Sunday is usually meal planning day for me. I worked a 5.5 hour shift today but got most of the week done last night and finished it after I got off work today.
Awhile back I realized there's a very strong correlation between meat consumption and my higher blood sugar readings so I cut back on meat. I mean, waaay back. I still eat fish and small amounts of beef, pork, and chicken but not daily or even weekly. I call myself a "faux vegetarian". Whatever, it works. :-)
My food guidelines are pretty easy. If it's a vegetable I usually eat it raw or lightly cooked and unless it's a starchy vegetable I don't really limit the quantity. Starchy vegetables are a rare treat for me. If it's fruit I eat it now and then and in strict moderation. Fruit needs to be fairly low on the Glycemic Index like berries and melon. Pasta, beans, and grains are things I have once in a blue moon and then just a very small amount. And if it's meat...well, I think long and hard and usually decide against it. There are exceptions to all those guidelines, though. It's a matter of moderation, balance, and keeping my eye on the prize so to speak. But it stinks that the less expensive foods are things I can eat only rarely and it's very hard to stay within my budget for food.
My next to the last A1c was 5.9 and my last A1c two weeks ago was 5.1. For those of you unfamiliar with Diabetes and A1c, that first number is very good for a Type 1 and that last number is in the non-diabetic range so I'm pretty dang proud of both test results!
I didn't get those results by just cutting out most meat, though. I also walk. A lot. I use a Fitbit Charge HR to count my steps and even when I'm at home and watching television, I generally walk/jog in place. I've lost about 9 pounds in the process but it's taken me four months to do so. Four ridiculously long months! Age and the constant influx of insulin via my pump make weight loss quite the challenge but progress is progress, right? Besides, I've had some non-scale victories, too. My work pants are much looser and I simply feel better. I have more weight to lose but am focusing on the positives and not the fact that it takes so freaking long for me to lose a few pounds!
Anyway, here's my menu for this week:
Sunday night - Two boneless pork ribs (bought for .99 a lb at Albertson's), raw bell pepper strips, and a large salad.
Monday night - Homemade french onion soup, sans bread with extra cheese and a low carb muffin in a minute with butter
Tuesday night - Leftover french onion soup and a salad
Wednesday night - Very large salad, complete with cheese, black olives, and artichoke hearts
Thursday night - Dinner at Mom's house so it will be her choice. Heaven help me, she loves the carbs! I'll choose as wisely as I can, though. She always has salad stuff so if nothing else, I'll make a salad.
Friday night - I'll be at work but will take along leftover soup and an avocado
Saturday night - Vegetables roasted in broth and homemade almond meal crackers
Yeah, I eat a lot of salad and soup. I love them and they're thrifty and delicious so why not?
Keep it simple is my motto!
Frugal eating at home and how I got a fantastic A1c!
March 29th, 2015 at 10:21 pm
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I'm not happy about it as I'm a true meat lover. However, I'm more interested in keeping my eyesight, limbs, and life than I am in eating meat so it is what it is!
The worst part is that the longer I live with T1 the more restricted my diet is. It's at the ridiculous point now.
Dealing with gestational diabetes isn't easy. Good for you for keeping tabs on it all!
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