OK, I must admit I am currently exhausted. I cannot say why, unless I over-exerted myself at the craft fair this afternoon (highly unlikely) even considering the length of time and number of wrong turns it took us to get there. I mention this only because I really should be going to bed right now. Not only do I have kiddos waiting for me tomorrow morning (yet sadly few leaders) bright and early, but I will also be leaving for beach camp! I am excited to spend a week away and get to spend it with great friends, leaders, and young girls that I hope to bond with. What am I NOT excited about? Food.
It's sad, I know. Food is usually more of a hobby for me than anything else. But this is one adventure I have yet to break into. I've camped before and I have even been to camp sans gluten and dairy. However, I have never combined actual camping with my new GFDF lifestyle. Kindly M offered to reimburse whatever food I had to purchase for the trip, but sadly that did not make the purchasing or planning part of it much easier!
There I sat on my living room floor, surrounded by cans of this or that, a bag of rice cakes, a few apples, and plenty of pre-packaged energy bars (amongst a few other items). The question(s) remain: what do I eat? when do I eat it? how do I draw the least amount of attention to myself? and how will I feel full while getting adequate nutrients?
I had (slim) hopes that I would be able to work somewhat around what the girls' menu would be for the week, but quickly that dream was squelched. Hot dogs and chili. Those are the two meals I can work with. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for those. I am thankful this is not the first adventure I am going on with food issues, thankful I have a supportive group of people that "understand" my problems, and thankful I have (sort of) means to take care of myself throughout the week. This is and will be one for the books.
If you are wondering what a GFDF person might purchase in preparation for beach camping (which I am sure you are), read below:
Tuna
Green Beans
Re-fried Beans
Corn
Peanut Butter
Rice Cakes
Turkey
Z-bars
Luna Bars
Trail Mix
Apples
Applesauce
Soup
Bagged Lettuce
Exciting, right? I feel like these are the sort of ingredients you might find on an episode of "Chopped" where top chefs are challenged to create 4-star courses with a selection of fresh, processed, canned, and otherwise inedible ingredients. If only I were so talents. Who knows. Maybe I will surprise myself, although that might be asking too much. At this point my goal is primarily to eat and not be noticed, not have to explain 32 different times (how many people will be there) why I am not eating what everyone else is. Well, since I am number 32, I guess that only makes 31 people to answer to. Joy.
I'll have to keep you posted on how this goes. Somehow I don't see this so much as a "Bear Hunt" as I do a killer whale to be reckoned with. Let's hope I don't pull a Jonah.
