Familiar food brings back the warmth of certain memories. Perhaps the smell of hamburgers on the grill reminds you of a vacation or a favorite person. However, for diabetics, familiar food you know well gives the opportunity for better comfort, better blood sugars, and possibly even better memories!
The beauty of having a familiar food nearby hands diabetics some ease and assurance. With ever changing blood sugar levels as well as stress, activity, or even happiness constantly changing levels, having “known” foods on hand adds some simplicity. “Free” snacks or foods you know well from experience on how well your diabetes or diabetic reacts can be a huge help.
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Know how to eat and treat
Dosing and blood sugars are just easier to handle when familiar food fills a plate. Already knowing the carb count and the anticipated effect on blood sugar levels reduces the likelihood of any surprises. Plus, a trusted option can be fun and easily available even if the table is covered with candies, cakes, cookies, and giant pizza slices. Can you eat those things? Sure. You can eat anything you choose to eat and treat. But for those seeking an alternative or perhaps just not up to the challenge of a new food that particular day, having predictable insulin doses and anticipated results takes the stress out of that particular meal or snack.
How do you figure this out for your favorite diabetic?
Experiment until you know
We looked at foods that Milly traditionally enjoyed and began to switch things in and out with them until her blood sugar levels moved toward what she wanted… or we ditched them and moved on! No foods were condemned to never cross her lips again, but they moved into a less prominent position in our diets.
Do you remember pigs in a blanket? Little hot dogs or sausages wrapped in biscuit dough and baked? Even as adults these popular appetizers are snatched up from the party table. Early in Milly’s diagnosis we experimented and found out that pigs in a blanket were a perfect party food for her control and didn’t seem weird to anyone else. So, for the next birthday party, class celebration, get-together, and snack time, pigs in a blanket traveled with us…for the entire first year of diagnosis!
Over time we discovered more fun, familiar foods that she enjoyed eating, and everyone else enjoyed as well! Hot dogs (often bun-less and roasted over the fire pit), pigs in a blanket, popcorn, low carb chicken quesadillas, spinach dip and vegetables, mini-sized cupcakes, chocolate dipped pretzels, cheesecake bites, mini low-carb doughnuts, corndog bites: all these foods had minimal impact on Milly and turned into party/friend favorites.
Yep, it took/takes a bit of planning, but taking one worry off of her shoulders makes the extra effort worth it. Being free to be a kid and run up to a table to sneak a snack became a possibility again on the figurative table. A familiar food gives her that freedom. Knowing she felt free to snack and not worry about major blood sugar fluctuations makes the party more fun for both of us.
Spread the knowledge
In one of my all-time favorite diabetes memories, we brought pigs in a blanket to a Masquerade Mystery party my girls attended. This was the first time Milly had ever attended an event like this, and she was understandably nervous. I knew her levels would be affected, so she took in a diet soda and an incredibly ornate plate of pigs in a blanket to place on the buffet. As we walked to the beautifully decorated table, FOUR other plates of pigs in a blanket awaited ours.
Pigs in a blanket had become a known, familiar food to her whole crew. Having friends who love my girl enough to make them? That is the definition of comfort food, too.
Win-win!
A few familiar foods our family loves to share…
Pigs in a Blanket
Popcorn
Chips
Spinach Dip
Veggies and Ranch Dip
Fruit and Vegetable Platters
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