I just finished my lunch, a cucumber, bean sprout, lettuce, and radish rollup with tahini dressing. For dessert, I had a strawberry, blueberry, and apricot parfait. Washed down with a cup of pine needle tea. I felt good about my choices. I was planning dinner, roasted asparagus topped with ranch dressing powder, pumpkin seeds, Butternut squash, fresh salad from a local producer, carrots, and local corn on the cobb. The dessert will be a sugar-free, keto-friendly brownie. As I was thinking about going shopping after my nap, I woke up and realized I was dreaming about food again. What an unusual dream; it was loaded with healthy food!
I admit that food is essential to me. I have grown up enough that I realize I cannot eat as I did when I was 17 and am involved in all kinds of physical activity. Over the last few years, I have reduced the portion size of what I consume during any of my three squares a day. I can go to; “An All You Can Eat” buffet and not look at it as a challenge that I must win! I am a bit competitive. If I change the wording in my mind to: “All You Care To Eat!” I can maintain my portion control. The reality is that not everything set up on a buffet table is so delicious that you want to stuff yourself.
I keep a keen eye on limiting sugars and carbohydrates, focusing more on fruits, veggies, protein, and healthy drinks.
Food Manufactures are pretty-sneaky about putting in added sugars. High fructose corn syrup, Dextrose, Fructose, Galactose (From outer space?) Glucose, Lactose, Maltose, Sucrose. Then there is Demara sugar, Diastatic malt, Ethyl maltol, Maltodextrin, Agave, Barley malt, Carob syrup, honey, molasses, sorghum, treacle, beet sugar, brown sugar, cane juice, Castor sugar, Coconut sugar, confectioners’ sugar.
My HBA1C just went up a few points writing about all those sugars.
Why is sugar so important? According to the CDC, 38% of Americans are pre-diabetic. What does pre-diabetic mean? It means you’re on the road (Expressway) to becoming Type 2 Diabetic. More than half of U.S. Adults have Diabetes or are pre-diabetic.
I was out at a charity dinner; a friend of mine went to get dessert and returned with four fabulous-looking desserts. I quietly leaned over and asked him, “Hey buddy, didn’t you tell me you were a type 2 diabetic?” he responded,” Yep!” I quietly asked, “How do you get away with eating 4 desserts?” He replied, “Oh, I’ll just take an extra pill!” Interesting concept. I did ask my caregiver if that double dose thing really works and was told that it is very dangerous and to never try it! I have never tried it, and no one else should either.
There are more foods on the market today and more coming that can be helpful for people that are pre-diabetic or Type 2 Diabetics. I bought a stevia-based pop, I don’t drink one every day, but it has a pleasant taste. There are a lot of sugar-free foods on the market, but sugar-free does not always mean calorie-free. Sometimes it means lots of calories. That gets us back to portion control. Moderation has always been a good recommendation, whether healthy fruit or sugar-free candy. Now that I am fully awake, I think I will head to my local grocery store and buy some Tahini dressing!
“Remember, every day is a gift! Some are just a little more fun to open than others. – © Joel M. Vernier 08/21/2022 Author of: “The Guinea Pig In The Freezer.” joelmvernier@aol.com
