My family just returned from a 5 day whitewater rafting trip in Idaho. We don't live near Idaho and it was a difficult journey to get there and back. We went with another family and before booking this trip the first question I asked the outfitter whether they would be able to prepare meals for my vegetarian family. The outfitter is a family-owned operation, and they assured me they had experience with all kinds of diets and it would not be a problem. I followed up many times, even asking to see the menus but was told it would ruin the "surprise." However, I was assured that tofu and beans would be available on the trip.

On the first day, we were served a lunch of chicken caesar wraps without the chicken. That night dinner was Italian chicken cutlets with a side of fettuccine without the chicken. One day for lunch they served curried chicken salad without the chicken (essentially applesauce in mayo with curry). On the last evening of the trip they served the other guests a surf and turf dinner of filet mignon and grilled shrimp and we had veggie burgers. The only saving grace was the jar of peanut butter available at most meals.

I spent a good portion of the trip trying to control my rage at the situation. We were travelling through wilderness and there was nothing anyone could do at that point. If it had just been myself I would have coped, but my children were along and in fact more than half the people on the trip were vegetarian!

Besides writing a letter to the operator expressing my disappointment, I am wondering if there is something else I can do. Frankly, I don't think the outfitter is going to care very much about this since I am not likely to consider going on rafting trip anytime soon. I want to do something that will punish the operator, since I feel she was not being upfront about their inexperience.

On the other hand, I am wondering if I am looking at this the wrong way and I am missing a meaningful opportunity to educate.