Keto With Stef....

    We had a fabulous time during our daughter's visit to Hawaii.  Along with a day trip to Kauai to see Waimea Canyon and other beautiful sites there, we added a snorkeling trip to Hanauma Bay, and it was fabulous!  Snorkeler's saw amazing sea life, including sea turtles, seal pups, and the different varieties of colorful tropical fish native to the Hawaiian Islands.  However, Stef and Steve discovered days later that Po'Kai Bay just behind our house has all that and more!  All the running around meant we ate out several times while Stef was here, yet I managed to remain on keto.  We went several times to the little restaurant just behind our property.  We walk there within minutes to enjoy the live music.  It's filled with locals, while a few tourists and military people vacationing in the cabins rotate through.  The menu items available to me are primarily appetizers.  I chose coconut shrimp, artichoke dip, and chicken wings.  We had a Sunday brunch there, and I chose eggs benedict.  Even though I ate the muffin, I remained within my 50  gram carb limits.  We also went to Mei Sum Dim Sum in Chinatown, where I enjoyed spare ribs, tripe, and a few wrapped pieces.  When we went to Kauai, we ate brunch at Daddy O's, where I enjoyed a breakfast sandwich, including the croissant, but still remained within my daily carb allotment.  When we visited North Shore we ate garlic shrimp at Fumi's, a delicious, and totally keto meal.  On Stef's last Sunday, we went to a local favorite called Spinners for breakfast, and I had a really great omelet.  So while keto limits choices when eating out, it's still possible to thoroughly enjoy your meals.  Our at-home meals are consistently keto-friendly.  I made oxtail soup for the first time, and I've decided to add that to my keto repertoire.  It's really delicious and has a unique Vietnamese style taste, bordering on pho but containing all of the Korean style scrumptiousness of over-forty soup.  For the first time in a long time, we visited Waikiki, so Stef might experience that vibe.  It is still filled with wealthy Asian tourists who constantly shop and young people who are surfing, skateboarding, or simply enjoying one of the many sports bars in the area.  However, overall, our very best day was spent at Hanauma Bay.  I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Oahu.  Reservations are required and are very difficult to get.  You have to wait until ticket sales are open at 7 a.m., two days before your visit.  Sit at your computer by seven in the morning to get your tickets.  Be sure you have the web page up and ready to go with the filled-in form ready to submit, or others will beat you to the limited spaces.  The place is definitely worth all the struggle to get tickets.  This is a protected reef.  The State is trying to manage the sea life and reef.  Apparently, at one time, it was nearly destroyed and fished out.  It became protected in 1965, and from that point, careful monitoring brought it back.  There are full-time lifeguards because of several riptides, and swimmers can get in trouble.  The snorkeling is fabulous, and the sea life is abundant.  The day we visited, a large seal lay basking in the sun on the beach, even snoring slightly.  Of course, everyone is instructed to leave any beached animals entirely alone.  Thankfully, our sons had everything ready for us to come and enjoy a wonderful day.  The other thing that you have to watch is the parking.  There are minimal spaces, so you have to be prepared to jump in early when you come.  For example, if you have a 10:30 ticket, you better arrive before 10:00, get a parking place, and then be standing at the ticket office by 10:15 to enjoy your visit.  We also spent lots of time in Po'Kai Bay.  Stef swam with sea turtles of all sizes and many beautiful varieties of tropical fish.  She left this morning at 7:00 a.m., and we already miss her.  We left very early to get her to the airport by 5:00.  Being early is essential because the crowds are beginning to grow again, making the airport very busy.  What a wonderful time we've all had together!  We're so blessed to have our beautiful family.