My daughter left this morning on a mission trip. Her 8th grade class from school will spend 5 days working in a homeless shelter in another city. They will be doing clean up projects in the morning and working with children in after school care in the afternoons.

Sometimes I have told funny stories about her resistance to trying new foods that would be beneficial to her as a type A. But this weekend as she packed and repacked her suitcase, I could see that she really has absorbed a lot about eating right for her type.

She was concerned about breakfast. She starts each day with a shake made with soy milk and a soy protein mix. She likes it smooth, like when she makes it in the blender; not lumpy, like when she shakes or stirs. So she asked to buy a hand blender. It will also be useful on vacation this summer. After much debate she decided to take the protein mix, but not the soy milk. She can keep the mix in her suitcase, and she wasn't sure she would have access to a refrigerator.

They will be eating and sleeping at a nearby youth camp. "You should see the menu, Mom," she said, "hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken nuggets." We decided she could take a jar of peanut butter. Type As can live on peanut butter for weeks. (I enjoy smelling it when I fix her a sandwich, but I choose almond and sesame butter for myself.) The good news about dinner was that there would be a salad bar. There are many good Type A choices in a salad bar.

She bought some soy protein bars to keep in her back pack for snacks when they are at the shelter.

I'm going to miss her a lot this week. I'm pleased that she understood on her own that she will feel better and have more energy if she watches what she eats. Even more, I'm glad she is willing to serve others in the name of the Lord.