Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Sending gluten-free Kid To Camp

Bobbie Jo

Recommended Posts

Bobbie Jo Rookie
Bobbie Jo
Posted

Any tips on sending a week's worth of food to camp on a bus? My plan so far is to label everything by meal and day and pack it in dry ice. College kids will be running the kitchen and my son will not be allowed to prepare his food.

A lot of things on the camp menu he can eat, so I'm just subbing the things he can't, like parmesian chicken, burritos, roast, pizza, brownies.... lots of cooking to do!

But the camp is 6 hours away and I have to put him and his food on a bus.

Thanks!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Victoria6102 Contributor
Victoria6102
Posted

First, it probably won't be very safe for him to eat any of the food prepared at the camp.CC is wayyy too risky, atleast it would be for me. Maybe it would be safer to send all his food? :)

Second, you will be able to pack his weeks worth of food just fine! I've travelled to Africa and Canada, and gone to many youth camps in just the past year and a half I've had celiac.

Will he have access to a microwave?

And does he have any other allergies/intolerances besides gluten?

What I do for trips is pack either 1 or 2 chicken salads in a lunchbag to bring with me in the car for while im traveling. Since you said its 6 hours away, I'm assuming they will be having lunch and dinner on the road? If not, he will have the extra salad for dinner when he gets to the camp.

For the other meals, make some more chicken salads, and maybe some rice/chicken/vegetable meals. Worse comes to worse, you can eat that cold its not a big deal. If he will have access to a microwave, healthy choice is made by con Agra so read the labels, but the chicken rice soup is gluten free. They sell it in containers ready to put in the microwave. Same with hormel beef stew. Gluten free and ready to cook in the microwave.

If a microwave isn't available, GoPicnics are great! Search it on google and the website will pop up. They have many gluten free options, and that's what I basically survived on in Africa. They don't need to be refrigerated or heated up!

Hope that helps a little bit!:)

Googles Community Regular
Googles
Posted

I agree with the previous poster. You don't want to depend on the the camp to be able to keep his food gluten free if he is eating what they are serving. Having been a camp counselor (before diagnosis), there are so many ways that things can go wrong. I would suggest that you send all food for meals and snacks (we had the opportunity for children to buy snacks from the camp store daily) that you want him to eat with him. We have chefs who can't keep food gluten free when in a restaurant (even though they try). I would not trust a mass food making process for a summer camp to be able to do it. Camp for a child would be miserable if he started having problems. I don't know if he has digestive issues when glutened, but often at camps (depending on the camp) bathrooms are not right there. And things like hikes and such can take children away from main camp to other activities where there may not be a bathroom available nearby. So the more careful you are the better. There are too many steps where it comes to children and food and summer camp. Just like I wouldn't have a child eat school lunch, I don't think it would be good to have your son eat food prepared by the camp. If you can talk to his actual camp counselor who will be with him when he eats (his cabin counselor or another counselor), I think this is a good idea. Otherwise information they are getting will be like the game of telephone, and we all know how bad that is. Also LABEL, LABEL, LABEL! Good luck.

One other thing: You will want to figure out who is going to be giving him access to his food. I know when I was a camp counselor, meds were given out at meals (along with other times as needed). This means the camp nurse or doctor may be dealing with his food since it is a medical issue. I'm sure you have already thought of this and talked to the camp, but just wanted to add it on. Meals are always chaotic (at all camps I've been to) because both the campers and the staff are hungry and so everyone wants food.

Bobbie Jo Rookie
Bobbie Jo
Posted
  • Author

I'm getting worried:( Will think thru all of this.

His symptoms are not as bad as mine and my daughter's, he gets more tired than anything if glutenated. Still, it would take away from the fun.

Thanks for these tips though. Being the adventurer he is, he's got to learn to travel and eat gluten-free, like you do Victoria. And thanks for the camp counselor viewpoint Googles.

If he was very sensitive, I would not send him. It looks like I will just need to pack a lot of food.

Thanks again.

Victoria6102 Contributor
Victoria6102
Posted

Please, don't get worried! It will all be fine! How old is your son, a young child or a teenager? Does he take care to make sure he eats safely or does he eat gluten when not with you?

  • 1 month later...
Bobbie Jo Rookie
Bobbie Jo
Posted
  • Author

Camp went GREAT! I called the kitchen ahead of time and they actually were trained in how to handle gluten free diets! They even told me how to pack his food. It was expensive - I spent about $170 on gluten free foods for a week, but - they were mostly prepacked, meal sized and microwavable. I got a list of the menu and tried to pack food similar to what other kids were eating. I labeled it in a baggie which meal was for what day and mealtime, then I stored everything perishable in an icechest with dry ice.

Kids at camp were jealous of the foods my son was eating (especially the precooked ribs that I packed), and saying "I want to go gluten free too!")

I even put in some gluten free graham crackers for smores, which my son said was okay.

The only thing he said that didn't work were the gluten free hamburger buns that he said just crumbled.

This camp, by the way, is Kanakuk in Missouri, if anyone is interested in sending their child to an awesome camp where they really care.

Pricey camp, but worth every penny.

Thanks again Victoria and Googles for helping me get serious about this and the tips!

Googles Community Regular
Googles
Posted

I'm glad to hear that camp went so well!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      128,874
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    LeeD
    Newest Member
    LeeD
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.1k
    • Total Posts
      71.3k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      How long after being diagnosed with Celiac do you feel better?

      By trents · Posted

      Thanks for sharing, Karen. Certainly a needed reminder what we already knew (and I've posted many times on this forum) but sometimes forget, namely, autoimmune disorders tend to cluster. Where one is found, you can look for others to show up eventually. The thing that is unusual in your son's case is the onset of several of them at such a young age. My sister in law, who is in her early 60's has Crohn's and struggles with constipation so I don't think that is unusual with Crohn's. If nothing else, it's the outcome of not eating much because of the pain. Now that you know what is going on with your son and the Crohn's, we hope he is beginning to improve.
    • Nathan.
      How long after being diagnosed with Celiac do you feel better?

      By Nathan. · Posted

      Hi there. My son is turning 16 this month. He had an endoscopy and biopsy to confirm celiac. He went gluten-free and his pain never got any better. I think it got worse. Months went by. The pain started around 7th grade. He missed a lot of school in 8th grade, and a whole lot in 9th grade. He couldn't go to school in 10th grade. All along the gastroenterologist prescribed Hyoscyamine, didn't help at all. Cyproheptadine, no less pain. Peppermint oil, ginger, Miralax, Senna. Doc said he was constipated, but I couldn't get him to have Miralax daily. Eventually he went on Linzess and no senna or Miralax. Sorry this is long, there will be a point.  We gave his school not just a doctors not, but everything, and U of M makes a lot of notes. They still turned us in for Truancy.  I didn't get him enrolled in online school fast enough.  The school would not recommend an online school and i didn't know which one to choose.  Doc thought it was nerve pain and mental. He recommended the u of m my pain program.  Nathan did so good, 3 days a week supposed to be for 4 weeks.  Never missed, always on time.   After two weeks, they discharged him. Said it was not  benefitting him.  Pain went on. I had been asking if there were any other test they could do. Ultrasound, colonoscopy. Doc said we can do it, but I don't think we'll find anything.  Finally he had a colonoscopy and another endoscopy.  Guess what, they did find something. They found a ton of tiny ulcers everywhere, from the esophagus to his rectum. They think Crohn's. I understand they didn't check for that because he was more constipated, not much diarrhea. He is getting an MRI with contrast on Sunday. Also they want him to do a cal-protectin (give a poop sample). Then an appointment on the 16th to talk about treatment. Then the probation officer on the 17th. In the meantime he is taking Budesonide extended release.  $276.00 for 30 pills, and that's with insurance. Also he was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, Graves disease a few months ago. If it is for sure Crohn's,  it will be three autoimmune diseases. If someone is gluten-free for a month or more, and the pain is no better, don't stop looking. I was beside myself. Did they think he was exaggerating, lying? I was considering taking him to a holistic doctor, who would probably recommend Peppermint oil and ginger.  He's such a good kid. Kind of an introvert. He was on the 9th grade soccer team. He would try to go to practice and kept having to stop, the pain was that bad. Every time he ate, it didn't matter what, gluten-free chicken tenders, mac and cheese, pizza, ice cream, all gluten-free, he would eat a normal amount but stop and say, I can't eat anymore, my stomach hurts.  If anyone reads all this, thank you. I had a gut feeling, no pun intended, that he had an additional problem. They found celiac and stopped looking. If you don't feel better, keep on your doctor to check further, keep looking.   Take care, Karen  
    • Scott Adams
      Recent blood test results check in - TTG- IGA

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Most likely cross-contamination I believe.
    • cristiana
      How long after being diagnosed with Celiac do you feel better?

      By cristiana · Posted

      I think it takes different people different amounts of time, but in my own case I had pain,  bloating and loose stools for some time, exacerbated by a lactose intolerance, which eventually went.  I would say the really bad diarrhea got better quite quickly, but the bloating pain carried on for a few months, until I was told to give up lactose for a few weeks.  That helped enormously and once I realised milk and yoghurt was the cause, after a short break I went back to lactose very gradually and felt a lot better.  Now I can tolerate it well. From Coeliac UK "The enzyme lactase is found in the brush border of the small intestine. This is why people with coeliac disease can be deficient in lactase at diagnosis. Once established on a gluten free diet, the gut is able to heal and lactose digestion returns to normal. Lactose intolerance is therefore usually temporary." So if this helps your daughter, this doesn't mean you have to give up lactose forever, especially as dairy is such a good source of calcium for growing kids.   Bear in mind you should be able to reintroduce it. As for fatigue, this can be due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies,such as iron, vitamin D and B12.  Were these levels tested?  If not, I would suggest you get them done.  If your daughter is deficient in these, it is vital you address the deficiencies, and get the tests redone in a few months, particularly the iron, because too much can be dangerous.
    • knitty kitty
      Inhaler problem

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello,   The medication in these inhalers can cause a thiamine deficiency if used by someone already low in thiamine.  We don't absorb sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals due to the inflammation and damage done to our villi in Celiac Disease.  Even a long term strict gluten free diet may not provide sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals.  There are eight B vitamins that all work together.  Thiamine deficiency often shows up first because our bodies use so much of it and it can't be stored very long. Thiamine deficiency symptoms can appear in as little as three days.  Without thiamine, the other B vitamins may not be able to function properly.   Thiamine is needed to clear lactic acid accumulation caused by the inhalers: Shoshin beriberi provoked by the inhalation of salbutamol https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12951730/    Significant Lactic Acidosis from Albuterol https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5965110/ Albuterol-Induced Type B Lactic Acidosis: Not an Uncommon Finding https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7263006/ Lessons of the month 1: Salbutamol induced lactic acidosis: clinically recognised but often forgotten https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6964186/ An Overview of Type B Lactic Acidosis Due to Thiamine (B1) Deficiency https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10731935/   Thiamine has antifungal and antibacterial properties.  Thiamine helps keep Candida in check.  Thiamine helps keep SIBO in check.  Thiamine helps with black mold, Aspergillis infection.  Riboflavin helps fight Candida infection in the mouth. Riboflavin Targets the Cellular Metabolic and Ribosomal Pathways of Candida albicans In Vitro and Exhibits Efficacy against Oropharyngeal Candidiasis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36625571/   Thiamine deficiency can make ones voice hoarse and can cause localized edema.  Niacin deficiency can make ones voice hoarse.  (Niacin deficiency and Thiamine deficiency can each cause irritability, agitation, and lability.) Hoarseness in pellagra https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21507655/ Hidden Hunger: A Pellagra Case Report https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8152714/   Anesthesia can cause B12 deficiency.  B12 deficiency can show up as mouth sores and geographic tongue, diarrhea, and dementia. Vitamin deficiency, a neglected risk factor for post-anesthesia complications: a systematic review https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11823251/ Neurologic degeneration associated with nitrous oxide anesthesia in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8250714/ Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord following nitrous oxide anesthesia: A systematic review of cases https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30144777/ The Effect of Vitamin B12 Infusion on Prevention of Nitrous Oxide-induced Homocysteine Increase: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4052402/     Eating a diet that is heavy in carbohydrates can precipitate a thiamine deficiency.  As the amount of carbohydrates consumed increases, additional thiamine is needed, otherwise the carbs will be stored as fat.   Thiamine deficiency disorders: a clinical perspective https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8451766/   Hiding in Plain Sight: Modern Thiamine Deficiency https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8533683/   The deficiency symptoms of some of the B vitamins cause gastrointestinal symptoms that resemble the same symptoms as when being glutened.   Thiamine deficiency can present as vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain (Gastrointestinal Beriberi).  Niacin deficiency can present as diarrhea (Pellagra = diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia, then death ).  B12 deficiency can present as diarrhea or dementia.  Not everything is caused by hidden gluten.  Gluten free processed foods are not required to be enriched with vitamins lost in processing like gluten containing foods are. Blood tests are not accurate measurements of vitamin levels, but do talk to your doctor and nutritionist about supplementing with the eight B vitamins, Vitamin C, the four fat soluble vitamins and minerals like magnesium.  Your physician can give you a shot of B12 before anesthesia administration.   By the way, Celiac Disease genes have been traced back to having originated in Neanderthals.  I'm not a singing teacher on the net.  I earned a degree in Microbiology after studying nutrition because I wanted to know what vitamins are doing inside the body.  I've experienced nutritional deficiencies myself. Hope this helps!  Keep us posted on your progress!
×
×
  • Create New...