food question

[msdebagain]

hi, the new girl again. I am trying to get myself in check after being a 'bad diabetic' for 10 yrs. (see my thread in the introduction if you want to see all my problems)

i am very concerned about food. i am THE fussiest eater. i dont eat Eggs, bread, most veggies (i eat carrots and corn) no milk, (just water or tea, maybe a diet drink) not a fan of yogurt. etc etc. everything i look at to eat that diabetics can eat, i probably dont like. what do i do?

i do eat chicken, turkey and some fish, maybe a tiny bit of red meat. i'm trying so hard to keep my sugars good, but its difficult. i'm getting set up with a dietician, but in the meantime, what do you guys suggest for fussy eaters?

i am not someone who will test out foods, i will eat the same foods over and over (like chicken) rather than eat something i dont like. i know, i sound like a 2 yr old, hub says it all the time. HELP!

[princesslinda]

I, too, am a picky eater...my favorite foods were potatoes, pastas, rice, bread, corn...all those things that make my blood sugar go WAY up. Now, I avoid all those foods.

Like you, I tend to eat the same foods...kinda makes things easier for me now, as I know what I can have and it rarely varies.

I eat a lot of green beans....they are my favorite vegetable. You can eat any types of green veggies. I also eat cucumbers and lots of salads with different vinaigarette dressings. I've learned that I like asparagus (never tried them until I had diabetes). I eat black beans and pinto beans as well. I eat a lot of tuna/tuna salad, grilled chicken, pork, hamburger without the bun, hot dog without the bun, all types of fish, cheese, eggs and nuts. When I want something sweet, I have s/f jello pudding, s/f fudgsicles and s/f jello. I have pork rinds when i'm in the mood for chips.

Corn is difficult for some people and carrots can cause a rise as well.

My advice would be to test yourself 2 hrs after the start of your meals...see what certain foods do to you, if your blood sugar goes high after a meal, list what you had and what your blood sugar was...if it's too high, avoid that food...until you see the dietitian, eat by your meter...it won't steer you wrong.

There may be foods you'll just have to give up for your health...for example, I can't eat white bread AT ALL...it's just not worth it to have my blood sugar at 170...on occasion, I will have a slice of the Nature's own double fiber bread....5 total carbs/slice. You'll soon find what works for you. I have gotten over some of my food issues...when you're hungry, you can eat things you normally wouldn't...except for broccolli...haven't learned to do that yet.:)

Your dietician can give you ideas, but actually complying with the program is up to you. It's hard when your a finicky eater, but trust me, it can be done. You just resolve to do what you have to do to live the life you want to live. You may not love what you're eating, but you'll love the way you'll feel with your blood sugars are under control.
Exercise will also help in controlling your blood sugars.

[notme]

I am also a picky eater. The things I choose are usually fruit and carbohydrates. Neither particularly good for me. I am not a big "fat" fan. I don't like fast food or "junk food". But, I am picky. I don't like garlic or onions which makes it difficult to go out sometimes.

I read in your introduction that you gained weight. What did you gain weight eating? Try to stick with whole foods. Berries, nuts, whole grain breads and some dairy. Eating whole foods (no more than one or two ingredients) the better your blood sugar will be. If it comes in a box, it is generally bad for you. Steer away from all fast food restaurants. That stuff will kill you.

[msdebagain]

I am also a picky eater. The things I choose are usually fruit and carbohydrates. Neither particularly good for me. I am not a big "fat" fan. I don't like fast food or "junk food". But, I am picky. I don't like garlic or onions which makes it difficult to go out sometimes.

I read in your introduction that you gained weight. What did you gain weight eating? Try to stick with whole foods. Berries, nuts, whole grain breads and some dairy. Eating whole foods (no more than one or two ingredients) the better your blood sugar will be. If it comes in a box, it is generally bad for you. Steer away from all fast food restaurants. That stuff will kill you.

i gained weight eating all of the wrong foods, being ultra lazy and living at the drive thru restaurants. i'm not a fan of dairy, although i do like cheese if its melted. i havent had fast food since i got sick which is good for everyone in our house. not to sound stupid, but what is whole food? i just sent hub to get some roasted chicken (no skin) which i like.

i have so much to learn its almost embarrassing.

[jen_slc]

Another picky eater here, plus I'm vegetarian most of the time. I used to be really really picky about my vegetables but in the past several years I have trained myself to eat some veggies I wouldn't touch in the past (broccoli, peppers, sometimes tomatoes). Besides the obvious meat factor, I don't do milk, eggs, most cheeses, and hardly any yogurt (I find those drinkable ones are ok, but only in the baby-sized version otherwise I'll be sick trying to drink the bigger ones down). The veggies I have problems with are the bitter ones (and yes, there's a scientific basis for us picky eaters - we taste more of the bitterness!).

Have you tried lentils or beans? I eat a TON of those and you can make some pretty tasty dishes. They are super healthy and don't affect my blood sugar a whole lot (although I am a T1 on insulin and they might affect you differently).

[notme]

Don't be embarrassed. There is NOTHING we can't talk about. Certainly we are all learning every day. I learn from people here daily.

By definition, whole foods are those as close as possible to their natural state. These are foods that have had little to no processing and retain their original nutrients, fiber and flavor. This means fresh apples as opposed to apple juice, brown rice rather than white, whole-grain flours and baked goods with natural sweeteners. This also means that your food is going to taste great—but if you have been eating processed foods for a long period of time, these changes might take a little getting used to. (copied from Willy Stree Co-op)

I try to steer clear of anything that is in a package or processed these days. That doesn't mean I don't have a lapse in judgement now and then. We all do. I even have pizza once in awhile. I also do roasted chicken or other animal products. However, I try to base most of my diet on "whole foods" that are not packaged or processed.

Good luck. It sounds like you are genuinely motivated and that is inspiring in itself!

[msdebagain]

Another picky eater here, plus I'm vegetarian most of the time. I used to be really really picky about my vegetables but in the past several years I have trained myself to eat some veggies I wouldn't touch in the past (broccoli, peppers, sometimes tomatoes). Besides the obvious meat factor, I don't do milk, eggs, most cheeses, and hardly any yogurt (I find those drinkable ones are ok, but only in the baby-sized version otherwise I'll be sick trying to drink the bigger ones down). The veggies I have problems with are the bitter ones (and yes, there's a scientific basis for us picky eaters - we taste more of the bitterness!).

Have you tried lentils or beans? I eat a TON of those and you can make some pretty tasty dishes. They are super healthy and don't affect my blood sugar a whole lot (although I am a T1 on insulin and they might affect you differently).

i dont like the texture of beans. i have a strong gag reflex (left over from when i was a child i'm sure) and i dont think it'd make it past my teeth. never had a lentil. hub thinks he can find a recipe or two where he can 'hide' the beans and i wont know.... :eek:

[princesslinda]

Like you, I have a strong gag reflex...and different textures bother me (though fortunately not beans). I've found if I can add strong spice or heat to foods, I can eat things I wouldn't have even tried before. Try adding lots of different spices to the things you normally cook...this way, you're not assailed with the "green" taste if that bothers you.

I started grilling steak or chicken kebabs...the veggies have that smoked taste and are more palatable...if I don't like them, I just eat them with the meat and I don't taste it as much...that helps with the texture as well. I have learned to eat peppers, onions, asparagus, zucchini that way.

I think lots of times we don't really know how to cook certain foods, veggies especially..look on line and see the different preparation methods...I learned that asparagus are yucky in the can, but on the grill with olive oil and sea salt and pepper flakes taste yummy. I never liked zucchini when my mom fixed it, but seems everything tastes better to me grilled.

[slipperyelm]

... (i eat carrots and corn).... (just water or tea, maybe a diet drink)....i do eat chicken, turkey and some fish, maybe a tiny bit of red meat....i'm trying so hard to keep my sugars good, but its difficult....

What do you see as causing trouble to your blood glucose levels? Some other foods that you have not mentioned here?

Of the food and drink you named that you do eat, only carrots and corn are likely to cause elevations. Chicken, turkey, fish, and red meat contribute only very slowly to a rise in blood glucose. They should be great for you as a diabetic. You are not drinking the tea with sugar, are you? That of course would cause higher levels.

If these foods are all that you will eat, I think you could certainly benefit from some nutritional supplements. But that would be the case for this diet even if you were not diabetic.

If it becomes more important to you to control the diabetes, you will probably start to find more interest in eating foods that are healthful and leaving alone the the ones that are a problem. Maybe you are on the verge of that now?

[MJB]

"...but seems everything tastes better to me grilled."

Amen to that! Exact same experience with asparagus.

It's ribeyes on the Weber tonight! :D

[Who?]

Carrots and corn may not be the best choices. It seems from your other post that you have received a rather emphatic warning that you are headed in the wrong direction.

I think you are going to have to make some significant "adjustments" otherwise you may have a repeat of what happened. There is no magic, the requirements for avoiding really nasty consequences are fairly rigid. We each make our own choice whether or not we follow them.

Good luck.