Sometimes it's nice to try some new snacks! If you have Type 2 diabetes like I do, I feel like I eat the same things day in and day out. I get comfortable, knowing what foods I can and can't have, what effects my blood sugar and so I tend to grab the same thing every day. Well, it gets boring! Here are some random snack ideas!
Mini Kabobs...are easy and make great snacks! Assemble your kabobs with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh avacado and basil or spinach leaves - and you have a salad on a stick. Place kabobs in a large bag and toss with either Italian Dressing, or some olive oil, balsamic vinegar and sea salt. The colder they are served, the better!
You can also make fruit kabobs with grapes, strawberries, pineapple, blueberries or raspberries. Add a square of cheese for a bit of protein and you have a healthy snack to grab out of the fridge.
Almonds, pecans or walnuts are low in carbs, high in protein and make a great snack to fill up on. Pre measure your portions...they do have a lot of calories! Have a cheese stick on the side.
Graham Crackers...Spread a small amount of peanut butter on a few graham crackers and it's a great snack, fills you up and tastes sweet without a lot of sugar.
Hummus dip - I buy mine in the deli section of the grocery store. They have traditional, roasted red pepper, added garlic and the list goes on and on....but I love this dip, and its great on sandwiches too, instead of fatty mayo! Also great with celery, carrots and cauliflower, as well as baked pita chips.
Cucumbers are delicious, peel and slice one and cut slices about 1/4 inch thick. Use a small amount of sea salt on the cucumber slices. Top with feta and slivered almonds.
I hope this gives you some new ideas for healthy snacks!
Enjoy!
My personal journey living with Type 2 Diabetes - tips on grocery shopping, exercise, recipes, and creative ways to control my diabetes so it doesn't control me!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Ingredients you should have in your Kitchen....All the time!
This may be my shortest post ever!
Two things.....Roasted Red Peppers and Pesto Sauce!
If you have these two ingredients on hand you always have something to fix for dinner!
Add them to your grilled chicken sandwich, turkey wrap or even grilled burgers for a great new twist of flavor. Or, toss with some pasta and add grilled chicken!
Saute' Roasted Red Peppers to enjoy with your scrambled eggs! Yes - eggs are great for Dinner!
Top a toasted English Muffin with Pesto Sauce, red peppers, grilled chicken and shredded cheese and broil until cheese melts! Delicious!
Enjoy!
Two things.....Roasted Red Peppers and Pesto Sauce!
If you have these two ingredients on hand you always have something to fix for dinner!
Add them to your grilled chicken sandwich, turkey wrap or even grilled burgers for a great new twist of flavor. Or, toss with some pasta and add grilled chicken!
Saute' Roasted Red Peppers to enjoy with your scrambled eggs! Yes - eggs are great for Dinner!
Top a toasted English Muffin with Pesto Sauce, red peppers, grilled chicken and shredded cheese and broil until cheese melts! Delicious!
Enjoy!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Top 10 Diabetes "Superfoods"
Great information from the "Healthline" Website - and these foods not only are good for diabetics, but may of these are beneficial to people with cancer as well.
If you have type 2 diabetes, try to incorporate these foods into your diet as much as possible.
I eat some of these food every day!
If you have type 2 diabetes, try to incorporate these foods into your diet as much as possible.
I eat some of these food every day!
- Non Starchy Vegetables
- Non Fat milk and yogurt
- Tomatoes
- Blueberries
- Oranges/Grapefruits (fruit, NOT the juice for obvious reasons but the fruit gives you fiber)
- Salmon
- Walnuts/almonds
- Beans
- Leafy Green Vegetables
- Whole Grains
Monday, November 5, 2012
Pumpkin Spice Latte' - Skinny Version!
At this time of year I am jealous of my friends who can walk into Starbucks and order a Pumpkin Spice Latte'! I LOVE everything pumpkin, but those specialty drinks have so much sugar I would end up in a coma in about 20 seconds!
So, I decided to experiment to see if I could come up with something similar that is diabetic friendly, with no sugar! Here is what I came up with - I think it tastes great!
You will need:
Pumpkin Spice coffee (Dunkin Donuts has it - you can buy it at Target)
Splenda
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Skim milk
Cool Whip - low fat
Prepare your coffee like you normally do! Add to your cup of coffee - 2 tsp splenda, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 2 tablespoons skim milk and stir. Add Low fat cool whip on top! Drink and enjoy
It's not Starbucks, but it will do in a pinch!
Happy Fall!
So, I decided to experiment to see if I could come up with something similar that is diabetic friendly, with no sugar! Here is what I came up with - I think it tastes great!
You will need:
Pumpkin Spice coffee (Dunkin Donuts has it - you can buy it at Target)
Splenda
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Skim milk
Cool Whip - low fat
Prepare your coffee like you normally do! Add to your cup of coffee - 2 tsp splenda, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 2 tablespoons skim milk and stir. Add Low fat cool whip on top! Drink and enjoy
It's not Starbucks, but it will do in a pinch!
Happy Fall!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Safety Tips for Diabetes Medication
Safety Tips for Diabetes Medication
If diet and exercise can’t get your blood sugar level down, your
doctor‘s next move may be to prescribe a diabetes medication. One of the most
popular choices is Actos.
Actos is effective, but unfortunately it can come with some pretty
serious side effects.
Choosing a Medication
Before you take any medication, you should do thorough
research on the drug.
If you’re considering taking Actos (pioglitazone), you need
to know that your risk of developing bladder cancer increases by 40 percent if
you take Actos for more than a year. This has led many who have developed
bladder cancer to file Actos
lawsuits against its manufacturer. Your risk of heart failure and heart
attack also increases substantially with Actos.
This is why thorough research is so important. Start by
going to the Food and Drug Administration’s website.
There’s a tab called drugs@FDA. There, you will find all of
the drugs approved by the FDA in alphabetical order, as well as their label
information.
If you look up Actos, you will find that the drug has also
been connected with side effects such as:
·
Macular edema (an eye disease that causes
blindness).
·
Bone fractures.
·
Lliver failure.
For more information also try searching on metformin, you’ll
see some of these same side
effects of Actos listed.
Drug classes such as Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors,
non-sulfonylurea secretagogues and sulfonylureas are safer diabetes drug
choices because they have fewer side effects.
Tips for Taking
Diabetes Medication
Once you and your doctor have decided on a diabetes
medication, you need to know how much to take and when to take it. Diabetes
drugs must be taken regularly, so you should have a backup plan in case you
can’t get to your medicine.
Here are some precautions you should consider taking:
·
Keep three days of medication on hand in case
you can’t get to a doctor.
·
Gather backup supplies (this could include
insulin delivery supplies, extra batteries for a blood glucose meter and a
fast-acting source of glucose).
·
Keep your emergency supplies in one well-marked
container that’s easy to find.
·
Make a list of emergency contacts.
·
If you are a parent, give a copy of these
emergency contacts, along with treatment instructions, to your child’s day care
or baby sitter.
·
Make sure you have identified people that will
assist you or your child in the event of a diabetes emergency and make sure
these people are aware of their responsibilities.
When it comes to diabetes, the best way to stay in control is
to be well-informed. If you have any questions about your medication or your
treatment plan, ask your doctor. Together, you can make diabetes much more
manageable.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Creative Juices & Arkansas Tomatoes!
"Eat Well, Move, Be Well" has been on a hiatus - mostly due to my lack of creativity on the heels of two major life events - a house fire in August 2011 caused by lightening - which totally rocked our world, and then to top that off, a job lay off in January 2012. Needless to say my creative juices came to a screeching halt, as they tend to do when you are in constant "survival" mode!
My dad always liked to write when he was in the middle of some crisis - he always said major life events make for a "helluva story" ! I guess he was right and he always managed to write well under pressure. Not me!
It seems that lately, I hear of more and more people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes! Hardly a week goes by that I don't get a call or an email from someone asking if I can visit with someone dear to them who has been diagnosed. I always hate to hear of someone being diagnosed with this dreadful disease, but I feel that if I can help anyone by lending an ear and sharing things that have worked for me, then I am happy to help. I always try to find a positive in a negative and helping others learn to live with the big D is one way I can be positive abut my disease. I just need to be sure everyone understands I am NOT a health professional by any stretch of the imagination, and what works for me, might not work for someone else!
Since it is summer in Arkansas, and our tomatoes are AMAZING right now, I thought I would share a recipe that I found recently on www.foodtv.com. We shared this in our E-Newsletter at the hotel, and I think you will enjoy it! :)
My next blog will feature a guest writer who will share ideas about medications & diabetes!
Till then - Eat Well, Move, Be Well!
Caprese' Pasta Salad
1/2 pound dried whole wheat or fiber added pasta
3 medium tomatoes
1/2 pound fresh, water packed mozzarella, cubed
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic pressed
1/2 tsp olive oil based mayonnaise
1 tsp sea salt
fresh ground black pepper
1 cup fresh basil leaves, washed, dried and chopped (I cheat sometimes and used dried)
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
Cook pasta as directed. Prepare tomatoes and cheese and put them in large bowl. Whisk
together vinegar, olive oil, garlic, mayo, salt and pepper to taste. Drain pasta and shake dry (do not rinse it) and add to the tomato and cheese mixture. Stir to combine. Add half the dressing, stir, and fold in the basil and pine nuts. Stir and taste - you may need to add more salt, or more dressing! This salad is best at room temp, but it can be refrigerated! Enjoy!
My dad always liked to write when he was in the middle of some crisis - he always said major life events make for a "helluva story" ! I guess he was right and he always managed to write well under pressure. Not me!
It seems that lately, I hear of more and more people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes! Hardly a week goes by that I don't get a call or an email from someone asking if I can visit with someone dear to them who has been diagnosed. I always hate to hear of someone being diagnosed with this dreadful disease, but I feel that if I can help anyone by lending an ear and sharing things that have worked for me, then I am happy to help. I always try to find a positive in a negative and helping others learn to live with the big D is one way I can be positive abut my disease. I just need to be sure everyone understands I am NOT a health professional by any stretch of the imagination, and what works for me, might not work for someone else!
Since it is summer in Arkansas, and our tomatoes are AMAZING right now, I thought I would share a recipe that I found recently on www.foodtv.com. We shared this in our E-Newsletter at the hotel, and I think you will enjoy it! :)
My next blog will feature a guest writer who will share ideas about medications & diabetes!
Till then - Eat Well, Move, Be Well!
Caprese' Pasta Salad
1/2 pound dried whole wheat or fiber added pasta
3 medium tomatoes
1/2 pound fresh, water packed mozzarella, cubed
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic pressed
1/2 tsp olive oil based mayonnaise
1 tsp sea salt
fresh ground black pepper
1 cup fresh basil leaves, washed, dried and chopped (I cheat sometimes and used dried)
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
Cook pasta as directed. Prepare tomatoes and cheese and put them in large bowl. Whisk
together vinegar, olive oil, garlic, mayo, salt and pepper to taste. Drain pasta and shake dry (do not rinse it) and add to the tomato and cheese mixture. Stir to combine. Add half the dressing, stir, and fold in the basil and pine nuts. Stir and taste - you may need to add more salt, or more dressing! This salad is best at room temp, but it can be refrigerated! Enjoy!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Stress & Your Blood Sugar Levels
Hello again! It's been two months or more since my last blog.
I guess I am confessing! :)
It was a crazy busy summer - went to the beach in June, which was fantastic. The rest of the summer flew by with Samantha's activities and church camps, retreats and then a Dallas trip for back to school shopping.
Along came August 8th, and my world as I knew it went up in flames, literally. Mother nature unleashed a lightening storm and my beautiful Park Hill home was struck and was a total loss within about 30 minutes. Samantha was home with her friend Rachel and the dog, and they did everything right and got out quickly, and most importantly, safely.
When I got the phone call, I was in shock, and drove like a maniac from Sherwood to North Little Rock in about 5 minutes flat. As I came up the hill on JFK I could see the smoke. At that point I could literally feel my blood sugars rising. I didn't think about it again until a few hours later, and I checked it and it was 280! I had eaten a very light dinner and nothing else - so I knew it was a stress related high. Fast forward three hours later, complete with adrenaline rush and a range of emotions I have never experienced before, and my blood sugar was 250. Nothing was bringing it down that night. I think I finally fell asleep around 4am and I checked it again and it was down to about 140.
After a few hours of sleep and relaxation my levels fell within the normal range and from that day through the next two weeks my levels were really good - even better than normal. I attribute that to the knot in my stomach that kept me from eating very much.
Diabetics need to remember how stress can affect your sugar levels. Any small worry or stressful situation can affect how you feel and how your body breaks down the glucose in your system. If you find yourself experiencing a disaster of any magnitude, remember to check your levels and try to eat like you normally do, and check your levels often. And as I have learned, it's even more important to take good care of yourself in a situation that is out of your normal routine.
I guess I am confessing! :)
It was a crazy busy summer - went to the beach in June, which was fantastic. The rest of the summer flew by with Samantha's activities and church camps, retreats and then a Dallas trip for back to school shopping.
Along came August 8th, and my world as I knew it went up in flames, literally. Mother nature unleashed a lightening storm and my beautiful Park Hill home was struck and was a total loss within about 30 minutes. Samantha was home with her friend Rachel and the dog, and they did everything right and got out quickly, and most importantly, safely.
When I got the phone call, I was in shock, and drove like a maniac from Sherwood to North Little Rock in about 5 minutes flat. As I came up the hill on JFK I could see the smoke. At that point I could literally feel my blood sugars rising. I didn't think about it again until a few hours later, and I checked it and it was 280! I had eaten a very light dinner and nothing else - so I knew it was a stress related high. Fast forward three hours later, complete with adrenaline rush and a range of emotions I have never experienced before, and my blood sugar was 250. Nothing was bringing it down that night. I think I finally fell asleep around 4am and I checked it again and it was down to about 140.
After a few hours of sleep and relaxation my levels fell within the normal range and from that day through the next two weeks my levels were really good - even better than normal. I attribute that to the knot in my stomach that kept me from eating very much.
Diabetics need to remember how stress can affect your sugar levels. Any small worry or stressful situation can affect how you feel and how your body breaks down the glucose in your system. If you find yourself experiencing a disaster of any magnitude, remember to check your levels and try to eat like you normally do, and check your levels often. And as I have learned, it's even more important to take good care of yourself in a situation that is out of your normal routine.
A few weeks before the fire I had sketched out a plan to blog 2-3 times per week. I had some interesting topics picked out as well as some outstanding recipes to share with you. Unfortunately the file this material was in was totally ruined, so I have to start over. I will try to get it together and post more regularly.
Fall recipes and Crock Pot Recipes are coming next!
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