Breakfast ideas please

[Nicola1a]

Hi everyone

I am hoping for some ideas on what I can eat for breakfast and lunch.

I am a type 2 diabetic and have been for 2 and a half years. I have managed reasonably well until now and had good and excellent HbA1C readings but I started feeling different and started testing again recently. My readings haven’t been great throughout the day, rarely falling in recommended levels.

I know some of this at least will be due to being complacent so have started being more strict again.

I take metformin (850mg morning and night) but I’m really struggling to get my levels down.

I can’t eat eggs so that doesn’t help in the mornings, I’ve reduced to 30g bran flakes but levels are going from 8.5 to 12.

Five days a week I can’t ‘cook’ as I’m up and out the door for work and nursery run and usually don’t get to eat until I get to work. In honesty I can’t face getting up any earlier than I already do which is 5.45.

My lunch readings are also high around 9.5 before but I’m eating just salad, cold meat or fish and then an apple but my BG is going to 15!

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thank you

 

[Lilian]

Your best bet for breakfast if you have no time in the morning is to prepare it the day before. However, things like cheese, cold meats, fish (tuna or sardines for example), with some cucumber, tomato, watercress, olives. If you like avocado you can prepare some avocado (I like adding some prawns to it). Your lunch readings might be high because your breakfast was too carby. Your breakfast readings because of your dinner the night before. It could be the apple - what dressing did you put on your salad - did you have things like beetroot, onion, carrot in your salad and were they in small quantities. Are you eating anything else with your salad, e.g. potato salad, rice, bread? It could be that you have become more insulin resistent and need an increase of medication. How long have you been strict again as it will take a good few days or more to catch up. It is controversial whether you eat in the morning some say you have to have breakfast but personally I find just a coffee with some cream in the morning lasts me until lunch time, just so long as you do not binge later to make up for lack of breakfast of course.

 

[Docb]

If like me you want something to bung in bowl and add milk for breakfast then you could try what I am currently on... lowish carb home made granola. When I need some I get a bag of rolled oats and mix it up with a load of chopped nuts and a glug of oil and roast it in the bottom of the oven when I am cooking something else. I periodically stir it so it gets evenly toasted and when I am happy with it I take it out and leave it to cool before putting it into my cereal container. Now the trick. I have found in ALDI a product whose name I have forgotten, but it is a packet of milled linseed with other seeds and dried berries. I put a packet of this in with the toasted oats and nuts and shake it all up. A portion with milk and a bergen toast with tea gives me bg rise of between two and three whereas the fruit and nut museli I used to eat would give me a rise of four or five quite easily. Might work for you.

As for lunch I am currently on straight salads. All the green stuff is coming from the garden and is added to ham, cheese, fish, and coleslaw as I fancy. Add to that a soup, either veg made myself or one of the ALDI soups at less than 20g carbohydrate per can and I have a 20g or so carb lunch. I have had to give up the fruit, an apple, orange or pear since I found they gave me big spikes.

 

[Nicola1a]

Your best bet for breakfast if you have no time in the morning is to prepare it the day before. However, things like cheese, cold meats, fish (tuna or sardines for example), with some cucumber, tomato, watercress, olives. If you like avocado you can prepare some avocado (I like adding some prawns to it). Your lunch readings might be high because your breakfast was too carby. Your breakfast readings because of your dinner the night before. It could be the apple - what dressing did you put on your salad - did you have things like beetroot, onion, carrot in your salad and were they in small quantities. Are you eating anything else with your salad, e.g. potato salad, rice, bread? It could be that you have become more insulin resistent and need an increase of medication. How long have you been strict again as it will take a good few days or more to catch up. It is controversial whether you eat in the morning some say you have to have breakfast but personally I find just a coffee with some cream in the morning lasts me until lunch time, just so long as you do not binge later to make up for lack of breakfast of course.

Thank you.

My lunch is usually just lettuce, cucumber, celery and then meat or fish I don’t have things like rice, bread or pasta. It’s usually just an apple after.

My dinner is similar to the above in that it’s meat or fish with salad or veg.

It’s been about a week now and I have got my review soon so if it doesn’t improve I’ll talk to the dr about it.

I really just struggle with breakfast ideas and something that’s quick.

Thank you again for the advice.

 

[Nicola1a]

If like me you want something to bung in bowl and add milk for breakfast then you could try what I am currently on... lowish carb home made granola. When I need some I get a bag of rolled oats and mix it up with a load of chopped nuts and a glug of oil and roast it in the bottom of the oven when I am cooking something else. I periodically stir it so it gets evenly toasted and when I am happy with it I take it out and leave it to cool before putting it into my cereal container. Now the trick. I have found in ALDI a product whose name I have forgotten, but it is a packet of milled linseed with other seeds and dried berries. I put a packet of this in with the toasted oats and nuts and shake it all up. A portion with milk and a bergen toast with tea gives me bg rise of between two and three whereas the fruit and nut museli I used to eat would give me a rise of four or five quite easily. Might work for you.

As for lunch I am currently on straight salads. All the green stuff is coming from the garden and is added to ham, cheese, fish, and coleslaw as I fancy. Add to that a soup, either veg made myself or one of the ALDI soups at less than 20g carbohydrate per can and I have a 20g or so carb lunch. I have had to give up the fruit, an apple, orange or pear since I found they gave me big spikes.

Thanks you, sounds lovely so I’ll give that a go!

The salad is just greens and meat no dressing , the apples never used to bother me but maybe it’s changed so try something else until my mornings are under better controlled. I’ve yet to do my homemade soups but I can give them a go again too.

Thanks again

 

[Drummer]

An apple could be 30 gm of carbs, easily.
It is quite a lot to take on board.

 

[Nicola1a]

An apple could be 30 gm of carbs, easily.
It is quite a lot to take on board.

The ones I normally eat are about 22g so combined with the plain salad etc and no other carbs didn’t think that would be bad but I’ll have to re-evaluate.

Any ideas on quick breakfasts that don’t include eggs?

Suggestions much appreciated

 

[Jodee]

I do 25g of porridge oats (tesco organic jumbo flakes), cook in a little water for 1 min microwave, sink about 8 berries into it while hot, mash in, add a slash of milk, + 2 teaspoons live natural yoghurt. all mixed in, works for me. you can change the fruit for different flavours, its about 14g carbs just for the oats.

 

[Nicola1a]

I do 25g of porridge oats (tesco organic jumbo flakes), cook in a little water for 1 min microwave, sink about 8 berries into it while hot, mash in, add a slash of milk, + 2 teaspoons live natural yoghurt. all mixed in, works for me. you can change the fruit for different flavours, its about 14g carbs just for the oats.

Thank you Jodie, if you don’t mind me asking what level of carbs do you tend to stick to per meal?

Thanks again

 

[Jodee]

Thank you Jodie, if you don’t mind me asking what level of carbs do you tend to stick to per meal?

Thanks again

as low as possible Nicola, but I am not counting everything, I'd say no more than 25g carbs but sometimes I may be under and other times a little over. I need to eat so I am not hungry. pity you don't do eggs. avocado on toast with tomatoes may be another option if you get the low carb bread like burgen.

 

[Nicola1a]

as low as possible Nicola, but I am not counting everything, I'd say no more than 25g carbs but sometimes I may be under and other times a little over. I need to eat so I am not hungry. pity you don't do eggs. avocado on toast with tomatoes may be another option if you get the low carb bread like burgen.

Thank you. I love eggs but they don’t like me - I can manage them occasionally in an evening meal but first thing is a nono.

I’ll have a look for the Burgen Bread it’s the one thing I really miss and love!

 

[Jodee]

I've got the carbs and cals book which is great for getting an idea on portion size.

In relation to an apple for instance ;
a small apple weighing 85g is only 9g carbs and 37 cals
a medium apply weighing 131g is 13g carbs and 56 cals
and a large apple weight 170g is 17g carbs and 73 cals

the book is very useful a good pictorial reference guide 🙂

Normally I never eat a whole banana for instance unless that is the only thing I am eating for breakfast or lunch. But I would eat half of a small one at a time even for a snack or I would eat a quarter of a larger one as a snack or with oats at breakfast for instance. a large banana weighing at 190g is 26g carbs and 104 cals. where as a small banana weighing at 97g is only 13g carbs / 51 cals.

 

[Nicola1a]

I've got the carbs and cals book which is great for getting an idea on portion size.

In relation to an apple for instance ;
a small apple weighing 85g is only 9g carbs and 37 cals
a medium apply weighing 131g is 13g carbs and 56 cals
and a large apple weight 170g is 17g carbs and 73 cals

the book is very useful a good pictorial reference guide 🙂

Normally I never eat a whole banana for instance unless that is the only thing I am eating for breakfast or lunch. But I would eat half of a small one at a time even for a snack or I would eat a quarter of a larger one as a snack or with oats at breakfast for instance. a large banana weighing at 190g is 26g carbs and 104 cals. where as a small banana weighing at 97g is only 13g carbs / 51 cals.

Thank you Jodee I’ll take a look at that - determined to get my BG under control again.

 

[SB2015]

Everyone is different in their respnses to different carbs, so as you have already worked out it is finding what works for you. Reading the posts above has made meal feel quite hungry.

I aim for 30g carbs at each meal, and avoid snack in between (most f the time- the mini boxes of smarties in the fridge are beckoning and if I do some gardening I might succumb). For breakfast I definitely avoid any cereal as to me they are simply a bowl of sugar in disguise. I used to have porridge until I saw what was happening to my BG after, so I do a ‘kettle porridge’ which is based on quinoa flakes, a small amount of desiccated coconut along with loads of nuts and seeds. With yogurt and some berries I can stay on or below my target carbs.

 

[Jodee]

@SB2015
You eat chocolate occasionally SB 😛 I was going to ask who does it and how often, love chocolate, but restricted myself to choccy biscuit from Aldi, dare I post the question....... luv smarties too 😛

Your breakfast sounds good as well 😛

 

[Nicola1a]

Thanks SB, just having the ideas or options for something else helps!

I love chocolate but will admit bread and crisps are my favourites!

I’ll have to try that cloud bread, have you both tried it?

 

[SB2015]

@SB2015
You eat chocolate occasionally SB 😛 I was going to ask who does it and how often, love chocolate, but restricted myself to choccy biscuit from Aldi, dare I post the question....... luv smarties too 😛

Your breakfast sounds good as well 😛

When I was teaching if students bought in smarties to share, I promised I would include them in the lesson in some way. It is amazing how much Maths can be done using Smarties!! When I left In the last Y7 lesson one girl made an enormous cake covered in Smarties, and another student bought in a whole big tube full of blue ones (they featured a lot in probability lessons rather than socks in a drawer)

I don’t eat chocolates like I used to but I tend to have ONE after a meal, and this is often a plain chocolate Brazil. Might as well have something very nice if only having one. The other time I have a treat is on a long walk as I have become well practised at using extended Bolus on my pump to match the slower release, and I deserve a treat and my levels seem to be happy with that.

 

[Jodee]

@SB2015 Fab 🙂 I would have loved a teaching like you 😛

 

[SkinnyLiz]

The ones I normally eat are about 22g so combined with the plain salad etc and no other carbs didn’t think that would be bad but I’ll have to re-evaluate.

Any ideas on quick breakfasts that don’t include eggs?

Suggestions much appreciated

you could try yoghurt and berries, full fat greek yoghurt can be really creamy and delicious. measure it out the night before, (i have either 100 and 120g) add some frozen mixed berries. ( 80g counts as a one-a-day portion) by morning the berries are defrosted, stir and eat. Should be about 10-12g carbs.

 

[Nicola1a]

you could try yoghurt and berries, full fat greek yoghurt can be really creamy and delicious. measure it out the night before, (i have either 100 and 120g) add some frozen mixed berries. ( 80g counts as a one-a-day portion) by morning the berries are defrosted, stir and eat. Should be about 10-12g carbs.

Thanks @SkinnyLiz, appreciate the reply. X