I’ve spent the last week on vacation, enjoying the company of a friend who traveled from Alaska to visit. It has been a remarkably peaceful and fun time. In this midst of this, I am also working to stabilize my situation with diabetes; a thing that has resulted in rather dramatic changes in food choices as well as more than a little research to broaden my awareness of both food production, the effects of simple (versus complex) carbohydrates, and the specifics of how Metformin interacts with the body to produce the beneficial result it provides.
My biggest discovery this week has been organic food producers whose flavorful and low-sodium, low-glycemic offerings quite surprised me. The following items have been immediate replacements for their mass-market cousins:
Blue Diamond’s “Almond Breeze” Milk (unsweetened)
Food For Life’s “Ezekiel 4:9” Sprouted Grain Bread – Whole Grain
Food For Life’s “Ezekiel 4:9” Sprouted Grain Bread – Cinnamon Raisin
Food For Life’s “Ezekiel 4:9” Sprouted Whole Grain Flourless Golden Flax Cereal
Morning Stars “Garden Veggie Patties” Veggie Burgers
(Aside – remember that mushroom allergy? Well it seems to be gone, or at least, the above “burgers” do not trigger it. Go figure.)
Mind you, I did that whole “stomp, groan, moan, and pout” thing to pick up the above and bring them home to try. I had resigned myself to cardboard, flavorless, relatively “yuck” eating.
Simply put — I was wrong.
The milk takes a small adjustment as it’s not the flavor I expect when I have cereal. But it’s not “bad” tasting at all. A little Stevia (herbal sweetner) to sweeten things up a bit and it’s delicious.
The breads and cereal were, frankly, a shock. Thick, richly flavored, and enjoyable. Outside of certain freshly baked goods along the way, I don’t think I’ve ever set a slice of commercially made bread in my mouth and had my body actually perk up and notice. It did for this. This is extremely high quality, tasteful, and nutritious bread that I recommend for anyone. I wish I had known about it before I found diabetes.
The burgers are surprisingly flavorful and filling. Mind, I do miss that tang of fat and the “taste” that says, “This used to be something alive” but I am coming to terms with it and find that, once I take my uncaring carnivorous preference from the frame, the taste is close enough to be satisfactory and the decided benefits of no fat, no sugar, nothing but healthy goodness…. well, you know, maybe this whole vegetarian thing isn’t that bad.
(Yes, yes, I know, call the press; the world has ended!)
Add to this, I’ve the good fortune of a delicious option in the Mongolian Grill franchise; offering fresh stir-fried vegetables with your choice of organic oils. After this last week of eating there almost once a day, I’ve decided to buy myself a wok and start making this at home. It’s simple, inexpensive, healthy, and boy, let me tell you, tasty!!
I’m back to work on Wednesday, and the second week of June has me doing another round of doctor’s visits; follow up to the Rheumatologist (to hopefully be officially cleared of the “arthritis” label AND get the release to return to the gym!), the general practitioner (for review of monitoring to date, possible adjustment to medication, and re-checking cholesterol levels), and on the 10th “Diabetes Class” (where they intend to teach me all the things I’ve been doing the last two weeks on my own… but it’s required for insurance coverage, so, ok, whatever).
So the upshot for the week is that diabetes isn’t going to keep me down. As a matter of fact, as odd as it may sound, this may have been the best thing to happen to me; I’m eating more healthily, I’m doing more than thinking about getting out from under the restrictions (which, frankly, had depressed me to the point of “why bother?”), and I can actually see a point at which I reclaim much of what I’ve felt I’ve lost over the last seventeen years.
All in all, good things. It would seem the Seattle Streak (good fortune, good events, positive change, and enjoyment) continues!
I hope the weekend and coming holiday treat you well; that you are surrounded by care and closeness of those who matter to you.