Meal ideas

[grovesy]

I have IBS too but I've found it not such a problem since I went low carb after it being a real pain, (sometimes literally) for over 20 years.

On the subject of cauliflower, cauli mash is a great alternative to mashed potato.

I think with IBS it what your individual triggers are!

 

[grovesy]

Well mine seems to be nuts!

 

[CarlyG]

Mine is usually affected by cheese, too much milk, fatty greasy food. However some days it doesn't bother me at all. I swapped milk for coconut milk and don't eat alot of other dairy products.

 

[grovesy]

That's interesting. I never used to eat nuts, now I eat loads.

I used to be a big nut fan. Now don't even have a handful.

 

[Caza59]

Wholemeal is more nutritious than white, but the carbs are very similar. It’s the carbs you need to watch wherever they come from as carbs are what puts your blood sugar up. Some Type 2s can eat reasonable amounts of carbs, but others can’t. A blood glucose meter would guide you.

Low fat/low sugar items often have more carbs - hence the suggestion of plain full-fat Greek yoghurt. It’s lower carb, yummy and will keep you satisfied longer.

What was your diet like before? (If you don’t mind me asking)

The Dr gave me a meter as a newley diagnosed type 2 and said I should test pre meals and 2 hours after. I'm finding that by reducing carbs my results are between 8 and 12 but my pre breakfast one is always really low at 4.6

 

[Caza59]

Omelettes are great for lunch. I usually chuck in anything "spare" in the fridge be it ham, chorizo, cheese etc. Evening meals this week have been a Malaysian chicken curry on Monday, Chicken and Mushroom stir fry on Tuesday, Chicken, bamboo shoot and mange tout red Thai curry on Wednesday, Lamb and mint koftas with creamed spinach last night and tonight we are having pork tenderloin with a cabbage salad and a kebab style dressing (a Tom Kerridge recipe). The wife and I sit down for dinner together on Saturdays so it's rib-eye steak tomorrow and then roast lamb with kale and sprouts on Sunday.

My approach has been to largely cook the same meals I was before diagnosis but with substitutions where necessary. So, a curry is a bowl of curry (no rice). I love braised beef which would usually contain potatoes. I make it with turnips instead and no one notices! Similarly, moussaka has replaced lasagne. Fortunately I love cooking and prepare everything from scratch so I know what goes into the meals. I have been getting home delivery from Sainsbury's so the day before a delivery I plan the meals through to the next delivery then order whatever is needed. We have a very good farm shop a mile away so I get everything except the meat from the supermarket, and I get the meat from the farm shop. I also pin a menu to the kitchen notice board so everyone knows what's for tea.

You soon build up a repertoire of dishes you really like (mine runs to four sides of A4). I have a cupboard full of dried herbs and spices which all get used but it has been built up gradually as I try new dishes.

If you tell us the types of food you like I'm sure we can make suggestions

It would be good if you could write out your chicken dinner recipes and post on here for us newbys who are struggling with food ideas.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Let us know how you get on with your tweaked and adjusted meal plan @CarlyG

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

The Dr gave me a meter as a newley diagnosed type 2 and said I should test pre meals and 2 hours after. I'm finding that by reducing carbs my results are between 8 and 12 but my pre breakfast one is always really low at 4.6

Sounds like great advice and support from your Dr @Caza59 - keep going and hopefully your 8s and 12s will be 4-8.5 before long!

 

[CarlyG]

Right, so far my food choices have been (in my eyes) pretty good. PLEASE TELL ME IF I'M WRONG.

Breakfasts have been Porridge, multi grain toast, shreddies. I use coconut milk and had sliced banana on shreddies.

Lunches have been omelette with lots of veg and spinach, light crispbread crackers with tuna/lighter mayo and cucumber.

Tea has been homemade turkey meatballs with chopped tomato sauce with cauliflower rice, diet coke chicken packed with veg and served with cauliflower. Tonight is salmon fillet with veg.

Snacks have been full fat Greek yog with berries, cashew nuts, fine oatcakes with a very thin spreading of peanut butter, houmous and celery.

Am I going about this the right way or still way off track?

 

[Caza59]

Sounds great and I am trying pretty much the same. Are your cashew nuts salted because I love those. My breakfast usually consists of eggs done in various different ways.

 

[CarlyG]

No just plain cashews. I am still trying to adjust to actually eating regularly as I would skip meals. I've lost 3.2lbs now since 23rd Dec.

 

[Caza59]

Yeah that's hard cause I would skip lunch at work. Not weighed myself for a couple of weeks, I didn't want to become paranoid so another 2 weeks and I will see if I've lost any. Not holding my breath cause my thyroid affects my weight.

 

[CarlyG]

I was surprised that I had lost anything in such a short time. Need to get rid of this tired feeling now. Not getting full nights sleep, working from home and home schooling 3 kids is exhausting.

 

[Caza59]

Well done to you, it must be hard with home schooling as well. My daughter is in the same position. When I weigh myself I will post if I have lost anything.

 

[adrian1der]

The only thing I would say @CarlyG is your breakfast still looks a bit carby.

My menu for the week is:
Saturday: Rib-eye steak with salsa verde, asparagus and fine beans
Sunday: Roast leg of lamb with sprouts and kale
Monday: Chicken and leeks in blue cheese sauce
Tuesday: Lamb and mint kofte with creamed spinach and white cabbage slaw
Wednesday: Chilli
Thursday: Braised beef with horseradish
Friday: Chicken madras

I cook everything myself from fresh

 

[CarlyG]

The only thing I would say @CarlyG is your breakfast still looks a bit carby.

My menu for the week is:
Saturday: Rib-eye steak with salsa verde, asparagus and fine beans
Sunday: Roast leg of lamb with sprouts and kale
Monday: Chicken and leeks in blue cheese sauce
Tuesday: Lamb and mint kofte with creamed spinach and white cabbage slaw
Wednesday: Chilli
Thursday: Braised beef with horseradish
Friday: Chicken madras

I cook everything myself from fresh

The breakfasts were suggestions from my diabetic nurse. I wouldn't normally do breakfast.

 

[rebrascora]

Right, so far my food choices have been (in my eyes) pretty good. PLEASE TELL ME IF I'M WRONG.

Breakfasts have been Porridge, multi grain toast, shreddies. I use coconut milk and had sliced banana on shreddies.

Lunches have been omelette with lots of veg and spinach, light crispbread crackers with tuna/lighter mayo and cucumber.

Tea has been homemade turkey meatballs with chopped tomato sauce with cauliflower rice, diet coke chicken packed with veg and served with cauliflower. Tonight is salmon fillet with veg.

Snacks have been full fat Greek yog with berries, cashew nuts, fine oatcakes with a very thin spreading of peanut butter, houmous and celery.

Am I going about this the right way or still way off track?

Hi Carly

Your lunch and evening meals look good but your breakfast choices are not ideal. As a fruit, banana is probably the highest carb option, so best to stick with berries. Porridge, toast and Shreddies are all high carb foods and many people find that they are more insulin resistant in the morning, so having a carby breakfast has a worse effect than any other time of day. Have you tried some creamy Greek natural yoghurt (2 large dessert spoon dollops is what I have) with a few berries (I get packs of frozen summer berries and just have 3 teaspoons of them defrosted) with some mixed seeds and a sprinkle of low carb granola. Or a handy "Grab and Go" breakfast is a Nature Valley Protein Bar which is just under 10g carbs per bar. The salted Caramel ones are nice, but so is the peanut and chocolate chip.

I had a prawn and avocado salad last night and that would work as a lunch or dinner if you are after suggestions. I rarely do lunch these days as 2 meals a day seems to satisfy me... my yoghurt at breakfast with a coffee with cream, maybe a chunk of cheese or a few nuts at lunchtime and then my evening meal.

 

[adrian1der]

Unfortunately lots of DNs recommend wholegrains. But carbs are carbs. Do you test before and two hours after breakfast? If so you will be able to see the reaction YOUR body has to the carbs. Personally bread gives me big spikes

 

[CarlyG]

Unfortunately lots of DNs recommend wholegrains. But carbs are carbs. Do you test before and two hours after breakfast? If so you will be able to see the reaction YOUR body has to the carbs. Personally bread gives me big spikes

No as I've also been told I do not need to check my blood sugar. I did ask the question when she rang me as I had to do it when I had gestational 9yrs ago. I'm having another blood test in March. I will ask the question again during my next appointment on 21st Jan. I didn't really eat alot of bread at all before this diagnosis so still figuring it all out.

 

[adrian1der]

It would be good if you could write out your chicken dinner recipes and post on here for us newbys who are struggling with food ideas.

Hi @Caza59 not sure I can as most are from books. My favourite cookbooks are:

Pinch of Nom
Pinch of Nom Everyday Light
Fresh Start (Tom Kerridge)
Lose Weight for Good (Tom Kerridge)
Dopamine Diet (Tom Kerridge)
Amazing Malaysian (Norman Musa)
Simply (Sabrina Ghayour)
and a new Thai cookbook whose name I can't remember!