Snack Ideas

[Kitty24]

Hello

This is my first post so please be gentle with me! I was diagnosed with T2 a fortnight ago and have been trying to get my head round everything in that time. All the information from Diabetes UK, including this forum, have been incredibly helpful. It is obviously an ongoing education but I was hoping for some advice about food. I have a complicated autoimmune condition which can some days wipe me out completely. When I have these days I tend to snack rather than cook full meals as it is just too exhausting and I can’t face eating too much. Whilst I have tried out a few recipes, on certain days I am just not up to doing too much so I would like to have a few ‘go to’ options that will not cause me too many problems in terms of my T2. I take a lot of medication, now including metformin, and some of which has to be eaten with food so I understand the importance of regular meals.

So I would be grateful for any suggestions in the following categories. It may be that there is nothing suitable but I am struggling to know what to do so hopefully you good people can help. So, here goes!

Breakfast cereal - it seems that Weetabix is a possibility?
Bread - I am currently having Hi-Lo bread but any other choices of any bread products would be great
Crisps - probably a no go but when I suffer from nausea they are a good option
Crackers - as above
Biscuits - as above
Snack bars - akin to Go Ahead, Skinny Dream, Bliss
Jam
Ice cream

I really hope these are not ridiculous things to ask as even one idea may help. When I am able to do so I will be cooking my wholewheat pasta and eating my blueberries (although not together!) but it’s just to have something for when I can’t. I hope this all makes sense and sorry if I have rambled - I would blame the meds but actually it is just me

Thanks x

 

[Lucyr]

Would cooking extra on days you feel well and keeping in the fridge ready for days you don’t feel well be an option.

Eg eggs you could boil a few at a time and keep in the fridge.

Meat you could make extra and keep some cold sliced off cuts in the fridge

Crisps I find fairly low carb though some people probably avoid them

Meals you could cook extra batch cooking then you’ve got things in the freezer that just need throwing in the microwave

Yoghurt and berries might be easy for when wanting something light and not feeling well

 

[Leadinglights]

How about home made soup which you can freeze in portions, courgette and brie, broccoli and stilton, butternut squash and red pepper, leek, celery and pea are a few of my favourites.
Kvarg deserts are low carb, high protein, low fat which might be better than icecream which is pretty high carb
Sugarfree jelly and cream.
Narure Valley protein bars, KIND or shop own or Fibre 90 are all less than 10g carb per bar.
Scrambled eggs are quick to make
Some people use Burgen soy and linseed bread as it is lower carb
Edamame or black bean pasta is much lower carb than standard pasta.
You might find this link useful for ideas

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home

lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk

Just a thought but has Type 1 been excluded as that often goes hand in hand with other autoimmune conditions.

 

[Kitty24]

Thank you all for replying, this has been really helpful. I shop online, as my consultant has advised me to carry on shielding, so everything takes more forward planning so it’s great to have these ideas. I have just added Burgen, Kvarg Miltons Crackers and Fibre 90 bars to my next order. Freezing homemade soup is a great idea too so I will do that. I usually have yogurt and berries so that’s good and will try them with some Weetabix.

Thanks again. I was honestly feeling overwhelmed and this has really helped. Any other ideas would be great but for now I am off to eat some scrambled egg 🙂

 

[EmmaL76]

Crisps.. maybe you can tolerate the vegetable crisps. I can have quite a few of those before they effect me
I have the Tyrrells Parsnip, Beetroot & Carrot ones 12g carbs per 30g. I have maybe half of that with a low carb wrap at lunch. Or even better for carbs are salt and vinegar peanuts. Tricks my brain into thinking I’m eating crisps, you know when you just miss that something else on your plate at lunchtime

 

[EmmaL76]

Ooh and today I made a crustless quiche. Just mix up 4 eggs bit of milk, I had ham, cheese, leeks, spinach, mushrooms and a tiny bit of sweetcorn and a couple of cherry tomatoes. Fried off the leeks and mushrooms first then mix all together with a bit of ground pepper. Pop it in a cake tin and oven for about 15 mins. Then just have a slice with a big salad. Makes about 4-5 meals and takes about 20 mins. Big blob of cheese coleslaw goes lovely with it too xx

 

[beverleysgot2]

Hello

This is my first post so please be gentle with me! I was diagnosed with T2 a fortnight ago and have been trying to get my head round everything in that time. All the information from Diabetes UK, including this forum, have been incredibly helpful. It is obviously an ongoing education but I was hoping for some advice about food. I have a complicated autoimmune condition which can some days wipe me out completely. When I have these days I tend to snack rather than cook full meals as it is just too exhausting and I can’t face eating too much. Whilst I have tried out a few recipes, on certain days I am just not up to doing too much so I would like to have a few ‘go to’ options that will not cause me too many problems in terms of my T2. I take a lot of medication, now including metformin, and some of which has to be eaten with food so I understand the importance of regular meals.

So I would be grateful for any suggestions in the following categories. It may be that there is nothing suitable but I am struggling to know what to do so hopefully you good people can help. So, here goes!

Breakfast cereal - it seems that Weetabix is a possibility?
Bread - I am currently having Hi-Lo bread but any other choices of any bread products would be great
Crisps - probably a no go but when I suffer from nausea they are a good option
Crackers - as above
Biscuits - as above
Snack bars - akin to Go Ahead, Skinny Dream, Bliss
Jam
Ice cream

I really hope these are not ridiculous things to ask as even one idea may help. When I am able to do so I will be cooking my wholewheat pasta and eating my blueberries (although not together!) but it’s just to have something for when I can’t. I hope this all makes sense and sorry if I have rambled - I would blame the meds but actually it is just me

Thanks x

Hi kitty I was diagnosed diabetes type 2 last year and I still can't get to grips with it so I say you are doing well. I was so angry when I was diagnosed as the blood pressure tablets they had me on gave me it I wondered at the time why they had put strange tablets in my prescription bag and I nearly threw them away, but placed them in my drawer. A couple of days later I had a phone call from my doctor telling me that I was to change my blood pressure tablets as I now had diabetes I cried a lot and still do when I wonder how can pharm companies get away with producing meds that are supposed to help but give you something else instead. I'm not very good at the diet part and know very little of how to cope because I'm getting no help I don't have to test sugar yet I'm on tablets I know that I eat the wrong stuff and haven't got very strong will power . People keep giving me the wrong food and to save wastage I eat it I love ice cream too and vegetable crisps, but because I don't have to test anything I don't know if or what I am doing wrong. Keep going though because it seems like you're having better luck than me

 

[beverleysgot2]

Ooh and today I made a crustless quiche. Just mix up 4 eggs bit of milk, I had ham, cheese, leeks, spinach, mushrooms and a tiny bit of sweetcorn and a couple of cherry tomatoes. Fried off the leeks and mushrooms first then mix all together with a bit of ground pepper. Pop it in a cake tin and oven for about 15 mins. Then just have a slice with a big salad. Makes about 4-5 meals and takes about 20 mins. Big blob of cheese coleslaw goes lovely with it too xx

Someone gave me 5 small salamis yesterday and I'm not even allowed to touch them ......such a waste I could of made home made pizza but had better throw them away because of all the nasties they are loaded with

 

[EmmaL76]

Well I make my own pizzas with carbzone wraps. 4g carbs each. Top with a bit of Passata cheese, mushrooms spinach and ham or chicken or whatever you like . Actually really good x

 

[Drummer]

My regime might be considered strict - but it resolved my type two with 80 days to drop below diabetes levels and normal at 6 months.
I do not eat high carb foods.

 

[beverleysgot2]

I try not to but there you go

 

[Leadinglights]

Someone gave me 5 small salamis yesterday and I'm not even allowed to touch them ......such a waste I could of made home made pizza but had better throw them away because of all the nasties they are loaded with

There is an awful lot to learn about what is the best thing to do and what to have for food and meals.
The main message is that for somebody who is a Type 2 diabetic then carbohydrates are the foods that your body cannot cope with but protein and healthy fats are absolutely fine so basing meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, full fat dairy, vegetables, salads, nuts and fruits like berries but with only small portions of high carbohydrate foods like potatoes, bread, pasta, rice, breakfast cereals, tropical fruits, pastry and all those things containing sugar like the cakes, biscuits, sugary drinks, ice cream and many deserts.
People are told they do not need to test their blood glucose but there is no other way of knowing what foods you can tolerate so many people find testing is a very effective way of managing their diabetes rather than carrying on regardless not knowing if the dietary changes are sufficient.
Getting a monitor and testing before you eat and after 2 hours will allow you to make better food choices as an increase of more than 2-3mmol/l would indicate your meals was too carb heavy. The GlucoNavil is an inexpensive monitor with the cheapest test strips available on line. You get a few strips and lancets with the kit but would be wise to buy extra at the same time.
This is a good link for the basics and ideas of meals as is the Learning Zone

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home

lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk

 

[Lucyr]

Someone gave me 5 small salamis yesterday and I'm not even allowed to touch them ......such a waste I could of made home made pizza but had better throw them away because of all the nasties they are loaded with

I’d just eat them. Not all on the same day obviously but the odd salami won’t impact your blood sugars, and isn’t that bad in the context of your overall diet

 

[Lucyr]

Ooh and today I made a crustless quiche. Just mix up 4 eggs bit of milk, I had ham, cheese, leeks, spinach, mushrooms and a tiny bit of sweetcorn and a couple of cherry tomatoes. Fried off the leeks and mushrooms first then mix all together with a bit of ground pepper. Pop it in a cake tin and oven for about 15 mins. Then just have a slice with a big salad. Makes about 4-5 meals and takes about 20 mins. Big blob of cheese coleslaw goes lovely with it too xx

You can buy crust less quiche in the supermarket now too. It is more carbs than if you make your own as the supermarket ones have a base, but they aren’t that high and might be okay as “snacky easy meals” for someone not able to make their own. Or you could make your own and keep in the fridge for a few days if you have a mix of good and bad days.

 

[Kitty24]

Ooh and today I made a crustless quiche. Just mix up 4 eggs bit of milk, I had ham, cheese, leeks, spinach, mushrooms and a tiny bit of sweetcorn and a couple of cherry tomatoes. Fried off the leeks and mushrooms first then mix all together with a bit of ground pepper. Pop it in a cake tin and oven for about 15 mins. Then just have a slice with a big salad. Makes about 4-5 meals and takes about 20 mins. Big blob of cheese coleslaw goes lovely with it too xx

I have been making crustless quiche for a while as I was gluten free for about ten years. To be honest though I didn’t even think about it, it is though all pre diabetes recipes have gone out of my head but thanks for that as quiche us now firmly back on the menu! The pizza idea is great too thanks.

 

[Kitty24]

There is an awful lot to learn about what is the best thing to do and what to have for food and meals.
The main message is that for somebody who is a Type 2 diabetic then carbohydrates are the foods that your body cannot cope with but protein and healthy fats are absolutely fine so basing meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, full fat dairy, vegetables, salads, nuts and fruits like berries but with only small portions of high carbohydrate foods like potatoes, bread, pasta, rice, breakfast cereals, tropical fruits, pastry and all those things containing sugar like the cakes, biscuits, sugary drinks, ice cream and many deserts.
People are told they do not need to test their blood glucose but there is no other way of knowing what foods you can tolerate so many people find testing is a very effective way of managing their diabetes rather than carrying on regardless not knowing if the dietary changes are sufficient.
Getting a monitor and testing before you eat and after 2 hours will allow you to make better food choices as an increase of more than 2-3mmol/l would indicate your meals was too carb heavy. The GlucoNavil is an inexpensive monitor with the cheapest test strips available on line. You get a few strips and lancets with the kit but would be wise to buy extra at the same time.
This is a good link for the basics and ideas of meals as is the Learning Zone

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home

lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk

I agree about testing. I bought the GlucoNavii as my diabetic nurse said I did not need to test but it seems ridiculous not to. On my next appointment with her I told her I bought the monitor and she says “Oh I could have given you one.” 🙄

 

[Kitty24]

Hi kitty I was diagnosed diabetes type 2 last year and I still can't get to grips with it so I say you are doing well. I was so angry when I was diagnosed as the blood pressure tablets they had me on gave me it I wondered at the time why they had put strange tablets in my prescription bag and I nearly threw them away, but placed them in my drawer. A couple of days later I had a phone call from my doctor telling me that I was to change my blood pressure tablets as I now had diabetes I cried a lot and still do when I wonder how can pharm companies get away with producing meds that are supposed to help but give you something else instead. I'm not very good at the diet part and know very little of how to cope because I'm getting no help I don't have to test sugar yet I'm on tablets I know that I eat the wrong stuff and haven't got very strong will power . People keep giving me the wrong food and to save wastage I eat it I love ice cream too and vegetable crisps, but because I don't have to test anything I don't know if or what I am doing wrong. Keep going though because it seems like you're having better luck than me

Thanks for that. That’s terrible how you found out you were diabetic. I agree with you about medication causing problems. I am on steroids, it’s quite a small dose now, it was originally 60mg, but its unlikely I will ever come off them due to adrenal insufficiency cause by the steroids, which are probably at least partly to blame for the diabetes 😡

 

[Kitty24]

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to anyone who has taken the time to reply. This means so much, not just for the information I have received, which has given me lots of ideas, but the fact that I don’t feel so alone.

 

[Leadinglights]

I agree about testing. I bought the GlucoNavii as my diabetic nurse said I did not need to test but it seems ridiculous not to. On my next appointment with her I told her I bought the monitor and she says “Oh I could have given you one.” 🙄

I suspect you may still have had to buy strips for it and it is likely they would be more expensive than for the GlucoNavil you bought. You would be lucky as a Type 2 to get strips prescribed.

 

[trophywench]

Just a question - which BP tablets caused your T2 diabetes? (I've never heard of BP tablets doing it)