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pippin

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I don't seem to be able to fill dad up!
I make a proper lunch for dad changing it everyday so he doesn't get bored plus make a proper dinner every night which he mainly enjoys apart from the odd one I may not do so well with.

Long story short dad used to be able to eat much more and enjoyed good dinners but now we have to be careful I seldom think he is actually full :( I have increased the portion of meat and veg although both of us are aware potatoes should be limited (dad is leaving the extra I put on a side dish just in case they increase his BG levels) he would eat them if it wasn't for his diabetes nd I know at lunch time he would eat more bread if he could.

Is it normal to feel hungry and have to put up with it or should I let dad eat more potatoes to fill him up? He is eating more veg than I can buy......we buy enough veg to cater for a family and have nothing left at the end of the week so he is eating a lot of veg. He has always had a high metabolism and I feel sad when I know he is still hungry especially when he isn't filling up on sweets and deserts.

Made a roast beef dinner tonight with lots of veg, he enjoyed the roast beef ate the 'correct' amount of potatoes but when I asked him to be truthful he said he could have ate more potatoes :( when I read about the amount of bread and potatoes others eat I am really worried about letting dad eat more yet now I'm worried as dad is so hungry.

Is it best that he eats the correct limited amount at dinner/lunch and then has some snacks so the impact isn't in the one meal or is it best to eat until he is satisfied at dinner and at lunchtime? The more I learn the more confused I am :(
 
It's a tricky one. I think that protein and pulses can fill you up more, so perhaps you could include these to bulk out some of the meals? A lot of people develop a craving for carbs over their life so it becomes the natural choice, especially when we are told to avoid fats so much, but some fat is OK, or is that a problem for his gout? I think having larger portions of cabs/potatoes with his meals may lead to a spike but there is no reason you couldn't try little increases to find out if more would still produce acceptable levels. Quality of life is important too, so it's worth the occasional higher than normal level in order to have that 'satisfied' feeling after a meal 🙂
 
I would say that his weight gain or loss would be the guide. If he's losing weight, averaged over a week say, then he's not eatign enough. But if it's stable then it may just be that he's not as active as he once was and his stomach is still adjusting to smaller portions.

As Alan says, protein is the staple filler upper for diabetics but clearly you need to avoid the gouty things.

Sarah made me chicken breast stuffed with stilton, wrapped in bacon and some chips. It was delicious and really filled me up. And I'm still maintaining my weight. Hurrah ! :D

I can't remember but if he can eat dairy and fruit, things like yoghurt with some berries can be a good low GI pudding.

Rob
 
Thank you, I went off on the cross trainer to try and cope with my confused mind! Your posts will save my sanity 🙂 had a chat with dad so this helped too.
I wouldn't tell him about the chips as he hasn't had these at all since DX!

Weight would be on the slide definitely not going up although I was very pleased yesterday when two people remarked that he was looking better. He could eat more calories and not have to worry apart from the fat for cholesterol grrr and the shhh word atm Gout (pulses....) I have actually cooked some on their own today to add to his lunches in moderation. Problem with dad is he could et potatoes and pulses all on the one plate.

We are following GI in foods although with dad the slow release doesn't actually work to make him feel full for longer as he could still eat before the next meal time! I was wondering if it is the lack of a finishing touch to a meal not a big pudding but maybe a sugar free cookie which I made but am afraid to give him a whole one. I will serve a bigger portion of yoghurt which I make too as my portion size would be ever so tiny compared to most portions so maybe let dad judge the portion!

He would love a roast beef sandwhich! He is on the cross trainer now and does work hard in fact he does a lot of this throughout the day. We are trying to stop the longer sessions to get back to a relatively normal life. I was going to serve big meals tomorrow just to see but know I would regret it.

He enjoys cheese but was shocked when the nurse said a matchbox size piece a week! I bought stronger cheese hoping this would mean he would be satisfied with less rather than tasteless stuff. If Gout was out of the equation I think we could cope a wee bit better as there are more foods which dad loves but we have to watch.

Thank you I really was in a panic but your level headed replies have helped me. Hopefully dad will adjust without loosing weight and feeling more satisfied. Although he didn't eat chocolates etc perhaps the lack of anything like rice pudding which he did love is making him feel he needs something to feel satisfied. I think he would even eat chocolate atm!
 
Another tip is to drink a long drink (water, no added sugar juice, cup of tea even) before or during your meal. The extra fluid will make your dad feel fuller quicker and for longer. Works for me!🙂 Katiex
 
Thanks Katie 🙂 good thing about his exercise is that he is drinking a lot more water although it would fill me up think dad needs more but I'm very happy to see him drinking water as it helps with the gout bit too....not too late at night or he would be hungry getting up and down to the loo!

I've named the cross trainer Granola as I think he would stay on it all day to have a bowl of Lizi's granola!
 
pippin said:
He enjoys cheese but was shocked when the nurse said a matchbox size piece a week!
Click to expand...

I was told that too. I think it's standard dietary advice, but if he's burning off all the calories he can eat, I would imagine he can risk a bit more. :D

Since he's restricted in most foods, anything he can eat freely from the diabetes and gout perspective should be allowed a bit more liberally. But don't spoil him. He'll just get greedy ! 🙄 :D

Rob
 
Robster65 said:
Since he's restricted in most foods, anything he can eat freely from the diabetes and gout perspective should be allowed a bit more liberally. But don't spoil him. He'll just get greedy ! 🙄 :D

Rob
Click to expand...
too late 😉 he has gone too sit down with a wee dish of roast beef

Will be careful with cheese but still let him have some without telling the nurse 😱
 
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