitely NOT something I was interested in experiencing.  So thinking I would be spending the entire day with nothing to eat or drink I made my girls join me in having a hearty, Gluten-Free safe, breakfast before we headed out for the day.

We arrived at the park early along with everyone else only to discover…they serve breakfast too!  Since we weren’t hungry we headed straight for the first pool and jumped right in.  It didn’t seem like too long before the girls decided it was snack time so we went in search of food & drink for them.  We discovered that aside from the main Food Pavilion that serves breakfast and lunch (no charge, remember) there were also many small snack stands tucked out of the way.  They had quite a selection of frozen drinks, icee’s, fresh fruit, soda, juice, chips, cookies…even alcohol!  Oh my!  So I bravely walked up and asked if they had anything Gluten-Free.  I wasn’t expecting much…but I was asked to wait a minute while they looked in the back and then came out with a small sealed snack bag full of Gluten-Free goodies!!  Double Oh My!! You couldn’t get the smile off my face I was so happy as I enjoyed my snack and frozen drink.

By lunch time we were all very hungry as we wandered over to the Food Pavilion.  Lunch is served buffet style there and knowing I would hold up the line I opted to sit and reserve our table while everyone else went to get their food first.  I figured that at the very least I could get another snack bag from one of the little stands nearby.  Was I surprised when my girls brought back a full lunch for me!  Have I told you how well my beautiful daughters take care of me?  They had spoken to the Chef, explained what was needed and he immediately returned with a plateful of chicken, rice and vegetables for me!  I was thrilled and was able to appreciate my meal with my daughters and grandchildren.  What a beautiful way to spend a day and we’re already planning on going back again.

They do recommend you contact them before your visit if you have any special dietary requests or questions
DCO-GuestRelations@discoverycove.com.  
Discovery Cove asks that you always ask for a supervisor and to visit meal facilities during non-peak hours or ahead of meal time so that you can be efficiently assisted and served.  And always ask about cross-contact potential. Not all of their meal facilities are free from cross contact. In order to ensure your meal is safe, please discuss the preparation process for your meal with the supervisor as you place your order to ensure no cross-contact takes place.

Carolanne LeBlanc

Website:  http://glutenfreeforlifeexpo1.blogspot.com

Email:  GlutenFreeforLifeExpo@Gmail.com

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida

Meeting:  4th Saturday of every month except December
               Imperial Palms, East Clubhouse
               101 Imperial Palm Drive
               Largo, Florida  33771

My adventures in Peru, Gluten-Free

My adventures in Peru, Gluten-Free

What an incredible trip. The experiences were wonderful!! And yes, I did eat guinea pig...and alpaca...and we had Pisco Sours to drink...oh my!!  I have to admit I was a bit nervous about being Gluten-Free in a strange country where I didn't understand the language. I made copies of my Spanish Triumph Dining Card…what a lifesaver!! I used it everywhere…and everyone was more than helpful.  I would hand my Gluten-Free Triumph Dining Card (written in Spanish) to the waiter, they took a moment to read it carefully, and then proceeded to point to the menu and tell me exactly what was safe for me to eat. Such a wonderful pleasure!! My meals were just incredible. I enjoyed some truly unique flavors!! 

My friends got a little adventurous and we all tried both the Alpaca and the Cuy (guinea pig) and were not disappointed. We were grateful to find the Cuy properly cut up and beautifully plated and not just displayed as a dead animal on the plate like you always see on the travel sites. We always finished off our meal with a round of Café con Leche, and even ordered some delicious desserts to go so that we could enjoy them later in the evening. It was amazing some of the wonderful things that I got to enjoy. Really fresh, gourmet dishes prepared especially for me! What an experience!!

It was a real struggle getting used to the high altitude...but the coca leaves are a true lifesaver. We stayed in Cusco for a few days just to get used to the altitude.  We drank the tea whenever we could get it...and chewed the leaves during our walking and shopping. Its great stuff...but truly only works best at very high altitudes. The weather was just incredible...nice and cool during the day and chilly at night. No BUGS!! Oh my goodness!! No BUGS! I only saw one really tired looking fly...sitting on the window sill gasping for breath!!

PLEASE SEND TOILET SEATS TO PERU!! 

THEY HAVE TOILETS…BUT NO SEATS!!

We spent two weeks in Peru from Lima, to Cusco, to Aqua Caliente, to Puerto Maldonado, and back to Lima. Everywhere we went it was the same...no toilet seats...in restaurants, in market places, in stores, even in the eco lodges, everywhere except our hotels. While it’s probably not the case in some places…it was certainly a rarity to see toilet seats in much of the Peru that we visited. From Cusco, to Aqua Caliente, to Puerto Maldonado; it didn’t matter the quality of the establishment – we were taking our chances when visiting the restrooms. They were easy enough to find, no matter where we traveled, but cleanliness didn’t seem to be a priority. Our Hotels were the only exception since we stayed in some exceptional places. In the public markets and such 50 Centavos buys you 10 squares of Toilet Paper. Then you need to decide if you want to line the bowl with it to protect your backside...or just tough it out and use it for its intended purpose!! Toilet Paper...never leave home without it!! We all carried those travel sized packages of tissue paper along with pocket sized anti-bacterial wipes; since sinks with soap and water were also rare. We never let any of this slow us down, or spoil our enjoyment of such an incredible country. The opportunity to explore Peru was worth the minor discomforts of a dirty restroom.

One morning at 5:30am we left on the Peru Rail to go to Aquas Caliente and our visit to Machu Picchu. It's a tiny little town built clinging to the side of a steep mountain. Rail is the ONLY way to get there. They have NO streets and NO cars at all!! But they do have hundreds and hundreds of stairs!!  Oh My!! All supplies are moved by wheelbarrow and ramps up the side of the mountain...and those poor men huff n puff all the way to the top.  

Little kids were out and about on their tricycles or big wheel bikes…and always, always the bikes were connected to an adult by a thick, strong rope.  Our Hostel was great...it was situated halfway up the side. We had the best room in the place...two walls of just windows overlooking the Square and the Mountain View...just incredible!! Our beds were comfy and warm...and the bathroom was clean :-) with a seat...hehehe. We had all the modern conveniences...it was very strange to find out that there were women in the cellar hand-washing all our linens and things in huge tubs!! On scrub boards!!

Machu Pichu was such an incredible journey...by bus up another mountainside.  They had to truck all the buses up by rail...and create the only road in the area just for the buses. The mountainside is sooooo steep that they have to use 'switchbacks' to go up and down...zigzagging back and forth about 10 times just to make the steep climb. And that's all the buses do all day long...about 12 of them. Up and down, up and down.

This is a picture of me standing on the edge of the world...only one step away from the afterlife!! And yes, that is absolute terrified fear on my face! But I did it!! And I think I look pretty cute in my little blue hat!! More later!!

Sonqongi Apukuna Wak'aychasunkiku

(Quechoa - May the Heart of the Mountain bless you)

Carolanne LeBlanc

Website:  http://glutenfreeforlifeexpo1.blogspot.com

Email:  GlutenFreeforLifeExpo@Gmail.com

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida

Meeting:  4th Saturday of every month except December
               Imperial Palms, East Clubhouse
               101 Imperial Palm Drive
               Largo, Florida  33771

Vacation Rentals, Gluten-Free Safe

Vacation Rentals, Gluten-Free Safe

One of my favorite ways to travel or take a break is using Vacation Rentals. I always seem to travel with a troop…anywhere from 4 to 40 people…and we very seldom stay in hotels.  If we’re not on a Cruise Ship somewhere…we’re in one of these private homes.  From screened huts in Peru, to mobile homes in Florida, log cabins in Tennessee, thatched cottages in Ireland and even a castle in Scotland…Vacation Rentals are a great way to go!  They come in absolutely every size, shape and location you can imagine, from dirt cheap to as extravagant as you can dream, there are very few limits.

And the best part? My own kitchen!  Traveling Gluten-Free can be a real challenge at times and I love being able to prepare my own meals on occasion, on my own terms without worrying about someone else’s carelessness.  Yes, we do eat out when we travel.  But we also love to eat in as well.  I will admit travel with people who love food as much as I do really makes the trip so much more enjoyable.  And we all love to immerse ourselves in the local culture which means local food as well.

We have one rule when we travel…we never eat, shop, or explore anything we could do at home. That means when we shop for Gluten-Free food we stick to local as well.  And it’s a lot easier than you’d expect if you eat real food…fresh fruits, vegetables & proteins. I’ve also found that countries outside the U S are truly much more Gluten-Free safe than I had imagined.  I still use my Triumph Dining Cards all the time…even when grocery shopping and I can’t read the labels.  And yes, we were able to find a Gluten-Free Haggis in Scotland…but I won’t tell you what I thought about it, you’ll need to find out for yourself.

Generally, the kitchen in our Vacation Rentals have been pretty clean and neat.  There is NO maid service but they do have a cleaning crew go through the house from top to bottom before you move in and then again after you move out.  So the kitchens have never really been a problem for me.  The first thing we do upon arriving is inspect the house, find our bedrooms and begin making a note of items we’ll need to shop for.  Usually tops on the list is soaps & paper products for the kitchen, bath and laundry. 

I check out the kitchen.  Glass is my friend!  I love finding glass and ceramic dishes, glasses, cups, bowls and baking pans!  When in doubt…wash it out!  Plastic gets shoved to the back of the shelf…I don’t like using it.  Pots & pans take a ton of abuse so I inspect them closely.  Scratches, dents, unknown burnt bits…those get shoved to the back of the shelf as well.  If I have to, I’ll purchase my own trusty fry pan to use while I’m there and then simply leave it behind when I’m gone.  I absolutely dislike aluminum…but if needed I’ll sacrifice my dislike and purchase aluminum baking/roasting pans and foil…simply to protect myself.  I’ve also been known to convert the entire kitchen to disposables if absolutely nothing in the kitchen is safe to eat from.

Can this get expensive?  Perhaps.  But not so much when you consider my share of renting the house can be as little as $10.00 a night!  You probably won’t find any hotel that cheap…and if you do you might not want to walk outside alone. And if eating unsafe food puts me into a hospital in a foreign country…well, I don’t think that's very cost effective either.  So I consider the costs for my Gluten-Free safety and put those right into my travel budget too.  And since we all eat the same food we all share the food budget as well.

When we shop we like to stock the kitchen with only the basics.  Good simple things that can be converted easily into a tasty meal.  Here are some of the basics we shop for, you'll need to adjust according to your needs - Bacon, Broth, Butter, Chicken, Chips, Coffee, Creamer, Dish Soap, Dried Fruit, Eggs, Fresh Fruit, Fresh Vegetables, Garlic, Hamburger, Hand Soap, Juice, Milk, Nuts, Oil, Onions, Paper Towels, Pepper, Potatoes, Rice, Salt, Sausage, Tea, Toilet Paper, Trash Bags, Snack Bars, Sugar.

Breakfast foods…since we normally don’t leave the house without a good hearty breakfast first.  Snacks…don't forget stuff that’s not too tender and can easily be thrown into a backpack or purse for the day.  Drinks…I’m sorry, I don’t begin my day without my coffee.  Basics...salt, pepper, onions, garlic, oil, butter, etc.  We try to stay away from processed foods...UNLESS...we find something particular to the location that is clearly marked Gluten-Free. Normally, I don't eat that sort of thing at home, but on vacation or a break I love to indulge and try new things.

I never leave the house without eating breakfast first...and I always carry something with me for our day out.  Others may stop and eat whenever, wherever they want...for me it's not so easy so I make certain I'm prepared. Dinner is always a planned event, whether we shop and make it at the house, or find a restaurant in our travels where we can all stop and enjoy a great meal.

Oh...and if you were wondering...the pictures on this page are all Vacation Rentals we've used over the years :-)  They're easy enough to find if you can Google.  In the U S use the key words "Vacation Rental" and the location you're interested in.  Outside the U S use the key words "Self Catering" along with the country you want to search.

Carolanne LeBlanc

Website:  http://glutenfreeforlifeexpo1.blogspot.com

Email:  GlutenFreeforLifeExpo@Gmail.com

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida

Meeting:  4th Saturday of every month except December
               Imperial Palms, East Clubhouse
               101 Imperial Palm Drive
               Largo, Florida  33771