Snacking...?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Martin9

Martin9

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
🙂Hi everybody peeps 🙂

I'm a bit confused about snacking, when called snacking it definitely has a negative connotation, but if you call it eating smaller meals evenly spaced throughout the day it sounds a bit better !
What is the generally accepted advice for Type 2 should I be eating 3 meals a day and avoiding 'snacking' between or eating smaller meals at more regular intervals throughout the day..?
 
I try not to snack if possible. There are different opinions on this, but I like to think the body needs a break between meals. I have 3 meals a day & make sure they are big enough so that I don't want to snack in between. If I do feel the need to snack, I will just have a piece of cheese or some 85% chocolate.
 
I’m always ravenous on a morning so have a decent breakfast. It’s the best time of the day for me to tolerate carbs.
Lunchtime I prefer a snack but am then a bit hungry before dinner (or teatime as we call it in the north). I find smaller and regular is better than a huge meal at once.

For snacks, I like seafood, piece of chicken, boiled egg, couple of biscuits, protein bar, chilli oatcake with cheese or occasionally pork crackling. (not all at the same time obviously :D)
 
Mark Parrott said:
I try not to snack if possible. There are different opinions on this, but I like to think the body needs a break between meals. I have 3 meals a day & make sure they are big enough so that I don't want to snack in between. If I do feel the need to snack, I will just have a piece of cheese or some 85% chocolate.
Click to expand...
I'll second this @Martin9. I've just completed the Xpert diabetes program, and the advice there is CUT THE CARBS and eat meals substantial enough to keep you satisfied until your next meal. This allows your body time to process your food and any carbs you've eaten and rest or burn fat before your next meal. Hope that helps.
 
Benny G said:
Low carb high fat (LCHF) will reduce your hunger levels and you will not want to snack between meals.
If you are eating more carbs at meal times then your blood glucose levels will fluctuate more and you will feel peckish and want to snack.
To be honest I have done both of these diets. High carb is easier to fit around friends and family because that's what they all eat, but makes blood glucose levels harder to control.
Low carb requires more work on your side, but makes losing weight and controlling blood glucose more effective.
My main advice is to prepare as many of your meals as you can yourself, including snacks, using natural unprocessed ingredients. Read the labels on the food you buy.
What kinds of meals do you usually eat?
Click to expand...
I'm on a lower carb , higher fat diet but wondered if to eat 3 larger meals or more smaller meals...
 
I also find that LCHF reduces hunger so I only eat twice a day, early and late, no need to snack.
 
AdeleTurner72 said:
I'll second this @Martin9. I've just completed the Xpert diabetes program, and the advice there is CUT THE CARBS and eat meals substantial enough to keep you satisfied until your next meal. This allows your body time to process your food and any carbs you've eaten and rest or burn fat before your next meal. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Thanks@AdeleTurner72, so no more smaller meals more often then..!
 
Thank to all for answers...!
 
Depends what on your plate makes the meal 'large' doesn't it? where once you'd have meat spuds and veg, if you're eschewing the spuds or most of them then have at least one portion extra veg - even if it's more of the same - I could happily eat a VERY large portion of green leafy veg any time I can! (My OH is not that keen but I can't resist the spring greens very much longer!)
 
Amigo said:
Martin, test and see what suits you. Best wishes.
Click to expand...
I usually test once in morning before any food as I don't eat or drink anything but water after about 7pm, the thought of testing after lots of different foodstuffs to check which raises BG levels more than others seems a laborious task. As my morning levels have all been between 4.5 - 6.0 for past 2 weeks, ( mostly due to advice from this forum), control doesn't seem too bad, at the moment, but if I start getting poorer results I will definitely start testing after meals,thanks for advice though, this forum is invaluable ..
 
Last edited:
AdeleTurner72 said:
I'll second this @Martin9. I've just completed the Xpert diabetes program, and the advice there is CUT THE CARBS and eat meals substantial enough to keep you satisfied until your next meal. This allows your body time to process your food and any carbs you've eaten and rest or burn fat before your next meal. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
How do you get onto a course like Xpert ..I'm waiting on a Desmond programme likely to be between 2-3 months from now , and frankly doubt I'll learn anything from it I can't learn, or already have learned here..
 
Last edited:
Martin9 said:
How do you get onto a course like Xpert ..I'm waiting on a Desmond programme likely to be between 2-3 months from now , and frankly doubt I'll learn anything from it I can't learn, or already have learned here..
Click to expand...
Hi Martin. My DSN got me on a local Xpert course. I believe you can refer yourself though, at least in my area. I think the difficulty is that some parts of the country offer DESMOND and some offer Xpert.... Postcode lottery situation???

In relation to testing before and after individual meals, can I just say that it is labour intensive, but it has helped me work out individual foods, combinations and meal plans which work well for me in terms of blood glucose, keeping me full and of course enjoying the food itself. It takes more time and test strips initially, but now I have got my way of eating nailed, I don't test all the time anymore, just when I try a new meal or for reassurance.
Hope that helps.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top