Carb Manager & eating out

[Nayshiftin]

Yes if you look at their menu on line and the carb info there is practically nothing which I would consider low carb.
Starbuck's is better with a few items.

I had the egg muffin in starbucks you get two they are tiny but they are 5.5 carbs each which I thought is a lot. Certainly would not fill me up. Hot Breakfast / Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper Egg Bites. 1 Serving 130 g. Back. Nutrition. Calories 170 Calories from Fat 70. Total Fat 8 g 10% Saturated Fat 5 g 25% Trans Fat 0 g. Cholesterol 25 mg 8% Sodium 470 mg 20% Total Carbohydrates 11 g 4% Dietary Fiber 0 g. Sugars 3 g. Protein 12 g.

 

[Maz2]

I wrote to them and requested them to tell me what was low carb the reply is it is listed on the app.
They had a disclaimer .
"We cannot guarantee that our food or drinks are allergen free.Due to the use of shared equipment in the display, preparation and service of our products there is a risk of cross contamination." keep scrolling down
https://www.costa.co.uk/docs/store-allergen-guide.pdf but the only thing is the melon pot at 6 carbs the rest are very high but most are bread, rolls or cakes so have all the dreaded things to eat as a diabetic anyway.

That kind of reply from Costa annoys me. Everyone does not use Smart phones with apps. I do have one but don't want to spend my life on it.

 

[Maz2]

It is hardly surprising there is such a problem with diabetes and pre-diabetes in the UK with the attitudes of some of these coffee shops. I personally would never have lunch in there. I prefer to go somewhere where I can something like a salad, omelette or at least some soup.

 

[Nayshiftin]

That kind of reply from Costa annoys me. Everyone does not use Smart phones with apps. I do have one but don't want to spend my life on it.

I sent an email from my phone so i expected that answer. What it did was not give me hope that they plan to do anything for us. Like people with different abilities it would be great if they did things for different diets. Too much to hope for i guess.

 

[Maz2]

I sent an email from my phone so i expected that answer. What it did was not give me hope that they plan to do anything for us. Like people with different abilities it would be great if they did things for different diets. Too much to hope for i guess.

I cannot understand why there are no "lower carb" menus when they can cater for vegan, vegetarian and gluten free. I would imagine the numbers who would benefit from a lower carb meal must be greater than all the latter three put together.

 

[Leadinglights]

I cannot understand why there are no "lower carb" menus when they can cater for vegan, vegetarian and gluten free. I would imagine the numbers who would benefit from a lower carb meal must be greater than all the latter three put together.

They might well benefit from it but would they choose it as many are not so clued up as many of the folk who come on the forum. They are a minority of people with diabetes who engage with change of life style. I was shocked the there are more than 50.000 registered diabetics in my health authority, less than 10 admit to being on this forum.

 

[Maz2]

They might well benefit from it but would they choose it as many are not so clued up as many of the folk who come on the forum. They are a minority of people with diabetes who engage with change of life style. I was shocked the there are more than 50.000 registered diabetics in my health authority, less than 10 admit to being on this forum.

Wow. That is not many Leadinglights. I know a few people who are diabetic and pre-diabetic. One lady I know took it very seriously when she was told she was pre-diabetic, read some of the books I suggested, took on board some of the advice I told her that I had gleaned from here, changed her lifestyle, lost weight and returned to normal.

A lot of my diabetic friends couldn't care less and just carry on as normal. It is up to them as it is not for me to tell them what to do.

As you know I have gone back to the bottom end of the pre-diabetes range again after 6 years normal and I am going to do what I can to try to get it back down.

 

[nonethewiser]

I cannot understand why there are no "lower carb" menus when they can cater for vegan, vegetarian and gluten free. I would imagine the numbers who would benefit from a lower carb meal must be greater than all the latter three put together.

Let's be honest here, most coffee shop customers go in for hot drink & a sweet treat, demand is there for such items like cakes & sweetened beverages, wouldn't imagine they'd be much demand for low carb goods so it's all about profit just like any other business.

Was in Costa earlier this afternoon with wife for coffee & cake, carrot & walnut cake in Costa is best we've had, delicious.

 

[Maz2]

Let's be honest here, most coffee shop customers go in for hot drink & a sweet treat, demand is there for such items like cakes & sweetened beverages, wouldn't imagine they'd be much demand for low carb goods so it's all about profit just like any other business.

Was in Costa earlier this afternoon with wife for coffee & cake, carrot & walnut cake in Costa is best we've had, delicious.

If that is what you want that is fine. Personally, I don't care for the big coffee chains but if others want to use them that is fine by me. It just would be nice to have a choice but I have no objections to avoiding them, there are plenty of places that will give me a choice.

 

[Maz2]

I should add I don't have a sweet tooth anymore since I moved to lower carb. OH does though but I am happy to just have a drink somewhere while he enjoys his cakes.

 

[nonethewiser]

If that is what you want that is fine. Personally, I don't care for the big coffee chains but if others want to use them that is fine by me. It just would be nice to have a choice but I have no objections to avoiding them, there are plenty of places that will give me a choice.

We all have a choice where we spend our money, small independant cafes would be better bet for you as they tend to cater for individual tastes.

 

[Maz2]

Let's be honest here, most coffee shop customers go in for hot drink & a sweet treat, demand is there for such items like cakes & sweetened beverages, wouldn't imagine they'd be much demand for low carb goods so it's all about profit just like any other business.

Was in Costa earlier this afternoon with wife for coffee & cake, carrot & walnut cake in Costa is best we've had, delicious.

Sorry, should have made a bit clearer I was referring to restaurants more than the coffee shops. My friends and I went to Costa once and they had lunch but, as it was all high carb like sandwiches, I just waited until I went home. Then we tried Bella Italia which I love but one of my friends prefers "English" food and doesn't like pasta or pizza. I don't eat it either but I find something else to eat. However, we have found a Toby Carvery now which suits us all.

Bet you are glad you don't have to come to lunch with us!!

 

[Maz2]

We all have a choice where we spend our money, small independant cafes would be better bet for you as they tend to cater for individual tastes.

Absolutely correct none the wiser. I go to them all the time. The comment about choice is quite correct.

 

[nonethewiser]

Bet you are glad you don't have to come to lunch with us!!

If they are paying I'll go with anyone.

 

[Maz2]

If they are paying I'll go with anyone.

 

[Theo]

I am pre diabetic so just trying to get my sugar levels down. When I spoke to the diabetic nurse for advice she told me I was ok with 2 slices of brown wholemeal bread a day, brown rice and pasta. Basically everything in moderation otherwise I wouldn’t know what to eat in place of bread. So stick to just 2 slices surely that is ok.

 

[Leadinglights]

I am pre diabetic so just trying to get my sugar levels down. When I spoke to the diabetic nurse for advice she told me I was ok with 2 slices of brown wholemeal bread a day, brown rice and pasta. Basically everything in moderation otherwise I wouldn’t know what to eat in place of bread. So stick to just 2 slices surely that is ok.

It is better not to have too many carbs in one meal so spreading out what you have is better than having more that your system can cope with as that will push up your blood glucose levels and that is when you will not see reduction in your HbA1C. Rice, pasta, bread, potatoes, breakfast cereals, pastry are the big hitters even the brown versions are just the same carbs as the white.
Many nurses and GP are not yet on message that keeping carbs low can have as much impact on reducing blood glucose as medication. If you haven't seen this link then have a look, https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
If you are only at risk then some modest changes are probably all that is needed but still worth taking seriously.

 

[Theo]

I didn’t mean brown bread , pasta and rice all in one day. Just limit them to spread them out over time. I wouldn’t have rice and pasta all in one day. I have been told by so called experts that Weetabix and shredded wheat are fine as is porridge and blueberries together. All measured portions. I have cut out all cakes , pastries , biscuits , choc etc and lost weight doing so. Don’t drink or use sugar in drinks so if I can’t have all the things you’ve mentioned as well then what am I supposed to eat as I have a healthy appetite plus a big walker.

 

[Maz2]

I didn’t mean brown bread , pasta and rice all in one day. Just limit them to spread them out over time. I wouldn’t have rice and pasta all in one day. I have been told by so called experts that Weetabix and shredded wheat are fine as is porridge and blueberries together. All measured portions. I have cut out all cakes , pastries , biscuits , choc etc and lost weight doing so. Don’t drink or use sugar in drinks so if I can’t have all the things you’ve mentioned as well then what am I supposed to eat as I have a healthy appetite plus a big walker.

I think maybe test against the foods and see what happens to the blood sugars. People tend to be very individual although pasta, rice, bread, potatoes and those sorts of foods are not good on a lower carb diet to get the hba1c down. I suppose small portions though as you say may be OK.

I went pre-diabetic, got back to the lower side of normal but now have gone pre-diabetic again after 6 years , just on 42. When I first had the problems my GP said to eat in moderation and use portion control. Also to try to have a balanced diet. I am not bothered about pasta and rice to be honest so am happy to do courgetti spaghetti and have cauliflower rice. I am also happy to leave potatoes alone too. I have bread if I am out for a meal and they give me a piece with soup or something like that but just keep to a small portion.

I know someone who is diabetic and she said she cannot manage without having potatoes. We are all different and people have to find out what is best for them. Good luck with trying to get the hba1c down.

If you do a lot of walking that is great.

 

[Leadinglights]

I didn’t mean brown bread , pasta and rice all in one day. Just limit them to spread them out over time. I wouldn’t have rice and pasta all in one day. I have been told by so called experts that Weetabix and shredded wheat are fine as is porridge and blueberries together. All measured portions. I have cut out all cakes , pastries , biscuits , choc etc and lost weight doing so. Don’t drink or use sugar in drinks so if I can’t have all the things you’ve mentioned as well then what am I supposed to eat as I have a healthy appetite plus a big walker.

One of the advantages of having a home blood glucose monitor so you can test the effect of food combinations and meals is you can determine what it is wise not to have but establish what is a safe option for you. We frequently here on here that some foods that people have been told are good are not so when they test, those foods mentioned being the biggest offenders. Everybody is different and it is all about balance of the amount of carbs and activity so as to keep your blood glucose stable. You can still have filling meals based on protein and healthy fats with veg, salads, fruit like berries but with smaller portions of any high carb foods.