Allergy Mom Video: How to Stay at a VRBO and Have Great Food

Parenting contributor Megan Lavin and her family recently had a five-day trip and she decided to try staying at a VRBO vacation rental.

With this length of trip, she says in her new video: “I knew a hotel wouldn’t cut it.” Her family of six includes two sons with multiple food allergies, and she didn’t want to eat out that often. Her reasoning was a combination of “food allergies, budgets and wanting to eat healthier, home-cooked meals.”

So how did she go about the meal planning? First, because the family’s SUV has a small-ish trunk, Megan took only food allergy-friendly essentials for both the road trip and the VRBO stay. Things like safe bread and Sunbutter, which might not be easy to find at an unfamiliar grocery store.

Then, as she explains in this installment of the Megan’s Minute video series for Allergic Living, she got busy planning the simple, tasty meals. She did take along her Crock-Pot – for meals like “Chicken Tikka Masala, so I could set it and forget it, while we were out playing.” She used it for soup and breakfast tacos, too.

Once unpacked, she did head to the grocery store for fresh, safe foods.

Megan’s Tips for a VRBO Stay

In the video, Megan also offers several tips to help ease your meal planning – and not leave you in the lurch when cooking on the road with allergies.

For instance, she recommends: 

• Emailing the VRBO property you’re renting ahead of time, to find out what kitchen utensils they have.
• “Think of every step and item you’ll need to make your recipe a success that maybe at home you simply grab absentmindedly.”  
• Do remember essentials like allergy-friendly nonstick spray or olive oil and containers for leftovers. Ditto for aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Megan says: “As I’ve seen before, pushing yourself outside of your limit really pays off.” The family had a great short vacation. “I hope this inspires you to get out there with your food-allergic family too!”

Join Allergic Living monthly for a new installment of Megan’s Minute with Megan Lavin, the creator of the Allergy Awesomeness blog. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook. 

More Megan’s Minute Videos:
How I ‘Cook’ in a Hotel to Manage Allergies
Allergy Mom’s Crisis over Summer Camp’s Menu
Playing Sports: Snacks and Food Allergy Safety
Visiting LEGOLAND with Food Allergies
Allergy Mom Video: Our First Cruise with Food Allergies was a Hi
Food Allergy as School: Self-Carrying Epi Matters
Going to Birthday Parties