Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Amusement Park Fun

This is our first summer tackling diabetes and celiac disease.  As a family, we always look forward to our summer amusement park visit.

I have to say that I'm a little apprehensive on how to tackle this situation, especially the challenging food issues.  It saddens me that we won't be indulging in funnel cake, cotton candy and all the other fun amusement park food must haves.  Let's face it, food is definitely part of the fun!  I'll definitely miss just being able to get something to eat when we're hungry.  This is the stuff that plays with my mind and gets me down.  I worry how these situations affect Andrew and I worry how they also affect my other two children.  I'm still trying to accept that we have a "new normal" lifestyle.

Andrew's currently on a slide scale, so his insulin needs should be pretty easy to figure out as long as D doesn't act up throughout the day.  I plan to take my frio bag for his insulin and pack some low blood sugar fixes.

My dilemma is with the celiac disease.  Because Andrew has a hybrid of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, he has to control his carb intake to keep insulin resistance at bay.  The amusement Park's gluten free menu consists of  fries, cotton candy, hot dog, hamburger and ice cream.  Well, the fries are too fattening, cotton candy is too much sugar, I wouldn't trust the vendors with the hot dog and hamburger since they will be touching wheat buns all day long and the ice cream has sugar.  What the heck are we to feed him?

I'll have to pack him gluten free food for lunch, dinner and snacks.  For lunch, I can pack a gluten free rice cake with peanut butter, veggies and fruit.  What can I take for dinner?  Anyone know of a good gluten free pasta salad?  I think there is a TGIF near the park.  I'll have to check out their menu.  I guess I'll take nuts and cheese sticks for snacks.  I have a cooler on wheels that I intend to stuff everything into.  Then I have to cross my fingers that they let me take it in the park.

Please feel free to share your amusement park tips!!!  

3 comments:

  1. Well...I really can't be of much help. I don't know much about celiac.

    But I will say....good for you! It's going to be a challenge, but you're not backing away.

    If it were me, I would just let him eat what he wants (and is gluten-free of course) and then plan to check and correct.

    That's kind of our rule-of-thumb when we're SWAGing. Check a lot and stay on top of any corrections. I don't think you can mess up too much if you do that.

    You're going to do great and it's going to get easier! : )

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  2. Umm..I have a recipe for chicken and wild rice salad, my kids like it and it's served cold ; ) Here's the link:
    http://www.blessedholly.com/2011/06/unrust-me.html

    or baked potatoes out? I'll keep thinking. We like apples with peanut butter too : )

    Good luck at the park! : ) Holly

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  3. Thank you so much for the encouragement Tracy!

    Holly, I never thought of potatoes! Thank you so much! I will definitely check out your recipe. We LOVE apple and peanut butter!

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