I'm pretty much used to being weird wherever I go. I may not be as crunchy as some Moms, but I'm probably more so than most. When I travel it becomes even more obvious that I'm not normal.
I thought I'd show you a few examples of how odd I really am, especially when traveling…
In the airport, normal people step into the full body scanner when going through security:
(And sadly, they likely think very little about all the cancer-causing radiation their bodies are being exposed to.)
But I'm not normal. Instead of going through these airport cancer machines, this is me getting a full pat-down instead:
It really wasn't bad at all, and I hope the rest of you will start choosing to be “odd” too! When I told them I didn't want to go through the x-ray machine they just casually yelled over to another security agent, “I've got a female opt-out!” A really sweet woman took me to a separate area (just off to the side — although they asked me if I wanted to go to a private area and I said no), and she explained everything to me before she did it. It wasn't offensive at all, thankfully, because I had been nervous about it.
UPDATE: we recently paid the $85 for all of us to get TSA clearance. This is good for 5 years and makes going through security so much faster and easier!
Normal people eat this junk in the airport:
But I'm not normal. Here's what I ate in the airport, my homemade popcorn made with coconut oil, lots of butter, and sea salt. Yum!
On the plane most people read magazines like this one:
But I'm not normal. I read this instead:
Are you a weirdo too? I'd love to hear all of the ways you are realizing this more in your life too! 🙂
Thankfully, there are more and more of us these days, so let's rise up and keep saying, “I'm not normal” and be proud!
Find more on traveling and finding real food here.
More you might like:
- Worried about radiation and EMF's from your cell phones or other devices? (You should be! Read more and find out what we use!)
Mary says
I noticed this post is 7 years old. Hopefully by now you’ve discovered TSA Pre. You just have to go through the old detectors. No shoes off either. It doesn’t work in Europe, however. I do opt out, but it sometimes is a big hassle there. The pat down is okay, but there is a lot of scorn about your decision.
KitchenKop says
Hi Mary,
But I don’t travel enough to do that, I only fly 2-3 times/year. For those who travel a lot, this is a great option!
Thankfully I’ve never gotten any scorn when requesting the pat down.
Kelly
Susan Butler Waibel says
I always opt out. But. Every single time, they have me stand right next to the cancer machine while I wait for 10-20 minutes for an pat-down agent. It’s like they plan it.
Luckily if I travel with kids, we get to miss all that nonsense with no pat downs.
Melissa Fosberg says
I always opt out and it’s always a pain…almost missed a flight out of NY because they took 45 minutes to get a woman to check me .
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Took a little bit this time too, but I always go extra early for that reason so low stress.
Cathy Finnesgard says
People don’t opt out for the same reason they don’t opt out of vaccines: because they don’t believe the government would mandate a harmful thing. Blind trust.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
@Cathy – yep, sad but very true.
Sasha Joy Campbell says
Didn’t realize opting out was an option!
Colette Hory says
The pat down seemed to take longer in MN. Security had a a field day with me – going through my bag looking at and testing all the gelatin, elderberry syrup, veggie powders, etc
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Lol, I saw a note in my checked luggage after I got home that said they went through my bag. I wondered if the sea salt & other stuff I bought would be a red flag!
Colette Hory says
Part of me kind of understands (powders, etc), part of me just laughs. If they only knew.
Oddly, they ended up letting me through with a large bottle ( >3oz for sure) of elderberry syrup. I watched the guy read all the ingredients on the labels with a confused face. As if the bad guys would really put what the ingredients were on something dangerous. Ah well! Home safe ?
Becca Griffith says
Tip: Kelly the Kitchen Kop & Colette, next time you fly into Mpls/StPaul (and you will 😉 )… if you fly with one of the airlines that goes out of the Humphrey Terminal (instead of Lindbergh), then there’s MUCH less of the riffy-raffy ridiculousness and the lines in general are hardly existent. Southwest, Suncountry, Icelandair. etc. There have been times there where they didn’t even offer the big scan machine! Anyway, pat-downs there are far less hostile than the Lindbergh Terminal.
Colette Hory says
Becca Griffith Good to know! Flew Delta (and actually liked their entertainment system :))
Kirsten Evans says
I always opt out. Such a shame to have to choose groping over microwaving. I have to go to a different place mentally to even allow them to touch me. It’s rape every time. And I tell them that if they ask what’s wrong.
Kirsten Evans says
And just because it’s a female agent doesn’t make it ok. That thought process just perpetuates rape culture.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Wow it doesn’t feel like that at all to me. They say what they’re going to do before each next thing & are always very respectful.
Kirsten Evans says
I don’t want to be touched and I don’t want to be microwaved. To me, it’s unacceptable and does not lead to safer travel. My comment about agent gender was referring to those who say it’s all ok if they’re a female agent, that they feel safer. That’s a false sense of security.
Sarah Stanley says
I always opt out!
Alicia Finley says
I opted out and it went very smoothly with a great female security agent.
Jeanne Branick says
always always always just casually tell agent that I need a female for pat down- they’re used to it. If you don’t make it a big deal, they do not either.
Kristal Sweet-Kyle says
Surprises me, too. The last time I flew I was the only one. I wonder why.
Chris Nagy says
Sometimes say I’m pregnant and opt out. This will allow me to quickly go through the old school version if I’m in a hurry and don’t have pat down time
Chris Nagy says
That’s me! Opt out each time and my dear husband patiently waits for his crunchy wife’s pat down.
Angela Estrello says
I didn’t know I could opt out…I always get pulled to the side for a pat down anyway. Heaven forbid my sweater have metallic thread in it!
Stacy Lynn says
So my issue is with the terribly invasive vagina pat downs I have received. My kids wont allow anyone to touch them unnecessarily and after watching my ordeal I have no other option, but this. Luckily we rarely fly anywhere.
Nicolle Colvin says
Sounds like you should have reported that tsa person. The pat downs are no big deal and they swab your hands. They never touch kids.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I’ve never had anything weird happen at all. It’s always another female and no big deal. You definitely should have reported that.
Stacy Lynn says
Kelly the Kitchen Kop BWI airport is notoriously horrible for this. I had no time to make a formal complaint. My friend actually had a woman reach up her dress. I will have my video ready on my phone next time.
Claudine Silva Jones says
I opt out!
Sue Ellen Line Dennison says
Me too!!
Belinda Tousson says
Amazing. I never knew we could opt out. I travel extensively now and had no idea!! I also didn’t know i could get a doctors note for proper water for my asd child. I carry my zero filter because she’s allergic to fluoride (aren’t we all..though…tsk…). Thank you for the post.
KimberLee Voss Medlin says
I didn’t even realize that was an option
Jennifer Maxwell says
It’s like getting a double dose of cosmic rays every time you fly. Every time I go to the airport I’m opting for the pat down because after my last flight I worried about it for days
Veronica Strouse says
Always opt out here.
Chelsey Vela says
So interesting. I did last time I flew but now maybe I won’t
Megan Christian Cowan says
I was glad to be pregnant and have my 4yo with me last time so it wasn’t even an issue.
Amy Sells Haist says
I thought they had/were going to change it so you can’t opt out? I thought I read that a year or so ago? I opted out before I had my daughter, and she’s young enough still so that we aren’t expected to go through them (they don’t separate families, so parents get to go through metal detector with child). So I haven’t ever been in one of the scanners. She’s going to age into the scanners, I suppose, before long… Time for another baby? Lol.
Julie Davis says
Course the tsa screener say they’re totally safe. I said ,”yeah so are vaccines”. Got no response.
Theresa Marie Cushing says
Except I read that none of the tsa workers will even go through them !!
Sherry Foth says
Hey, Kelly! My daughter who is flying home from the conference right now, called before departure and said she opted for the pat down, too! Must be in the food and drink ….all that butter, raw milk, kombucha! 🙂
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
@Sherry good for her!!!
Peggy Wang Barry says
I’ve been opting out of those scanners since they put them into play. I refuse to enter one.
Nikki Wallace Flory says
We got home from the UK a few days ago. When we left from Dulles airport, I opted out, no problem.
On the way home,out of Edinburgh, we were running really late and I was really afraid we would miss our flight. We had very little time to get to the gate(we actually ended up getting to the gate 10 minutes before boarding) so I went through the big X ray. I am paying for it now. I always feel like crap after going through it. I have Lyme and other health issues…. so lots of self care, Epsom salt and broth for me. And wouldn’t you know it.. even going through the big X ray, we had our carry on bags tested for residue.
Barbara Kelly Geatches says
I went to your blog to read them… I agree with her about the (non) effectiveness of the TSA. It does not improve safety and is a ridiculous display of smoke and mirrors. That said, it is something we must succumb to if we choose to fly. I will always take the pat down over the exposure of their cancer causing machines. But TSA provides me with no level of confidence or sense of safety…. just that I jumped through some hoops to make it appear they are making things safer.
Emily Overes says
They spent millions putting in a bunch of the backscatter ionizing machines at O’Hare. Then they pulled them out abruptly in 2012 after everyone raised health concerns. The official response was that they were not removed for health concerns. Suuuuuurrrrreee.
Zach-Stephanie Ross says
You are an inspiration. I plan on opting out next time. Thanks for the reminder! I’ll be nervous, even though you said it was fine. Pray for me! lol
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Zach-Stephanie Ross — you’ll be surprised afterward that you were even nervous, seriously, it’s that simple. 🙂
Ellen O'Sullivan- Mazzone says
Just went through the airport a few weeks ago . They were allowing everyone to go through a smaller scanner . The big body scanner (toxic one) was right next to it. I do believe they give off minimal radiation in comparison . Does anyone know further? I also ask them to hand check my supplements and essential oils so they don’t go through X-ray
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Yes, the regular walk-through one isn’t bad I don’t think, it’s just the scanner one that you face sideways with your hands up over your head.
Chris Williams Wave says
Speaking of pat downs- this is happening here in the south https://www.teenvogue.com/story/lawsuit-sheriff-deputies-patdown-school-search
Sarah L. Peterson says
Bring on the weird!! Love it, and I share your affinity
Emily Overes says
I always opt out. Never been delayed, never had any pushback from TSA, and never been “groped” inappropriately.
Norma Johnson Hilliard says
I do go thru the X-ray. I admire you for the path you took. And for the literature you read
Katherine Vaporis Herron says
I usually do the pat down but when it is very busy they will not do it, or they will make you wait at least a half hour. Depends how late I am.
Barbara Kelly Geatches says
That is exactly what I do as well 🙂
Sandi C says
When my daughter was searched at the airport in Germany the attendant even felt down inside her bra!
Stephanie Bogan says
I do all the same. Optout, , and for my family, except I don’t eat outside food or drink – I cook it or go without , so I take full cooler of food for overseas flights (it’s a bit more of a Hassel but I deal) and I always get a hotel room that has a kitchenette and hit a farmers market – for no kitchener rooms are available, I take my instapot or rice pot .
Danielle Levins says
Do you check the cooler to be stored under the plane, or does it go with you, and if so, how does that work? Our family figured out how to cook tons of things in a rice cooker/steamer, but I don’t understand how the cooler works, but I want to! I hate eating out, I feel bad and I feel like I’ve been robbed since I know for the same price a home cooked meal would have been such higher quality.
Stephanie Bogan says
I check my rice pot – but I carry the cooler on – full of food to make 13+ hours , of flight time- food for me and the kids. (The food needs no extra clearance, but my drinks do – so I take a note from my doctor for those)
Nicole Mathews says
No one is patting me down, ever. I don’t fly, but if I must, then I’m prepared to go through the machine. No worse than all the other crap we consume unwillingly all day, every day. But no one will infringe on my personal, physical rights of liberty either.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
It doesn’t bother me at all, it’s always done by a woman, tastefully done, and not offense in the least. I usually have a nice chat with the gal.
Nicole Mathews says
Kelly the Kitchen Kop Glad you can have a friendly chat while being groped in public, but I’m an American citizen who doesn’t appreciate anyone probing me or my family anywhere on our body like I’m some criminal or terrorist. To each his own.
Sandi Caughron says
When my (grown) daughter was ‘patted down’ the woman even felt down inside both bra cups!
Nicole Mathews says
Sandi Caughron That’s absurd! Blows my mind that people think this is ok, even if it’s a blase’ chatty “pat down”.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Well I see it as a necessary evil when people are trying to kill people right and left in this crazy world, how else are they going to know I don’t have a bomb on me if I opt-out of the cancer machine?!
Nicole Mathews says
Kelly the Kitchen Kop Sorry but the TSA has not caught a single terrorist since its inception. It has failed to detect more than 75% of bombs and explosives hidden in undercover testing. The shoe bomber and underwear bombers were not caught by TSA. So your reasoning is invalid. It does not make any of us safer. It does, however, cost money, waste time, and violate our fourth amendment.
Dawn Block says
I always opt out as well. I’ve only had one time that it was an issue and I felt they purposely made me wait 15 minutes before sending an agent over to complete the pat-down. Also, when traveling with children, they automatically send you through the older metal detectors which tells me they know the full body scanners, even the newer ones they claim are safer, are still bad.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Exactly @Dawn Block!
Sheryl Senkiw says
I would never go through a body scanner, nor would I let my child. We do the pat down too.
Elizabeth Nelson says
I always opt-out, haven’t traveled in a few years but was flying quite regularly for a while, thankfully they never gave me a problem about it.
Krista Mitchell Hemming says
Me, too. Last time the TSA made me wait for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, my carry-on belongings would have been left unattended this entire time if I were not travelling with a friend. What is the recording played over & over again at airports? Do not leave your belongings unattended…lol
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Thankfully they’ve never made a big deal out of it at all, it’s just a matter-of-fact “we’ve got an opt-out!”, & I’ve never had to wait more than a few minutes either.
Danielle Levins says
Praise those who think for themselves, we should ALL “opt-out” a little more often!
Kristal Sweet-Kyle says
I also refuse to go through those nasty things! It makes the TSA people mad.
Diane Ives says
I do this too
krazykaren Marques says
Ha Ha Haaa!!! This is so me!!! About 2 years ago I sent the kids on a school trip to NY. The teachers thought I was crazy!!! I told the kids to request the pat down and I made sure that the teachers knew not to let my kids walk thru the scanner!! I was running from side to side to make sure they didn’t push my kids through the scanner!! Well, hence the name krazykaren!!! Love your website and all your info!!!
KitchenKop says
Karen, I could totally see me doing that too, and “Krazy Kelly” is what I’m pretty sure most people say behind my back (or to my face!) already, lol! 🙂
Kel
Rhiannon says
I now refuse to fly anywhere. Even to America, to visit my brother. I’ve decided that cruising (and cargo ships if necessary) are the way to go if I cannot take a train. It’s a good thing that I mainly want to travel around Continental Europe!
Teena says
We used to leave the house knowing we would stop at whatever fast food/gas station was along the way for food and drink. Now we bring plenty of filtered water, organic fruit snacks, homemade granola bars, organic baby carrots and 95% dark chocolate 🙂 So much healthier and cheaper.
Melody says
That is so ‘me’! We don’t fly if we can help it …. and I always bring filtered water, all my crunchy mama foods, and scout out for grocery stores, farmers markets, and farm to table type restaurants along the way! Our clay pot cooker, filter pitcher, and vitamix are frequent travel accessories! Gotta love this crazy life 🙂
Karen says
For morning flights (or anytime for that matter), I take an “instant breakfast mix” I make with seeds, nuts, shredded coconut, dried cranberries, etc. that can be mixed with hot water and rehydrated once we’re in the air. Always have some fruit along to go with it – sometimes will buy a small plain yogurt after I’m through airport security to add to it too.
I look at it this way – other people are “different.”
Commenter via Facebook says
Good to know there are others like me. I feel so weird at times! Thanks for haring. I’d rather drive than fly! Thanks to modern radio transmission it’s like putting your whole body in a microwave at 2000 feet!
Commenter via Facebook says
We try to drive everywhere. We take 2 coolers with raw milk, kefir, stock, homemade bread, and as much of my normal foods as will fit. We travel with a toaster oven and a coffee maker. I take things like frozen meatloaf to cook. Put my stock in the pot of the coffee maker and turn in on before I shower, ready to go when I get done. Another great travel item is hard boiled eggs, already peeled.
Commenter via Facebook says
Oops, hit the enter key by mistake. Anyway, they wanted to open up my husband’s carry-ons and search them, but I had all the luggage, so my husband waved vaguely in my direction, and the TSA agent came over and picked out some random stuff from our pile and took it back to search. Tell me exactly what the point was of this whole insane exercise??? Ludicrous.
Commenter via Facebook says
Yeah, I’m not normal, either. And you were lucky at the security checkpoint. My kids and I managed to go through the line with no body scanner, but my husband got shunted to another line (leaving me to deal with both children and ALL the luggage, what’s up with that??), so he had to opt out. The TSA agent treated him like he was already a criminal, and was extremely rude about the whole thing. Then the agent wanted to know which was my husband’This was in San Diego.
Sally O'Boyle says
Actually, I remember reading awhile back that Muslim women were exempted from everything for religious reasons. I’ve never verified if that is true and — no offense intended — would be patently ridiculous on the face of it since they believe Muslims perpetrated the 9/11 attack. It would be such perfectly reverse-logic (in keeping with government reasoning) to exempt Muslim women… but nothing surprises me anymore. I’ve been tempted to wear a scarf and a face veil when flying to see if I can get out of it all.
BTW, you can’t take coconut oil except in checked luggage. Nor peanut butter nor “hard” honey. It’s all considered “gel” and they steal it for our own good. Sigh.
sa'ada says
i’d like to opt-out and take liquids like coconut oil when i fly but i don’t know if i should. i’m a muslim and i wear a scarf and a face veil. i live in saudi arabia (will be flying in from there) and haven’t been back home for 10 years. i think those facts might already single me out. i don’t have any definite travel plans yet but would like to see my family soon. has anyone seen muslims opting out? any travel advice for me?
KitchenKop says
I’d like to think you’d get the same respectful treatment that I did, but probably each airport will be a little different. Maybe you could ask any of your local friends who have traveled recently?
Kelly
[email protected] says
My husband likes to go to a local casino once in a while for our “date night.” They have machines with free coffee and soda, but since I don’t drink soda at all (and coffee at night), I bring a baggie of lemon slices and sip on hot water with lemon all evening! My friends tease me, but I feel great and well hydrated!
Dianna says
When we first began our journey of whole food my youngest daughter and I had made a trip to the city and she said she was hungry. At the time we were on a busy street filled with restaurants and I said “I am sorry but there is nothing here we can eat”. Now when we drive down city streets with busy fast food restaurants lining both sides of the road and are hungry we pull something out of an ice chest that is always packed with something good to eat. Do we feel weird? Yes, sometimes. As we drive through the city drinking ice cold raw milk out of mason jars, munching sandwiches made with sprouted spelt bread, homemade mayonaise (made with olive oil and a neighbors free range chicken egg), grass fed roast beef, raw goat cheese and organic vegetables, I admit to feeling strange. Mostly though I feel indignant for those people who are being misled by their government and food corporations into believing the food they are eating is nourishing them.
Kelly says
I’ve enjoyed being weord all my life, but it’s even more pronounced since discovering real food! Most people have cats and dogs at their house, we have chickens, ducks, goats, a cow and a pig!
Soli @ I Believe in Butter says
I’ve very seldom come across the big scanners (only two so far, and both in California) and yeah I went through them. Never mind that after the first one I got a pat down anyway!
Next time I see one, I will do the opt-out. Hopefully I won’t be in a rush to catch my flight either.
THollis says
I’m glad you’re weird! So am I! It’s better than being SAD, eating the standard American diet. We are healthier by choice and influencing the world 1 person at a time.
[email protected] says
I am glad to hear you had a good response with opting out of the X-Ray machine. I really thought they would give people a hard time, so good to know!
Sally O'Boyle says
You can carry up to 3oz each of liquids (which includes gel-like items like hard coconut oil, peanut butter and solid honey — even though they are “hard” they are counted as liquids) in your carry-on luggage. You can carry as many containers as will fit in a 1-quart baggie.
I carry coconut oil, mag oil, iodine, tiny bit of tooth gel, travel size dr. bronner’s soap, couple of other little bottles.
No limit in your checked baggage.
Jeanmarie says
Thanks, Sally.
Jeanmarie says
I haven’t flown in awhile, so I’m not up on the latest regulations, but how is everyone carrying stuff like coconut oil, bone broth, lacto-fermented veggies, etc? Isn’t there a restriction on liquids? Is food exempt? Do you pack it in a checked suitcase? I will have to fly to my family reunion in July or August so I need to be prepared… Thanks.
Martha says
I can relate! 🙂
Sally O'Boyle says
Thanks for the recipes — can’t wait to try them out!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I had to tell you guys what my sister said about this title:
“Hi Lovey, you hit that one on the nose!!! haha. Love, Jan”
I told her that somehow I knew my family would completely agree with that statement! 🙂
Kel
Mary says
I would have to agree with Jan! I thought the same thing when I saw the title, but isn’t that why we love you?
KitchenKop says
Funny you say that, Mar, cause when I wrote the above I thought, “I should say family AND friends” — basically anyone who knows me, LOL!
On the plane last night I had a great chat with the guy next to me. He asked, “So are you a very health-conscious person?” I told him, “Well, it depends on who you ask. For those in my circles, I’m actually fairly ‘tame’. I still don’t eat anywhere close to perfect and probably make too many compromises. But if you ask most people, they’d say I’m a freak!”
melanie says
I am sitting in an airport now while reading this! I have a bag full of my own food: hard boiled eggs, salmon and egg salad, cheese, dates etc. It is always hard to plan ahead but I am always glad to have my own food. I also have the last edition of wise traditions with me, but I wasn’t brave enough to request a pat down.
Rebecca in Michigan says
I forgot to mention that I also by pass the machine and get the pat-down. When I travel with my sister, who is handicap, she doesn’t even go through the metal dector. I go the the dector and don’t get patted down, but she does. They have always been great with her.
Donna Bauman says
Kelly, I completely relate to your post! First of all, when I went to the Fourfold path to healing Conf and had to fly, I, too, opted out of the scanner and took the pat down. I had some homemade fermented veggies in my room that I had for breakfast and generally ate odd things too. Sometimes it is hard to be the different one. I just spent a weekend with my college sorority sisters and realized just how odd I am. Some looked at me with disgust when I said I like organ meats… I often feel like a giant odd ball. But I don’t know how else to be… as Maya Angelou says in a quote I love… “when I knew better, I did better.” Well, I have read and learned more about eating well and so I try to live what I have learned. I realize I don’t know it all and some of my “right” things may in fact be wrong, and if I think they are then I am open to changing my mind. But I try to do the best I can and walk the life that while lonely sometimes, is the life I feel called to live. I like knowing there are others out there like me and I feel you are all kindred spirits.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
You said that well! 🙂
Linda says
Hey, Kelly, I know what you mean. We’ve been doing this stuff in our family for years now. Everywhere we go, we take our own snacks. When my daughter or son have a party at school, I make them their own gluten free, unrefined sugar free snack. I use the excuse that they are gluten sensitive and it’s not an issue. I’ve found that claiming food sensitivities really helps a lot so people don’t get offended as to why you’re not eating their food. Sometimes it can be a pain but overall, it’s worth it. My children are starting to understand why we eat this way and my son, actually prefers our food most of the time. They see how their friends get sick all the time and they don’t.
Sally O'Boyle says
Wish there was a “like” button on all the comments! I always opt out and I fly 4-8 times a month. Some of the gropes are VERY personal and I always halt them loudly and step off the mat. I tell them what they did and to not touch me there again. They HATE that, I love it. The new MMW scanners give false positives 54% of the time… so you are risking your health and getting a pat-down anyway…
I carry a small bottle of coconut oil for my coffee (and deoderant) along with iodine and mag oil. I always take it out and ask them not to irradiate that either. They hate that but they “inspect” it separately.
I’m going to be making my own protein bars and looking for recipes — I’ll search Kelly’s site and Cheeseslave but if anyone has a good one, please share. Thank you!
Rebecca in Michigan says
I made two different kind of bars. I makee this one when I am on a time crunch because it isn’t the best for you, but it sure beats other yucky treats out there. The kids likes this one better: 1 1/2 cups of almond butter, 3 tbsp butter. Heat together. Add: 3/4 cups fruit sweet (by http://www.waxorchards.com) I haven’t tried any other sweetner yet. Mix it with the butter and almond butter. Take it off of the stove add 6 cups Crispy Brown Rice cereal (Erewhon). Mix well and pour into a 9 x 13 pan. Cool and cut. When I have chocolate in the house, I will melt and pour a thin layer over the top of it.
Rebecca in Michigan says
Second recipe and it is a true nourishing reciping. I have been trying to get onto Passionate Homemaking webisite, but I seem to not be able to get it up. So, typing it is.
2 cups almonds, 1/4 cup flax seeds (ground first), 1/2 cup dried prunes/dates/raisins, 1/2 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened), 1/2 cup peanut butter/almond butter, 1/2 tsp sea salt. Add all of these things in the food proccessor and pulse briefly for about 10 seconds. In a small sauce pan, melt 1/2 cup coconut oil over very low heat. Remove coconut oil from the stove and stir in 1 tbsp maples syrup or honey, and 2-3 tsp vanilla extract. Mix and then add the miture to the food porcessor and pulse until ingredients from a course paste. Press mixture into an 8 x 8 glass baking dish. Chill in refigerator for 1 hour, until mixture hardens. In a small saucepan, melt a few squares dark chocolate or 1/4 bag of chocolate chips. Spread melted chocolate over bares; return to refrigerator for 30 minutes, until chocolate hardens. Remove from refridgerator, cut into bars and serve. Makes about 12-15 bars. Store in refrigerator or freeze for alter enjoyment. We love them frozen.
Rebecca in Michigan says
Here is Kelly’s:
https://kellythekitchenkop.com/2009/05/nut-bars-energy-bars.html
Meagan says
I don’t think of it as being a “weirdo”, I am so happy to have found the truth.
Lori says
I think you are brave for opting out. I didn’t when I flew because I was embarrassed. Let me ask you, though. If they had put you through the old fashioned machine, would you have opted out? Thanks for your reply!
Oh, and I don’t think you are weird, but I have to admit that when I’m flying my secret joy is the trash magazines!!!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Lori,
I’m in CA right now waiting to head home & just went thru the pat down again & same as before, no big deal. When I told them they called over, “Female opt out!” someone else had just finished & someone was going after me. It must be getting more & more common. So don’t be embarrassed next time. 🙂
As far as the old machines I don’t know, but probably I would avoid them unless they’re just a plain metal detector.
Kelly
Caroline says
On my last business trip, they pulled me over to go through the “scanner” and I was like “Oh no…I opt out.” And you are right Kelly, it wasn’t embarassing at all. The woman explained where she was going to put her hands each time before she touched me. I said “just do what you gotta do. I’m not shy, I just don’t trust those machines!”
Lori says
@ Kelly,
Yes, I went through one that looked like the old fashioned metal detector. My dad said that he’s seen people opt out and that it looked uncomfortable and horrible. That’s why I didn’t. At least I’ve only flown once in since these machines. Next time, I’ll opt out. I just felt pressured to “do the right thing.” Now I know I can do the right thing.
Linda says
Hey Kelly, can’t wait to hear about the expo. I wish I could go to these tings sometime. I don’t travel much, poor me. Sigh. So, I’m not dealing with what to eat so much. But I am weird too. Just ask my son. He wishes we were still eating the junk food he loves. I will say when we went to the beach last summer we stayed at a RV resort. I brought my lacto fermented sauerkraut and homemade sourdough bread. We found a health food store to buy foods I was comfortable with. That worked out pretty well. When hubby had to travel for work I made him something healthy to take. I can’t remember what, probably homemade larabars or something like that. I try.
Rebecca says
When traveling to Canada last year I packed my lunch to eat on the plane, because I knew there wouldn’t be anything worth eating in the airports. When we got to customs I said I had nothing to declare, forgetting I didn’t finish my lunch. As I walked through the airport the customs/drug dog hit on my bag! I forgot I had leftover pastured chicken in it! I had to go back through customs & they went through all our stuff. It was a big deal & in the end they confiscated MY PASTURED CHICKEN!! Argh! Sneaky dog… ;0)
NancyO says
ROTFL!!
debra z says
oh how sad! they didn’t confiscate my chicken when I forgot to declare it because it was cooked they said it was fine.
mina says
Yeah, pastured chicken is very dangerous. 😉
Rebecca in MI says
They just wanted to keep it for themselves because they were hungry and your chicken looked delicious!
Kim Yamaguchi says
Smart dog! He probably wanted it himself!
Rebecca In Michigan says
I usually bring homemade protein bars (coconut oil, almonds, flax seeds, shredded coconut, PB, chocolate, etc), potato chips that are baked in avocado oil, cheese, veggies and fruit.
When I go out East in two months for the Just Cause Walk (3 day walk – 60 miles) I would love to bring my coconut water. I will have to purchase some when I am out there.
Kay says
I play competitive USTA tennis in women’s leagues and also mixed doubles leagues….I take a thermos of cold, raw milk to my matches to sip as well as lots of water from our own well. It’s a winning combination.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
What a smart athlete you are, if only all athletes knew what you know!
KatieB says
Our whole family is on SCD, and we don’t travel by plane but by car. When we travel, we bring a cooler packed with our cooked meats and almond lour goodies sweetened only with raw honey. Sweets are homemade date/nut balls rolled in coconut. We are so ‘weird’ and crunchy in so many ways that now that our son is at that teenage stage in which he is acutely aware of just HOW different we eat (and do other things) he has meltdown days where he moans about not eating ‘normal’ like all his friends with their chips, candy, pizza and soda—yuck!! Our 20 year old daughter made it through this awful stage embracing our natural crunchy foods and lifestyle 😉
Lora says
I’m on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). I make ground chicken patties seasoned to taste like sausage. They are easy to hold in a paper towel and eat. I have an SCD/Paleo egg casserole recipe that is dense enough to cut into squares that I can hold and eat as finger food. I don’t travel much, but when I do it’s usually by car.
Betsy says
I ate cheese & braunschweiger (sp?) and crackers on my last flight to FL. On the way home my carry-on was hand inspected and the agent commented on my homemade jerky.
kym says
I have a dressing bottle of coconut oil in my handbag. I slip it into my black coffee like it’s a hip flask, when I’m out.
Most people have a chocolate bar in their handbag, I always have a can of sardines/kippers in my handbag in case I can’t find anything I approve of to eat when I’m out.
I read Primal cookbooks in bed instead of novels – I know you’re thinking ‘sexy’.
Patsy says
We travel for work a lot, mostly training conferences. I always go into conference with my travel mug filled with bone broth. I use the coffee pot in the hotel to heat it – just love it!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
What a great, nourishing thing to pack!