#mushroombags

Pack your Peanutbutter

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...your almond butter, Triscuit crackers, carrot/celery sticks, hazelnuts/walnuts, dry roasted edamame, apples...all the foods that support your diabetic diet. 

It’s not that there is no food where you’re going, it’s having something at the ready if meals are delayed or if there isn’t a convenient restaurant that serves diabetic friendly foods.  When I run into this situation, I know that I have planned ahead and taken care of my diabetic self as far as between meal food is concerned.  These nut butter packets are 1.15 oz. each so should be fine to take on an airplane.  Check out ahead of time whether you can bring fresh fruit, nuts, dry roasted edamame, etc. on the airplane with you.

Source:  Winco Foods (local discount grocer), www.luckyvitamin.com mail order

I have no connection with this product other than being a fellow diabetic looking for convenient ways to feel good/eat right while I’m traveling.

When I’m not packing my food and my pills and my clothes, etc. etc., I’m merrily crocheting throw rugs from recycled cotton fabric for my online shop ( www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawerthreads ).  Or, I’m blissing out knitting cowls from thick thin yarn for my other shop ( www.etsy.com/shop/topdraweryarns ).  My daughter’s (and friend) have an online shop, www.etsy.com/shop/yesdesigns , where they hand make and sell knitted picnic afghans, macrame anklets, and painted t shirts.  My other daughter has an online shop, www.etsy.com/shop/shroombloombags , where she designs and crochets mushroom inspired neck pouches.

Go Packin’ - Bring your own diabetic friendly food

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You have a day surgery coming up so you’ve packed your pills/insulin, blood meter and strips, slippers, pj’s, toothbrush, etc. in case you need to stay overnight.  But what will you eat? 

They have dieticians at hospitals, right?  They know what to feed me as a diabetic, right?  They do know what to feed you.  But the snacks you are given may not have been run by the dietician because you are an in-and-out day surgery patient.  The hospital staff person attending you may just give you the post-surgery snacks they give everyone - graham cracker and apple juice or whatever.  Both with added sugar, which would make me feel really lousy with high blood sugar readings on top of recovering from anesthesia post surgery. 

Another diabetic friend had clued me into this knowing how serious my diabetic diet is to me.  I packed foods that didn’t need refrigeration or any special consideration from the staff.  The food was conveniently in my overnight bag ready for me in the recovery area when I needed to eat something.  In my gallon ziplock were 2 apples, almonds, roasted edamame, baby carrots, bottled water, and Red Rose black tea bags.  When the nurse asked if I wanted something to eat, I said, “Yes, I brought my own.  I’m diabetic and really watch added sugar.”  I showed her the contents of my ziplock and she was pleased to see what I brought.  She said she would have just given me graham crackers and apple juice without any further thought.

This worked great for a short stay food supply.  If you anticipate a longer stay prearrange through the hospital dietician what your food needs are, especially if you are managing your diabetes without insulin.  Then, make sure it happens for you. 

When I’m not recovering from day surgery, I’m sewing lake trout aprons for my online shop ( www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawerthreads ).  Or, checking out recycled materials sources for great yarns to knit scarves from for my other shop ( www.etsy.com/shop/topdraweryarns ).  My daughter’s (and friend) have an online shop, www.etsy.com/shop/yesdesigns , where they hand make and sell crocheted 1970′s bikini tops, beach wraps, and knickers as beach coverups.  My other daughter has an online shop, www.etsy.com/shop/shroombloombags , where she designs and crochets mushroom necklace pouches from recycled yarn for festival wear.

Spicy Squash

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Squash as finger food?  Why not?  These are great as part of a healthy friends-over-watching-the-game buffet item.  Eat them with the skin on as if they were jo-jo’s but this fits in with my diabetic diet goals.

1 med. acorn squash, seeded, sliced in 3/4″ wide slices, then in half

2 T. olive oil

1/4 t. coriander

1.4 t. cumin

1/8 t. cayenne

dash salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Brush squash on both sides with olive oil.  Mix spices together and sprinkle on both sides of squash.  Place seasoned squash on a cookie sheet.  Bake for 15 min., flip the squash over, bake for 15 min. more.

Source:  Martha Stewart Recipes

Cream of Asparagus Soup

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Asparagus soup!?!  Why not?  Serve it up with Monterey Jack cheese slices and apple chunks - you have a great meal.  A great meal for your diabetic diet, too.

1 bundle asparagus, fresh or frozen, cut into pieces

1 c. vegetable broth

2 eggs, whisked

1 1/4 c. half and half

1/2 t. salt

dash pepper

dash hot sauce

1/8 c. parsley, diced*

dash paprika

*Make food prep faster by cutting the parsley with kitchen scissors.

Bring vegetable broth to boiling, add asparagus pieces, cook until just tender.  Remove asparagus but keep broth hot.  In a separate bowl, mix eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and hot sauce.  Whisk egg mixture slowly into hot broth until smooth, return asparagus to broth along with parsley and paprika. 

When I’m not experimenting with new ways to enjoy asparagus, I’m sewing asparagus print canvas aprons for my online shop ( www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawerthreads ) or knitting skull caps from recycled yarn for my other shop ( wqww.etsy.com/shop/topdraweryarns ). 

My daughter’s have an online shop, www.etsy.com/shop/yesdesigns , where they hand make and sell stretch leggings and wicked knickers. 

My older daughter has an online shop, www.etsy.com/shop/wildwovenwomen, where she designs and knits warm winter afghans.