B of Ireland packing lunches

TBH, I think Rick used to recommend this but I am not sure he does any more. According to several of my RS guides, it's thought to be rude and can wipe out a breakfast buffet if everyone takes enough for lunch.

I suggest a quick grocery shop in Dublin. If you'll googlemap your hotel you can find the nearest grocery store or you can ask someone at Reception to point you in the direction. I went to a couple in Dublin and always enjoy the experience of looking around to see what the locals like to eat!

I am vegan so usually get peanut butter locally along with some kind of cracker to use as a food back up. The places I wished I had packed a lunch were the day we stopped in Killarney National Park for lunch and the day we did the Slea Head Drive and stopped at the Blasket Island Center. Both places I felt I spent too much time eating and did not have time to do everything I thought I wanted to see, lol! Also wished we had had lunch on the Aran Island day trip just because the small cafes there did not have much of anything vegan - your husband might have an easier time finding something compliant there than we did though.

Obviously his diabetic needs will be different than my vegan needs, but I would still go with a grocery store.

Thanks, Pam. That is exactly the kind of advice I needed. I tease my husband often that if he were to develop a peanut allergy, he might starve to death!! It is his "go to" food for all circumstances. Even though it will add weight to the luggage, I plan to bring a jar of peanut butter with us because we've found it is not always readily available throughout Europe. I didn't want to presume that helping ourselves to extra food at breakfast would be ok everywhere and would probably only do that in a pinch, anyway. This is our first time on a tour, always traveled independently in Europe before, so a bit unsure of protocols and not wanting to overstep what is locally accepted. Like you, we tend to want to milk every minute out of the places we visit and avoid long, leisurely lunches, opting instead for picnics and quick bites. I have been known also to take pictures of groceries and markets in other countries because they are as fascinating to me as a museum to see how things are packaged and the food choices available in other countries!! Especially enjoy the candy and snack aisles! Ha!
Appreciate your tips and will plan ahead for those stops that you found a bit challenging food-wise! Thanks!

I am pretty sure I found suitable peanut butter at a grocery store in Dublin.

I also use the Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut butter packets to take on the plane going over. I can find them in my local grocery store natural food section and in the local food coop. It's similar to Nutella but doesn't have dairy which may not be a concern of yours/his. Anyway...they are handy for sticking in a 3-1-1 bag for the plane ride in case the requested special meals are either not loaded onto the plane or are abysmal! Speaking of which, if he likes Nutella it is ~everywhere~.

I am certain you'll enjoy your first RS tour! The guide we had for Ireland was a great story-teller -particularly about his early days as a tour guide (not with RS). His stories actually made me laugh until I cried. Take extra Kleenex.

Less convenient, but lighter in weight is the dry peanut butter powder

My dad was diabetic and did a lot of travelling with my mom. They did a lot of independent travel and a few tours. They always brought peanut butter and those tuna packs. Single cans of tuna with the fixings and crackers. They could usually find bread for sandwiches, but had the tuna packs for in a pinch.

Good idea, Lynn.

Thanks you.

There’s a great, interesting upscale grocery called Fallon and Byrne (11-27 Exchequer St) in Dublin with a deli section where you can get made to order lunches to eat there or take along. You might try that.

Kathy,
Another alternative would be to email the hotels where the tour group would be staying to see if they might sell a packed lunch to you for certain days? You could specify what type foods would be needed, explaining your husband is diabetic. The Irish seem to love "looking after" others (as they say),so they might be willing to "look after" your husband in this way (if they find it a reasonable request and they can make a tiny bit of a profit on the food needed). That would save you time trying to locate suitable foods where grocery stores might not be easily located.
Just a thought.

Guessing you have also informed the Rick Steves tour office of his dietary requirements so (reasonable) accommodation can be made for him at the included group meals?

Thank you Maggie for the advice. We leave tomorrow for Dublin and I will inquire once we are on the ground there. Hubby is almost always able to make good choices for him and doesn’t really require special foods. It is mostly having back up snacks and things in hand in the infrequent, but very unpredictable times that his blood sugar drops. I’m sure with all the helpful suggestions I’ve gotten, he will do fine. Just like to think ahead about what options we will encounter.