Can everyone benefit from the use of Essential oils?

Photo by @verophotoart

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Through my health reset, my way of eating is now at a happy place with a Paleo Autoimmune/ Nutritional Ketosis approach,  so now I am exploring other useful tools to support my wellness. 

In this post,  I will be telling you why I chose Young Living Essential Oils amongst all the other companies out there and how I support my body's major systems with them. 

I know,  I am probably only one of millions of people using essential oils to support their health, so why should my post be any different?  Because,  as an IBD ( Inflammatory Bowel Disease ) warrior who is currently in remission,  I humbly remember what rock bottom means.  I still recall the windy curvy road to recovery and I know the fear of never being able to live a normal life is real.  For these reasons,   I will continue to do everything in my power to prevent myself from getting back to that dark and scary place and spread encouraging words to anyone trying to discover their wellness. 

A month ago,  I was honoured for being one of 19 most uplifting IBD bloggers for 2017 picked by mytherapyapp,  I am SO grateful for this recognition and THANK YOU all from the bottom of my heart for your support.  Knowing that my blog is reaching out to people on a similar journey, I am motivated to break out of my comfort zone and open up to share more of my beyond food resources.

I am passionate about encouraging people to conduct their own research so that they can find the right resource they truly need

How I got started with Essential oils

Let start by going back to my 20s. Like many young adults, I was going to school full-time, enrolled in an exciting but demanding arts and design program, working early opening shifts at a fast pace, well know coffee shop, and hanging out with friends in between it all. Sleep wasn't a priority, my diet was better than most students because I was living at home but I often indulged on the free flowing coffee and staff priced pastries from work and always kept a bottle of Pepto Bismol in my bag. Eventually, my body had enough, I started having excruciating stomach pains and knew that something was not right. After visiting a naturopath,  I started on an elimination diet. This diet consisted of white rice, chicken, zucchinis, pears, salt, pepper and thyme for seasoning. I used to carry a little rice cooker to school with my pre-cooked meals in them. Needless to say, my taste buds were very deprived.  Around that time,  one of my friends got a job at a new little aromatherapy shop in town. She introduced me to essential oils which filled the void my senses were missing from a restrictive diet. So I have been using essential oils on and off since then for emotional support but never imagined I would experience the supportive effects I do now with the highest quality essential oils on the market. 

A couple years ago,  a friend of mine told me about a really high-quality essential oil she is using,  Young Living.  She says that they are of highest therapeutic grade and I should try them out.  Since I already had a pretty good stash of essential oils from years of collecting them,  I tucked her offer way in the back of my mind. 

Through my friend's unwavering stand towards this brand of essential oils,  I was intrigued and finally bought myself a Premium Starter Kit.  It took me over a year to be convinced that the Young Living brand is unlike any other brands I have come across before but I had no idea how the simple kit of 11 oils,  a diffuser and a few of their other product samples can open a world of wellness tools I wish I have discovered earlier.

Why Young Living?

Not all essential oils are created equal

Through my on the fence time about Young Living,  I did some investigating on the company and their products.   I learned that they are one of the pioneers in the field and have been in business distilling essential oils for over 20 years.  Some of the factors that set them aside from the rest are owning their farms and running vigorous in-house and third party testings on all their products.  Their Seed to Seal promise is what sold me.  Starting with heirloom seeds collected from previous premium crops,  Young Living only plant on virgin soil,  never been touched by any pesticide.  To top it all, all their fields are hand weeded.  Basically, they take what they do VERY seriously while keeping a transparent profile for anyone who wants to learn more about their passion.

Beyond Food

Increasingly,  people are definitely paying attention to what they put in their mouths,  but why are most of them still turning a blind eye when it comes to what they put on their skin, the largest organ of the body, and what they allow to circulate in the air of their homes?

A Simple System

Removing as many synthetic chemicals as possible out of your home is the first step in reducing the toxic load in your everyday lives.

If you are like me, you must have been bombarded by too much information telling us what are the "safer" alternative products to use.  There are lots of " green " products from cleaning to personal care that toots a "safe" label on them,  but if you read the ingredients on these high price products,  they may include many chemicals the average person cannot pronounce.  It sure makes you think twice before buying them.  Once I dug deeper into the Young Living line of products,  I found that they already have ALL NATURAL plant derived products formulated for household cleaning.  My favourite is the THIEVES ALL PURPOSED CLEANER. It is in a concentrated form and can be diluted 1:15/ 1:30/ 1:50  to make a whole lot more cleaners.  For personal care,  you will love to hear that I make my own amazing and cost effective skin serums and shaving oils simply by adding my favourite essential oils to a carrier oil.  That's it!  No more super long and complicated chemical names.  Just two main ingredients - plants and oils. 

Click HERE to learn how to open your personal Wholesale Account and get some THANKYOU goodies from me 

Supporting MY body

I am still exploring the over 300 oils Young Living has to offer,  amongst the many I have tried, here are a few examples of ways I use my oils to support my wellness. 

Digestion

Digize is one of the top oil blends for supporting the digestive system.  It contains Tarragon, Ginger, Peppermint and Fennel as the main ingredients.  I like to inhale from putting some in the cup of my hand or to rub diluted with a carrier oil on my stomach for a soothing experience especially when I encounter questionable foods while eating out.

Essential Oils for Digestion support from Astrid Fox on Vimeo.

Mood

As a pick me up mood enhancer,  I turn to my citrus oils for their uplifting properties.  Tangerine, Grapefruit, and Bergamot,  to name a few are in my "happy" collection.  JOY is a blend that does exactly what the name says.  It contains citrus and floral essential oil that bring smiles to my face everytime I smell it.  I like to add these oils to my diffuser earrings so I can smell them when my earrings sway around. 

My Happy oils

Hormonal Support

Ah,  this is a big one!  Many women in my age group maybe experiencing unpleasant symptoms from Hormonal changes,  I am pleased to add Essential oils as one of my tools to support this natural transitional phase in life.  I use Progessence Phyto Plus, which was formulated to support women's health for a grounding yet uplifting effect.  This blend has White Yam Extract, Vitamin E,  Frankincense,  Rosewood,  and Bergamot. 

Clary Sage is another great hormone support oil.  I use to make my own skin serum and my latest favourite is a blend of Clary Sage, Grapefruit and a carrier oil for a no nick shaving oil. 

Before I wrap up on my experience with Young Living Essential oils,  I want to point out that 
my goal is to encourage people to conduct their own research so they can find the right resource they truly need.  Essential oils have transformed my entire wellbeing to a whole new level by supporting the major systems in my body, specifically my emotions, digestive and endocrine system.  Even if you are not interested in the support essential oils can provide the human body, SERIOUSLY consider reducing the toxic load in your everyday lives by swapping out your cleaning products. 

Why is it important for me to share my experience?  The more I learn about essential oil,  the more I realize there are still a lot of myths and resistance in using these potent plant products.  As an IBDer and a wellness advocate,  I want people to know their options on how to support their health.  Can everyone benefit from Essential oils?  My answer is YES.  Everyone can benefit from the fundamental and straightforward practice of using essential oil as a powerful wellness tool that is as simple as the life blood of plants. 

Are you ready to get your hands on this Simple Tool to support yours and your family's wellness? 

If your answer is YES, Click HERE 

Please reach out if you want to learn more about Young Living Essential Oils. 

AIP/ Paleo Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing

No secret that our go to dining out usually lands in a Japanese restaurant. The kids love sushi and I can almost always find something satisfying and compliant to order with my own homemade salad dressing. But everytime I ask the server to hold the dress on my Sashimi Salad, I miss the original Japanese dressing that comes with my meal. What am I to do? Recipe hack it! This simple Japanese inspired tangy dressing will jazz up any salad of your choice. 

Makes 4 servings     Prep time 5 mins      Cook time 10 mins  

Ingredients

• 1/2 c minced onion
• 1/2 c avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 c Apple Cider Vinegar 
• 2 Tbsp water
• 2 Tbsp minced fresh ginger root
• 2 Tbsp minced  celery
• 2 Tbsp grated carrots
• 2 tsp coconut aminos
• 2 tsp fish sauce ( I use this one cause its the best Red Boat )
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp raw honey optional

Instructions

1. Put all ingredient into a blender and blend until smooth
2. serve over your favourite vegetables or salad

Enjoy!

Can grief make your sick?

Photo by  Christian Newman

What is grief? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, "to feel or express great sadness, especially when someone dies." Everyone grieves differently, most people are sad, others get angry, some might even show little to no emotions. Whichever way you express your emotions, know that this difficult time too shall pass.

Grief is an intense emotion, which can often cause stress to the body and trigger a flare for those of us with an autoimmune condition. I used to grieve quite differently before I knew about the connection between grieve and wellness. I hope by sharing my new found way to grieve, along with my tools to aid this transition which are journaling, self care and essential oil, I can help ease your passage smoothly into the" life goes on" phase without doing much damage to your body.

As most of your know, the AIP and IBD community lost an amazing woman, Martine, the blogger behind Eat Heal Thrive last week. Like many people, I was shattered by the news.

It was in the very beginning of my healing journey, shortly after I started following a Paleo way of eating but still desperately trying to get rid of all my Ulcerative Colitis symptoms when I met Martine over at Instagram.   Following Paleo had helped calm gut, but I was still controlled by many symptoms IBDers are familiar with. I was physically weak and trying to recover from the drastic weight loss that comes with IBD. That's when I learned about a positively charged blogger with Crohn's, who also happens to be Canadian,  known as the Paleo Partridge back then. She shared about a protocol she was following called AIP (Paleo Autoimmune Protocol) and gave me hope that I could have a future that is less trapped in between the four walls of my IBD symptoms. Besides looking into this healing protocol, AIP,  I began practicing gentle yoga and immersing myself in art to distract my mind from my consuming health. Martine and I connected through our mutual love of yoga,  I was immediately drawn to her contagiously positive energy. Seeing someone who also battled IBD with her enthusiasm was so encouraging. I was inspired by her spirit, her cleverness and her brilliance with words. She was such a great writer.  Martine showed me a different world about IBD, her firm mantra says it all, " I have Crohn's. It doesn't have me".  So I decided to model my healing after this remarkable woman. We chatted over IG comments mainly about yoga and art. Our brief conversations sparked me to create a fun project of legging designs, mainly to take my mind off of my limitations. Leggings were just starting to trend then, so I went with the flow and transferred some of the floral paintings onto the leggings designs. I was so excited when Martine supported me by being the first to buy a pair.

As I got more into blogging, I would cross paths with Martine here and there about recipes and yoga. She always brought a smile to anyone she interacted with and that is no exception for me. We might not have been close, but we were friends, and I felt her support alongside me on my IBD journey.

A new way of grieving

Martine's passing shocked and devasted me. Naturally, I fell into my old way of grieving which was to be sad, be very very sad. I cried and wanted to be consumed in sorrows. I always thought that the longer I stayed in sadness means the more I cared about the person I am grieving for. This is how I watched my mother grieved when my father passed away, 10 days after our wedding, so I recognized that to be the way to show your love. As it turns out this was a very unhealthy way to grieve. When my father died unexpectedly, my mother and I felt completely destroyed. I held on the grief far too long because that was what my mother did.  As a result, I helplessly watched her neglect her health through grief. I remember my then new husband asking me "how long are you going to grieve for?" and my thought was "how insensitive of him?" But now I know how lucky I am to have married someone who can be up front with me.

Now I have finally learned that unhealthy ways of grieving got me in big trouble with my health. My prolong period of grieving was probably part of the cause of my autoimmune disease. Why? Because grief is a stressor, stressor raises cortisol. Read more about this HERE

After a week of teariness and moping around, something lit up in my head,  I was reminded of Martine's mission, her essence, and how she always empowered people. She made them feel Good! So I thought,  Heck NO! I am not going to bury myself in my old habits and go against everything Martine stood for.

What did Martine teach me even after she left this earth? She taught me to look into my approach to grieving. There are different stages of grieving. Anger and Sadness are the ones most people are familiar with, the important thing is not to dwell on it for too long. Give yourself the time to BE with it, then RELEASE it and move on.

As for the tools I used to help me through these heavy times, here they are.

Journaling

I wrote and wrote and wrote. Sometimes, I wrote so fast that I did even know what words or letters were pouring out of the pen. This is how this blog post began. The pen to paper action was very therapeutic and freeing for me. If you are used to typing, I encourage you to try the old fashion way of writing and see if it makes you feel more connected with your feelings.

Self Care

I really stepped up my self-care. I guess it is a way of honouring the emotions and being with it.  Beside sleeping more and taking Epsom salt baths, I took full advantage of the freshly finished backyard with the hammock my husband built. I think everyone needs hammock time often, it is quite magical to be wrapped up like a baby and feel completely safe and secure.

Essential Oils

For emotional support, I pulled out my Young Living essential oils blends like Release, Valor, Believe to focus on my intentions. I liked putting drops of Believe on my head to diminish doubt,  Release on my heart dissolve tension or pain and Valor on feet for the courage to move forward. All of Young Living's blends are specifically created with the frequency to match their purposefully chose names. And Yes they work!

Through exploring essential oils as part of the process, I learned about a fascinating healing technique that uses the oils to facilitate an emotional transformation called Aroma Freedom Technique. You can read more about it HERE but I plan to dedicate a blog post in this technique in the near future.

So, whoever you are grieving for, cry if you want to but don't dwell on the sadness for too long. Honour your loved ones and keep their legacy alive. #herworkliveson because so will ours. I hope by sharing how I grieve and using journaling, self care and essential oils as support,  I can offer some comfort in easing yours during a time of need so that this necessary process will not secretly harm your health.

Vital Protein Collagen Veggies Blend Review and Recipe - AIP/ Paleo Gazpacho

>This blog post contains affiliate links. Click HERE to learn more what it means.

Have you heard, have you heard? I finally got my hands on Sarah Ballantyne's Vital Protein Collagen Veggie Blend and the anticipation was well worth it. 

If you have been on a whole food healing journey, you will know that spending a lot of time in the kitchen is often necessary. I was one of them, hence the name of my blog. But as my body became stronger, I am able to get out of my kitchen and enjoy life a whole lot more. So the search for easy to prepare and pack nourishment for AIP/Paleo life on to go began. I guess Sarah Ballantyne aka The Paleo Mom heard mine and countless health seeker's call when she teamed up with Vital Protein to create this AIP/ Paleo Collagen with veggies. Thanks. Read all about it HERE.

This is what Sarah set out to create and I think she did a fantastic job achieving it.  "a tall order for Vital Proteins.  I wanted a simple product that packed in a ton of whole veggies (fiber and all), just enough fruit to balance the bitterness of the veggies and add some vital nutrients, and a full 20 grams of protein from collagen peptides all in a palatable portable powder that could be mixed easily with water, didn’t need a blender, that wasn’t gritty or thick to drink, and that completely complied with the Autoimmune Protocol. "

When I first heard about the new AIP Vital Protein Collagen Veggie Blend,  I was super excited about it. With this amazing AIP/Paleo supplement in hand,  I can pack lighter and feel more confident about my on the go nourishment. Like most people, I was curious about the taste.  Sarah described the taste as " green ". Ok?!? I wasn't sure how to interrupted that so the best way for me to know is to try it.

My first attempt was simply by mixing 2 scoops with 8 oz of water, the suggested instruction was to mix 2 scoops with 8-12 oz of water so I tested it with the lower amount to see how it faired. First sip, hmm... I tasted like cold tomato soup.  Texture, mixes well with water, not too thick, if you want it runnier, just add more water. Colour - well, with all the goodness of veggies and fruits, you are not going to get some artificial looking, eye pleasing colour, but I don't mind because I know it is the colour of nature's palette.  Oh! how I missed those plump red nightshades. So that got me thinking about creating a refreshing Gazpacho with the Vital Proteins Collagen Veggie Blend to enjoy in the warm weather to come. Below you will find my recipe. 

I was pleased with AIP/Paleo Gazpacho and enjoyed it in the new backyard my husband built.

To preserve the chunky texture of a Gazpacho, I made sure I kept the Blender dial low ( I am using my Vitamix but I think a regular blender will do a good job. )  With the added good fats, this recipe packed a satiating,  easy to prepare, nutrient dense,  snack or even meal because when dinner time came around I had to think twice why I wasn't that hungry. 

So I am giving Sarah Ballantyne's new product Vital Protein Collagen Veggie Blend  2 thumbs up for convenience, nutritional value and versatility. I can't wait to hear more about how people are using this product to boost their health and support their healing journey. You can get your Vital Protein Collagen Veggie Blend HERE.  Make sure you tag your experience with #vitalveggies

AIP/Paleo Gazpacho

Makes 1 serving     Prep time 5 mins      

Ingredients

• 2 scoops Vital Protein Collagen Veggie Blend
• 2 c water
• 1/2 c cucumber, peeled and chopped 
• 2 tsp celery, chopped
• 2 Tbsp onions, finely chopped
• juice of 1/2 a lime
• 1 Tbsp AIP compliant oil, like Avocado/ Extra Virgin Olive
• 1 tsp cilantro and a few sprigs for garnish

Instructions

1. In a blender, add water, cucumber, and celery
2. Blend at low ( 2 ) for 30 sec, not too long unless you want a smooth textured drink 
3. Add onions, 1 tsp of cilantro, lime juice and a pinch of Himalayan pink or Grey sea salt
4. Blend at low ( 2 ) for another 30 sec to mix
5. Lastly add in Vital Protein Collagen Veggie Blend and oil
6. Blend at low for another 30 sec to mix
7. Pour into glass or bowl and garnish with cilantro 

Enjoy!

Asian Chives Pancake

This crispy and chewy Chive Pancake was inspired by my Auntie P from Napa, California.  You see, Auntie P  and her family ran a Chinese restaurant in the 80s.  During my first visit to the states, I experienced how a real commercial kitchen was run.  I was impressed at how such a slight and small frame woman could handle the heavy wok with ease. I eagerly pitched in serving and busing tables so I can play restaurant in real life.  At night, Auntie P continued to prepare more food for the next day.  My favorite was her Northern Chinese favorite snack, Chive Oil Pancake.  Here I am using the dough adapted from Predominantly Paleo, hope you like it. 

Makes 6 servings     Prep time 15 mins      Cook time 10 mins  

Ingredients

• 5 stalks of green onions, chopped
• 1 pack grated cassava, defrost if from frozen
• 1/4 c coconut flour
• coconut oil
• avocado oil
• 1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt
• optional -  2 tbsp cooked ground pork

Instructions

1. Sprinkle salt over grated cassava
2. Heat oil in pan over medium heat
3. Empty pack of defrosted grated cassava into oiled pan
4. Using a wooden spoon or silicon spatula to prevent scratching the pan, stir cassava until translucent dough forms, the dough will be firm to form and he might build some upper body strength while you are at it
5. Sprinkle coconut flour on rolling board
6. Roll dough out to 1/8" thickness into a rectangular shape
7. Spread a thin layer of coconut oil on flattened out dough
8. Sprinkle chopped green onions ( optional -   I added some cooked ground pork in one of the pancakes) over rolled out dough
9. From the longer side of the rectangle dough, roll it up like you were making a burrito
10. Cut the long dough into two sections
11. Close up one end of each dough sections by sealing it with your fingers
12. Now, roll the long dough up like a cinnamon pin wheel
13. Seal up the outer end of the dough to prevent any green onions from leaking out
14. Take your rolling pin and flatten the "pin wheel" 
15. Repeat 11-14 with the second dough section
16. Heat oil over medium heat in a pan larger enough to pan fried the pancakes
17. Pan fried each side until golden brown about 4 mins. 
18. Cut into 4 -8 sections and serve with sauce

Review - Fat Fueled Program by Leanne Vogel

 > This post contains Affiliate link, please see Disclaimer
I believe every few months we should re-evaluate our lifestyle to see how things are working out.  After 10 months of keto focus, I am ready to revisit my original intention for how this eating style benefited my health. I am so happy to find the tipping point to remission with Ulcerative Colitis from nutritional ketosis, but now, I am facing some uncertainties with hormonal imbalances I would like to address.

Generally speaking, my overall well being has really improved. I have a copious amount of steady energy and my emotions have been more lifted, the only issue I had was my weight continues to creep up. This could be due to seasonal influences, the lack of Vitamin D from sunshine and less outdoor activities seem to be the logical culprit for weight gain during the winter months for most people. Instead of getting frustrated and losing faith in my current routine, I choose to focus on how the improvement instead of thinking I am not doing enough. While reminding myself that life could definitely be worst, I turn to a positive outlook to help me stay on track in exploring what to do next. 

Fat Fueled Program

Through my research in a Ketogenic lifestyle, I came across a fellow Canadiana Holistic Nutritionist,  Leanne Vogel's programs and have learned a lot from her in designing a ketogenic eating style that works for me. I am currently working through her Fat Fueled Program and found it to be comprehensive and easy to read. This book captures Leanne's fun energetic personality and yet it offers a comforting voice. It makes me feel understood because she is on my side. The program has helped me re-establish my relationship with food by decreasing the stress and restriction mentality.  The program supports my ongoing self love practice and helps me feel empowered in overcoming limiting beliefs with food.  During my Ulcerative Colitis flares, there was a lot of scarcity mentality from relying on bowel rest to give my gut a break. With this program, I am slowly addressing these emotions and resetting my outlook towards positivity. The reality of remission is still new to me, but for those who are struggling, it CAN happen.  It feels great to lose both my physical and mental hunger while gaining a sense of satisfaction.

Who is this program for?

This program is perfect for both beginners or novices who are interested in healing their bodies through a ketogenic approach, whole food eating, and holistic lifestyle. Besides the 411 for Ketogenic eating style,  this program also offers many tools and tips to troubleshoot an existing implementation. Coming from a Paleo Autoimmune Protocol, I was at first skeptical about what I can gain from this program. Yes, that was my ego talking, but after giving it a try, I glad I found what I needed to seamlessly incorporate keto into my AIP eating style. 

In this program, the meal plan is to make your transition easier. Following the delicious recipes will give you a variety of exciting meals that will satisfy both your taste buds and your belly. 

For those who has special allergies, intolerance or restrictions, like me, there is a section dedicated to how you can modify your meals with the recipes included in the book. I am honestly surprised how well this section worked.   This method of handling restrictions seems to be the most effective way to be as inclusive as possible without dividing the book into millions of sections.

I love the "Cooking with" guides. The fun infographics take the intimidation out of trying new things in the kitchen and can even turn the most beginning non-cooks into confident, dare I say, chefs?

What can you expect from this program? 

There are 19 chapters 300 pages including meal plans, recipes that will help you find your way through the Ketogenic approach to eating.  This program is packed with comprehensive information to guide anyone to better health. Just bring your own determination!

What I got most out of this program

I have to admit that most of the information in the program already align with my practice. Thankfully I am not starting from the Standard American Diet, I have come a long way baby! What I appreciate most from the program was how to tweak the amount of carbs to include in my meals in supporting my hormones. I now practice once a week Carb up ( explained in Chapter 11)  at dinner which seemed to have made my hormones happy. 

Here is a list of tools and chapters in the program that I found most useful for my journey:

• Free Writing helps me clear my mind clutter so I can better focus in what I need to accomplish.  
• Plate layout helps me visually see how my plate should look instead of measuring with a scale. It's not my thing!
• Chapter 2: RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU
• Chapter 6: ALLERGIES, RESTRICTIONS & PREFERENCES
• Chapter 11: AIN’T NOTHING LIKE A CARB UP
• Chapter 13: WEIGHT & PLATEAUS

Now I am armed with what I need to easily incorporate the Ketogenic approach into my healing protocol. If you are trying to find some help in the areas I mentioned above, Check out Leanne Vogel's Fat Fueled Program with the button below. For her audiobook version of the program click HERE

Also I am super excited about attending Leanne's book tour to celebrate the launch of her new paperback book, The Keto Diet: The Complete Guide to a High-Fat Diet.
Register here to attend at a city nearest you

Disneyland on AIP/ Paleo/ Keto eating style

 > This post contains Affiliate links, please see Disclaimer

Going on vacations should be fun right? For the longest time, I didn't think so. I used to have so much anxiety at the thought of going into a flare while away from home and not having my "stuff" to calm my angry gut. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Ulcerative Colitis,  it belongs to the Inflammatory Bowel Disease family and it was debilitating. Fast forward to today,  I was lucky to find remission through diet and lifestyle changes instead of taking the conventional pharmaceutical route.  If you are also following a unique diet in the name of health, in other words, not the Standard American Diet,  I am going to show you how you can enjoy your vacation with proper planning. In my case, I am currently following a keto focused, Paleo Autoimmune Protocol. What does that mean in plain English?  Basically, my diet is free of grains, dairy, soy, nuts, nightshades and I only eat starchy vegetables sparingly.  What about fruit? Seasonal berries are on the menu,  so summer is exciting times!

Never take the simple things in life for granted

Last November, we went on a family trip that was special,  Why? It was the first trip since I was officially in remission where I could enjoy life with their family like a healthy "normal" person.  Even with my autoimmune condition in remission,  it still takes extra preparation to make the time away from home go smoothly.

Planning 

When I was researching online, I plugged in different combinations of keywords that best describe my specific eating style, it's rare to find suggestions matching the exact protocol you are following,  unless you are Keto AIP, then you are at the right place.

To start I found Danielle Walker, another IBDer who follows a Paleo lifestyle, has great resources under her "Eating at Disneyland series"

Then I turned to my AIP community and read up on The Bacon Mum's great post Shout out: The Magic of Disney where she offers lots of smart tips about her travel experience. So I took more notes.

Finally, the keto part, I turned to my keto sista, Leanne Vogel from Healthful Pursuit and went through her keto travel tips.  Even though the keto thing is kind of new to me, I realized the most important thing I needed to focus on is having enough good fats on hand. These are my three fat staples while on this trip: Avocados, Extra Virgin Olive oil and Creamed Coconut. The beauty of being Fat Adapted ( teaching your body to use fat as preferred fuel instead of glucose through a ketogenic eating style ) is my blood sugar remains more stable, which translates to NO MORE HANGER! I can go a lot longer without being hungry so the hypoglycemic Hulk no longer busts through my seams in her old ravenous way. Trust me, I think my family might appreciate this new change more than I do.

How about the Everyday Disneyland Theme Park tips?

Find this book Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Anaheim 2017 either at the library or you can order it online through the affiliate link above. Read up on the magic of Fast Pass especially if you have small children.

Packing 

The following is a list of gadgets and hard to find items I am sure glad I packed.

• Tea bags, I made them through the coffee machine. These are my favourite at the moment
• Handheld Electric Frother  to blend Fatty collagen block into my tea
• Collagen,  I pack a few of them in tiny ziplock baggies or old medication vials and slip them into my purse for a quick protein fix 
• Bring extra ziplock bags of varies sizes to portion snacks
• Canned Smoked Oysters, from Trader Joe
• Canned Smoked Sardines, also from Trader Joe
• Small bottle of EVOO or buy one at your destination
• Creamed Coconut packet ( great as fat bomb on the go ) 
• Small bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar or buy one at your destination 
• Essential oils - lavender, thieves, peppermint
• Thieves fruit and veggie soak or spray to clean off fruit without water

Exploring your local resources

Find your closest healthy grocery, Trader Joes is probably the best but Wholefoods is, of course, a bit pricier choice. Believe it or not, I managed to get what we needed at the closest, grocery only, Walmart.

Shopping List

• Buy enough water for everyone in the family, bottled waters are extra pricey inside the theme park.
• Prewashed Salad mixes 
• Lemon or limes - squeezing the juice from them make great salad dressing if you don't have your ACV 
• Whole fruit if you brought swiss army knife or peeler, otherwise get a few packages of already cut fruit

Eating out

My first meal there was at Earl of Sandwich just outside of the theme park. I got the Earl's Cobb Salad and asked for olive oil on the side, they didn't have vinegar for me but I solved the problem by grabbing a few cut up lemon wedges they had for people to squeeze into their pop.  Whatever works works! We followed Bacon Mum's advice and made a reservation for dinner inside the theme park. The chef did take the time to come out to verify my food restrictions but it was a pretty overpriced piece of fish and a side of arugula. The one place I found my most satisfying meal was... wait for it... Cheesecake Factory.  I never thought I would be able to eat compliant meals at there just from the sick of their name. Besides their desserts, they are known for their huge salads. Back in the days when I went for their Cheesecakes, I would have never been able to finish their ginormous salads. Now, it's the perfect size for me. I do wonder if they had health in mind when they planned out the sizing of their salads?

Now that you are prepared, are you feeling more excited than nervous about leaving your kitchen? You should be, so let the FUN begin! Remember to take lots of pictures, LAUGH with your family and ENJOY every moment of your trip because

YOU deserve it!