Thursday, my college youth group is having a Fourth of July picnic. I'm half excited, but half wary of all things food related. The diabetic in me is curious, anxious, and completely nervous about what will be served, how it was prepared, and so on. The diabetic in me is wanting to be a total control freak...but unfortunately, this isn't a situation where I can be. This situation calls for a little gambling and adventure-taking.
Ever since I started venturing out on my own, I've struggled with food. I want healthy choices. I want choices that won't send my blood sugar through the roof. And mostly, I want choices that I will actually eat (as I'm a fairly picky eater). All those things combined leaves me feeling like I have to make the restaurant choice or at least give plenty of acceptable options...while trying to make everyone happy in what they're putting in their own mouths.
Most of my life to this point hasn't contained a lot of these issues thankfully. My parents made those choices/influences when I was little. Then I started venturing out with friends who were very familiar with my eating habits/diabetes so I had an obvious say in what I ate. But about five years ago, I started venturing further outside the box. I met new friends who weren't familiar with my diabetes (they hadn't grown up with it the way my other friends had), I had a much larger selection of food (moving from a town of 3500 to a city of 6 million), and my diabetes started to take larger precedence in my life.
Now meeting new people, going on first dates, and experiencing outings like the picnic are total hat tosses...I just never know which way I'll land when I hit the floor. Will there be foods that I like? Will there be healthy options like fruit or vegetables? What will people think if I have to ask for special circumstances? It all runs through my mind as I pick restaurants and go through "food life."
Even though I'm more "liberal" in my diabetic food choices (as in, I eat carbs and sweets in moderation and don't limit myself to a great extent), I still feel compelled to worry that something won't be right. I worry that someone won't understand (but then think if they can't, it's their problem). I stress that I won't be able to eat enough (especially for the picnic when I'm sure I'll be active). I worry about unexpected ingredients that send my blood sugars soaring.
Overall, eating outside my box becomes much more hassle than its worth sometimes. The unexpected doesn't play into my avid love for adventure in the way I want it to because it isn't really about whether or not I like the food; it's more about how the food will like my diabetes. After all, the tango between glucose and insulin is a nasty dance sometimes.
So in order to avoid the nasty that can come with that tango, I'm a major preparer in all parts of life. But especially in food. If I have to choose a new restaurant (for instance, a date insisted we go somewhere new a few months back), I look for places that I can see a menu beforehand. I usually know exactly what I want before I sit down at the table, because I usually order the same exact things at every restaurant (it leaves less guessing when it comes time to give my insulin). And I try to find out as much information about "potlucks" or "picnics" as I can ahead of time. It may mean a little less spontaneity when I eat, but it gives me a greater peace of mind than anyone can imagine. Plus far fewer food induced highs and lows, which I'm ALWAYS thankful for.
Aint that the truth!! Good luck at your picnic....at least a hamburger pattie should be available. I usually stash some peanut butter and crackers somewhere just in case there isn't anything acceptable (blood sugar wise) to eat. It's a pain, but not doing it is a bigger pain!
Mousie
Ya I haven't heard back about the food choices yet. Personally, I'm bringing fruit so I at least have that to tide me over until I could get something else. There are also restaurants right around the corner from the park, so if worse comes to worse I can do that! Good idea on the crackers though...I'll throw some in my bag!
Aint that the truth!! Good luck at your picnic....at least a hamburger pattie should be available. I usually stash some peanut butter and crackers somewhere just in case there isn't anything acceptable (blood sugar wise) to eat. It's a pain, but not doing it is a bigger pain!
Mousie
I used to smoke. I smoked for about 20 years. It was very hard to give up the cigerettes and I still sometimes think "I could really use a cigerette about now". Quitting helped my heath but also made me stronger as far as will power. But it also helped me say no to some of the foods I love. I don't suggest you start smoking so you can quit and build your will power. I am just saying that by building your will power against sugary foods.
When I became diabetic I think giving up my favorite foods was so much more drastic. I crave the foods that are not good for me and it is so hard to say no. I also do what you do as far as restarants. It is becoming a little easier to eat out than it was 10 years ago and I think the trend will be healthier foods served everywhere.
Parties and picnics are very hard. One of the easiest things to make are cakes and desserts. That is why most people bring sugary things to a picnic. You could "pack a lunch" for youself and if people ask explain to them you have diabetes and cannot eat all the different foods so you brought your own. Or make a couple dishes to take that you can eat and mark them sugar free and I bet you will see many people dipping into your dishes! This time of year there are many who are on diets and do not have a health problem but want to watch their weight.
If people can't accept that you have a health issue then you can either ignore them or just find people who are positive and can accept you as you are.
Food will always be our temptation but there are so many good recipes out there to help us cope.
I'm not so sure Linsdey is taking about willpower here.I think she is talking about getting food in desperate situations. Sometimes there is not one single food choice available that we can make that won't send our blood sugar soaring. I was recently at a picnic ( catered, so there weren't lots of things) where the only choices were BBQ chicken, rice or potato salad, corn and sugary desserts. There was also salad, already covered with a thick, sugary glaze stuff and full of glazed fruit.Oh, and rolls. Duh. Any of these foods would send me into outer space no matter how big the bolus was. This particular time I left, since the picnic was scheduled for noon and it was after 1 and noone had moved toward the food yet.( my workmates even went up and asked for food for me since it was getting so late. I told them I couldn't eat any of that stuff anyway.) It was a work related thing too, so there was the social pressure to stay. I did not feel at all bad going to my car and eating peanut butter and crackers. Willpower is one thing....losing control or having a blood sugar crash for the sake of social pressure is another. Not worth it. If they can't understand, too bad.
Mousie
Thanks, Mousie! It went over fine...ate a hamburger and some fruit. I even splurged and ate a delicious brownie (I haven't had one in probably a year!). I did quite a bit of activity and ended up at 97 :) woohoo!
Try to stick to the lean meats without alot of sauce, fruits and Veggies
Yeah Lindsey!!! Way to go!! I"m so happy about your 97! Be careful!
Mousie
p.s. bet that brownie was GOOD!