Danny's Top Five-- Kidney Transplant Travel

Have a kidney transplant? And planning a trip?  Do not despair!  Danyelle is back with five tips for traveling with a transplant.  And just in time too! I'm scrambling last minute to pack up for my trip.  When will I ever learn.  Anyhoo, enjoy!

1.  Bring your medicine. Double check to make sure you have enough medicine to last you for your entire trip. And it's also a good idea to pack medicine for an extra set of days.  You never know what can happen!  If you're flying, do not pack your medicine in your checked luggage.  Take it with you in your purse or carry-on bag to the plane.  

 

2. Hygiene is very important, and planes and airports are filled with germs.  Your first line of defense:  washing your hands!  Definitely be sure to wash them before touching your face and eating food.  If you don't have access to soap and water, hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes will work as well.  Definitely, add several packs of those to your carry-on bag.

 

3. Depending on where you're going, definitely check with your doctor to make sure you're up to date on your shots and vaccinations.  And if you have a kidney transplant, make sure your doctor knows where you're going and that they don't have any additional instructions for you.

 

4. Hydrate, and hydrate safely.  Known countries like Mexico and many in Europe don't have incredibly clean and safe drinking water systems.  For that reason, it's best to drink bottled water at all times. If you're in the United States, do what you feel comfortable with, bottled water or tap. But definitely make sure you're drinking plenty of water, between 1-2 liters, especially if you're going to a place with a warmer climate.

 

5. Always check to be sure you know health information in case of an emergency.  You never want anything to come up, but sometimes having a kidney transplant can be unpredictable.  First, make sure you scout the area where you're traveling to for the nearest transplant center.  In Jewel's case, the nearest transplant centers are in Phoenix.  This is important to know because not all hospitals have the facilities or physicians to treat patients who have undergone transplants.  Second, look for the nearest hospital.  This hospital doesn't need to have a transplant center, but it will be good to know in case any other problems come up.  And third, keep a list of your medicines and contact information for doctors and transplant coordinators with you at all times. 

 

And obviously, take lots of pictures to remember the amazing moments! 

July 4 and Sodium-- Danny's Top Five

My sister Danyelle is here, with another top five! We've collaborated on some of the best ways to enjoy the upcoming holiday (you didn't forget did you?!) without going overboard on the salt and processed foods.  Here's to enjoying Independence Day, without the high blood pressure!

One of my favorite things to eat on the 4th of July is ribs. To me, these are a must have. We all know the fall-off-the-bone quality that we long for once summer barbecues roll around.  But what about flavor?  That’s just as important.  Most ribs are brined, rubbed, or marinated before being put to the fire.  Then they’re covered in one of the many varieties of delicious barbecue sauce.  For those of us following low-sodium diets, eating or cooking ribs can be a challenge!  If you’re cooking ribs this holiday, an easy way to cut out a bunch of sodium is to stay away from bottled or packaged marinades and rubs.  These types of condiments can be added to Jewel’s list of “processed foods.”  Sure they make infusing flavor into your food simpler, because all the mixing work is done for you.  But most of these premixed seasonings are LOADED with salt. 

Tip 1:  Make your own rub or marinade.  By doing this, you can control how much salt is in the seasoning.  You can even follow a recipe online for ribs, and if a recipe calls for a tablespoon of salt, try using just half a tablespoon.  It’s as easy as that! 

Tip 2:  Leave the barbecue sauce on the side. If you want to be friendly to your low-sodium friends, don’t slather barbecue sauce on the ribs when they come off the grill or out of the oven.  Mix up some sauce in a bowl and let people apply it for themselves.

No July 4^th celebration is complete without side dishes.  And my family is big on the sides.  You’ve got so many to choose from:  potato salad, macaroni and cheese, pasta salad, coleslaw.  But watch out for hidden sodium content in these dishes that usually have a ton of ingredients. 

Tip 3:  Serve more simple vegetables. Sides like potato salads usually have a ton of mayo or mustard or dressing stirred into them.  Try incorporating more sides that have vegetables and simple seasonings.  Like one of my favorite things to eat:  Corn on the Cob.  No salt needed there!  It's natural sweet taste is just enough.  Mix chilli powder and lime juice and zest into some unsalted butter for a great low-sodium and flavorful spread for the corn.  Or try grilling a few vegetables, flavoring with some balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  Speaking of vinegar….

Tip 4: Set aside the bottled dressings.  The best pasta salads usually have a thick coating of Italian dressing.  But you can make your own vinaigrettes and dressings to go over pastas and vegetables with just a few simple ingredients.  Most start with an acid (balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, or even lemon juice) and some olive oil.  Add in some garlic, herbs, and however much salt you like.  It tastes fresh with, of course, half the sodium!

Lastly, dessert! There are so many things to choose to go along with your 4th of July dinner, but there's nothing better than slicing some watermelon and lighting some fireworks. 

Tip 5:  Incorporate the red, the white, and the berries!  The best thing about the summer is the abundance of fresh fruit and berries.  For a low-sodium sweet trying making a dessert that includes some of the best summer fruits.  Or just eat the fruit by itself with some homemade whipped cream! You can’t go wrong with either option.

I hope these recipes help give you some ideas of what to cook.  Good luck and have a great 4th of July!!!!!

Wedding Recap: Danny's Top Five

No more Wedding Wednesdays!  I know, I know.  You're sad to see it go.  But welcome to the first of many in the new series "Wedding Recap."  Original, I know.  I'm working on a post for next Wednesday about the rehearsal dinner to end all rehearsal dinners, planned by my new in-laws.  Until then, enjoy a short and sweet list by my baby sister, Danyelle.

When I was asked by my sister to pick my five favorite things about her wedding, I knew it wouldn’t be an easy task.  How could I pick just FIVE things out of all the crazy, and beautiful moments of the day.  But I managed to narrow down my list. Five things that stood out to me during the wedding:

The Food: I thought the food was well picked and I personally enjoyed the meal.  I also loved the assortment of treats that my sister and Ben picked out for the dessert table. 

The Flowers:  I really love the flowers that were picked for the wedding, provided by Alicia Jayne Florals. Each bridesmaid bouquet had different selections of a yellow flower and they looked gorgeous and went well with our dresses

The Groomsmen Outfits:  I loved the groomsmen and their ensemble.  They wore suspenders with Converse sneakers and I thought that gave them some personality and a carefree feeling, but it also looked very stylish.

The Music:  Another thing I loved about the wedding was the music and DJ (D.J. D-Mac). He did very well and was the perfect person to host. But of course it wouldn't have been great without Jewel’s input on the music that everyone could dance to.

The Ceremony:  I think the wedding ceremony was very elegant and everyone could feel the love that was radiating from Ben and Jewel as they said their vows and official became husband and wife. 

  

 

 

A Snapshot of the Dessert Buffet