First off, I saw your original email on the MR, and then stumbled across this on LJ (after I read my friends stuff I go and read the friends of the communities I am in -- you stumble across a lot that way). Second, I am not sure if we have ever officially met, but we have friends in common. I am Elizabeth of Hadley Hall, and my college roomate was Aelfwynn. I've camped with Watan, and my children are buds/pseudo-cousins with Aelfwynn's daughter. I have not brought my kids to Pennsic. My husband has heat issues (as in wears shorts in wintertime so finds springtime too hot), and the kids have possibly followed him in that. Pennsic has also been my vacation away to myself time. :)

There isn't much more to be said on food. The problem is that you have to learn how your child handles food and heat. My youngest consistently throws up after long hot events. This has been the case since he was a baby, and believe me it has made traveling home from events, well, interesting. We did camp at a local event last summer, and he ended up throwing up during the middle of the night. It sure stank the tent up. One of my daughters seems to exist on fruit during the day, but is starving at night time when we are off-site and at a restaurant/drive-thru and then gets all of her carbs and protein.

It helps if you have been going to day events before a minor or major camping event because you already have a slight handle on what they want/how they react.

If you can get across to people that most of it is common sense and truly listening to your child (both to what they say and how they are acting).