Traveling with PKU is difficult for me. It is possible, it just takes a lot of prepping, planning and organization. No matter how prepared I think I am , something always throws me off. I think if I was asked what my biggest challenge about trying to be compliant with my diet, I would say traveling . Even though we have never gone very far or traveled by air. The farthest we have been is a road trip to Edmonton Alberta this summer. Even then it was hard for me.  When we lived in Victoria, just traveling to Clinton had its challenges. I always have so much luggage compared to Cole. Even now when we drive out for a weekend it has its challenges.

The most traveling we do is, back home to the island to visit family, to Vancouver for PKU events, and every now and then to visit friends, Edmonton, Castelgar/ Trail, Qusenl and even to Clinton on weekends.

We hope one day to travel father, specially on a nice vacation. Cuba, Mexico or Hawaii.

For now, when we travel for vacations, I always bring a lot with me! usually prepping a few days before and packing the day before so to not miss anything. I bring with me a case of formula, because you never know what may happen. if you decide to stay longer or if something happens. I always feel safer with extra formula. I bring baked foods, such as my pizza pops.  Buns, and a few loafs of bread.  I bring extra water bottles for formula, and lots and lots of straws , even at 27 years old I cannot drink my formula with out them. I also bring all my MIO’s to flavor my formula.  I bring snacks for the road trip such as dried fruit, cereal, and things that don’t need to be heated or cooked. Lots of water, low protein cookies, salad or sand-whiches in Tupperware . Also canned fruit, peaches pears and applesauce. We always take a cooler for those things and anything that needs to be kept cold. We bring a back pack of all the food not needed to store. I also bring my low protein Dayia cheese, So delicious coconut milk, lots of applesauce. I also bring lots of bags of my Aproten Pasta and Rice. Even bring Miracle whip so if all else fails I can make a pasta salad.

So even with all this prepping and planning why do I always fall off track when we go away? Well eating out, eating on the go, eating on the road, and family or friends meals. When you are not in control of what is being made or making it yourself its so much harder.  Or when you are staying with friends and family and you don’t feel comfortable in their kitchen or even cooking in their space.

Even though we bring food for the road, its never what we want to eat, in that moment. It keeps us going but if we have time to stop Cole and I like to get an actual sit down meal in at a restaurant. Then when we are visiting friends or family away from Clinton , like back on the island we have so many people to visit and running around to do, we end up grabbing something in between visits. For me my go to on the go fast food is sushi, my downfall. yam tempera roll and an avocado roll.

Last time we went to Victoria I was taking part in the 30 day young and raw green smoothie challenge so I had all my veggies and fruit with me including my blender and coconut water. Though I totally did not continue after a few days after arriving.

Longer stays are always harder. It usually means more things to pack to. Sometimes I feel like I’m bringing everything but the kitchen sink with me.

When we do finally get to travel abroad, I will have to have a letter for customs for my food and formula and a letter from my doctor at my pku clinic.  I will also have to call ahead to make arrangements with the hotel. I will need to arrange for a kitchenette. When we get a hotel anywhere I always make sure I have at least a fridge and access to a microwave. I usually will research the hotel to see if there is a restaurant and what they serve. Also if they can accommodate me.

When we travel abroad I will also need a letter for extra baggage for my food and formula. I will have a few water bottles and straws , a few packages of formula, and some pizza pops in my carry on. My biggest night mare is that they loose my luggage and my formula. So I plan to keep a week worth of packages in my carry on. I know some people will have their formula shipped ahead to their destination but I think that there is a lot more hassle along with that. I think when we travel I will reach out to my  PKU network and see if there is anyone with PKU in that area that I can connect with, mostly for a meet and great, but also in case of emergency its nice to know they are there. I am more than willing to opening myself to anyone with PKU traveling through kamloops if they need anything or want to meet.

I know many many people who travel with PKU and with little children. It is more than possible, please do not be discouraged.  Instead be encouraged, do not let PKU stop you from traveling and seeing the world. Every day with PKU is planning, prepping and preparing, traveling just takes a little more. I have always said, there is this hole world out there, most people only see it in books and on TV. I want to see it, I want to live it and be apart of it.

I will not let my PKU hold me back, the only thing holding me back from going right now is fiances. There is always something right?