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Permalink Reply by Zoe on August 31, 2011 at 1:38pm

There is no reason why "less processed foods" needs to mean high carb! I almost never eat processed foods and I keep my carbs under 100 a day. I'm a vegetarian, but if you are an omnivore it's even easier to lower carbs.

As for the drinks, I don't drink the things you mentioned either but have coffee in the morning, herbal iced tea for lunch and wine with dinner.

Finally while your wife seems to have noble ideas as you say, she needs to understand that your diabetic needs need to take top priority. But really, there is no reason in the world why it can't be both.

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Permalink Reply by Randy on August 31, 2011 at 1:51pm

Eliminating processed foods is not a bad thing, but a high carb diet is not what you need and it does not sound like you want to go that direction. This is an option for her, but not for you. However, I believe you can join her in the experiment. You (both of you) will need to determine your needs and experiment with some new food options. Rice with every meal is a no go and not in the best interest of your health. But there are more beverages than diet soda or water. I make ginger tea by grinding, simmering and straining fresh ginger. I have never been able to consume aspertaine and can only tolerate limited splenda. I have found Stevia to be a very good sweetener that is natural and has no affect on my BG. I buy Zevia pop which is sweetened with Stevia. I sometimes mix my ginger tea with the pop which is quite good. I have found that I no longer like the taste of foods sweetened with sugar after not using it for the last 8 months. In fact I don't use any sweetener very often. I eliminated almost all processed foods and trans fats from my diet several years before my DX. I am very careful about any food I buy or eat. But I do not have the time, tools or knowledge to not take advantage of our modern food supply. I use a ton of peanut butter, but I do not make it. It is processed, but only contains peanuts and salt.

Being PWD means being mindful of our diet. This is no different. A whole food diet is a good diet. However it does take more effort and planning.

P.S. Another sweetener is called Sweet Perfection. It is plant based, high fiber and tastes fantastic. The great thing about it is that it is ZERO glycemic. I just proved that again last night.

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Permalink Reply by Kate on August 31, 2011 at 1:58pm

I'm hooked on seltzer with a splash of lemon juice!

My husband is a non-D, carb-o-holic (and skinny as a broom stick!). We have also been trying to cut out the processed foods and eat locally as much as possible. We find that compromise is king. For example, I often make a stir fry with food from the CSA and then add rice for him and extra meat for me.

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Permalink Reply by Pastelpainter on August 31, 2011 at 2:01pm

I eliminate processed foods from my diet too, but would rather make a meat loaf than a rice loaf, especially now I am diabetic. Rice, is processed, unless you use brown rice, and I have found that beans and lentils, etc. spike my bgs. I don't see any need to eat a heavy carb diet if you eat unprocessed foods, how processed is a salad with eggs?

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Permalink Reply by BadMoonT2 on August 31, 2011 at 2:16pm

What are the foods that make it possible to eat 100 carbs a day that you no longer will be able to eat? Red beans and rice doesn't seem like a good substitute for anything as it will surely put you over 100 possibly in one meal. As I'm sure you know it's not just the number of carbs but the source that enables you to be able to keep your sugar in a healthy range. You have a system worked out that enables you to do a physical job and achieve a great A1C. It would seem you should tinker with it very gradually. Your health has to come first.

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Permalink Reply by Randy on August 31, 2011 at 2:24pm

Agree 100%. You sure took less space for it and were more clear than I was!

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Permalink Reply by Anonymous Jim on August 31, 2011 at 3:18pm

Breakfast ideally is bacon and eggs with a slice of toast with peanut butter (figure 20 carbs max) and coffee. Bacon will be gone, the toast is being replaced by homemade bread which I love but carbs are unknown I figure 20-25 a slice, peanut butter can be homemade and is minimal carb.
Lunch is usually skipped but if eaten is kept around 20 carbs usually a hot dog with the kids on 15 carb bread and like 15 gold fish with the kids
Dinner depends if I am eating with the family or not also skipped often if I had lunch. Chicken is a staple plus some veggies (green beans and broccoli) try to keep under 20 carbs on average but can go to 50 if pasta or rice is thrown in the mix..
Work averages 40 carbs plus a night I tend to do 3 or 4 half peanut butter sandwiches, just to keep from going low again on 15 carb bread (10 if I purchase it)
Some days more carbs some days less but try to shoot for 100-150. If I snack 150 but like today I have not eaten anything since 5 am not hungry yet. Of course I tend to eat for my blood sugar and not for hunger these days.

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on August 31, 2011 at 3:15pm

I would presume eating lots of veggies would have to be part of the plan? I like the sentiment but am waaaay too lazy not to eat stuff with the # of carbs on the side of the box. Plus I sort of eye cholesterol and sodium and potassium and vitamins and other goodies? I'm not sure what the huge benefit of eating stuff that's not processed is anyway? I guess I tried it a little bit by switching from lunchmeat 1/2 sandwiches (on fluffy store-bought "wheat" bread...) to peanut butter and sort of felt like it made a very slight difference but I figured it was probably psychosomatic?

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Permalink Reply by Jim on August 31, 2011 at 4:15pm

Life is way too short to cut those items you enjoy out of your diet. If your body is telling you that it is not handling diet soda, Crystal lite or bacon that is one thing, but to do it just for the sake of saying you don't eat processed foods seems pointless and probably doomed for failure. I think you will find that you will be much more successful by limiting processed foods an not eliminating them.

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on August 31, 2011 at 4:18pm

Except...you might **not** be succesful in that if your wife says "we are not eating **any** processed foods any more". Perhaps getting a BB gun and bringing home some squirrels might be a different way to resolve the issue, low carb, conversation pieces, etc. Then again, who knows what they've gotten into?

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Permalink Reply by Jim on August 31, 2011 at 4:28pm

Life is too short.....time for a new wife! Just joking. Hopefully there is a little wiggle room that will be acceptable to the wife.

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Permalink Reply by Anonymous Jim on August 31, 2011 at 4:30pm

LOL I keep telling her no honey since it is a processed food manufactured by bees and is something we can not process ourselves.
I live in KY have had squirrel many times it's great with biscuits and gravy.

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