A pasta question...

[Isometric]

I'm taking my wife out to dinner tonight, to a Mongolian grill place nearby that (among many other things) has pasta. Since I started on a Lantus/Novolog combo, I haven't had any pasta that wasn't easily countable - like out of a box. I'm really unsure how to count for tonight and was wondering if anyone could enlighten me on the finer points of pasta counting. It's a place where you fill up a bowl or two with uncooked food, slather on a few sauces, then hand it over to the cook. Basically, I'm anticipating a normal size dinner plate, piled fairly high with (mostly) pasta, meat, and a few veggies. These egg noodles are about as thick, maybe thicker than spaghetti noodles. Thanks for any help/advice you can offer!

[grace girl]

Well, I had to practice at home to get the hang of it, but I've learned to eyeball it based on the fact that 1/2 cup of cooked pasta (any pasta) is 15 carbs.

[owlyn]

The usual portion works out to about 120 grams of CHO. You learn to eyeball it after a while. Sometimes I play a game where I guess and then weigh something. I'm pretty good at it.

Don't forget to add in other carbs, like bread.

[shabbie]

i'm quite often seen clenching fists over my meals when i eat out. for me a clenched fist is about the same size as a cup so it kinda works out when trying to calculate unkown carbs...of course i do get caught out with mystery meals..... like soup!...and french fries!

[ant hill]

Well, I had to practice at home to get the hang of it, but I've learned to eyeball it based on the fact that 1/2 cup of cooked pasta (any pasta) is 15 carbs.

Hey Grace, 15 carbs is going to last you a looong time.... Dual bolus time :D

[Stuboy]

OOo pasta, i love pasta.

The pasta i have is a fairly standard pasta, and by the packet, 75g (1portion) is 54gCHO when cooked.

75g of pasta is not enough for me, not if it's a meal on it's own, so i usually double it. 150g = 108g CHO.

The thing with pasta, for me at least, is that it hits you twice. it hits your BS as soon as you start eating it and then again about 2 hours after. So I find that if i split my dose (usually 7 units) into 2, i take 4u before i start eating, then 3u 2 hour after i finish. I find this keep me in target after a nice bowl of pasta.

Dont forget to count for any source you have with it.

[Alice]

I've asked the chef to measure out the pasta serving. I sometimes ask for only 1/2 cup...or 1 cup...that makes it much easier to bolus and for my calorie counting.

An old weight watcher trick is to use a coffee cup as a measuring cup. I know the hand/fist technique, but have found it difficult.

[grace girl]

Hey Grace, 15 carbs is going to last you a looong time.... Dual bolus time :D

I'm one of the weirdo's who have no problems with pasta...which is probably a good thing...my husband is Italian and we eat it ALOT!

[ant hill]

I'm one of the weirdo's who have no problems with pasta...which is probably a good thing...my husband is Italian and we eat it ALOT!

Aww Holly :), Can I come for dinner. :D :T