Traveling with a celiac kid
M with the owner of Suzy Scoops in Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Traveling with a Celiac kid who also happens to be super picky is challenging. She eats a lot of salads and a lot of salmon. Recently she added lettuce-wrapped burgers to her repertoire which would have been nice last summer when we were on the road for five weeks! We do the best we can finding restaurants that she can eat it, whether they are certified GF (most are not) or “regular” restaurants. The work that goes into planning trips with this disease is extraordinary. It takes weeks and weeks because I have to account for every meal and snack.
We are four years into her diagnosis and M is now starting to grieve the loss that comes with this disease. I know reading that you may think; what’s the big deal? There is nothing to grieve it’s just gluten. But it’s not just about gluten. It’s about not being able to be completely spontaneous, it’s about not being able to eat the same things as your friends (for a 12-year-old it’s a lot of pizza and French fries), it’s watching your friends eat fries that are gluten free but fried in a shared fryer so you can’t have them. It’s about knowing the difference between gluten-free and Celiac-safe, it’s constantly reading labels, even from trusted brands. It’s having to always bring food with you because likely there will not be safe options.
So, when I find places that take extra care in keeping M safe I feel compelled to share. We found Suzy Scoops two years ago at our beloved Cannon Beach, OR. The owner was so patient, no matter how long the line was. She pulled fresh ice cream and used fresh scoops putting the risk of cross-contact at virtually zero. This was a HUGE deal to be able to safely have one of her favorite treats. M made a thank you note for her and we went about our lives.
Two years later, we walked into Suzy Scoops, the owner recognized us, remembered M’s order, and framed her note, placing it in front and center. She has earned lifetime customers for as long as she is in business. On this trip, she also had gluten-free cones to choose from. The owner also let us know she gets a lot of compliments and questions about M’s note which warms my heart. We now know we’ve helped other people on this journey.
Tonight, M asked for a double scoop and ended up with a triple! If you ever have the chance to visit Cannon Beach (you should) please stop by this darling ice cream shop. She will take fantastic care of you!
