Type 2 Afternoon Tea

[Debs708]

Hi and hello - quickly was diagnosed as type 2 (have genetic type 2 in the family) in September 2019 - did not have any medication and used Dr Michael Mosley Fast 800 books, after 12 weeks lost 2 stone in weight and my type 2 was in remission. Then came the pandemic and a move to a new location. I could not get to see a Dr until November 2023. (I had got my blood sugar down to 40) It was now 47 and I asked to try to get it back down without medication, unfortunately that did not happen and in March this year it had gone up to 55. I am now on Metformin and statins but determined to get it back down and hopefully off the medication by having a low carb diet. i have a friends special birthday in London which is an afternoon tea in a fancy restaurant. Has anyone got any advice regarding what I should eat ???

 

[Paul_]

Hi Debs, welcome to the forum.

What type of afternoon tea is it? Is it one where there's cake on top of more cake, or are other options available too?

Can you view the menu before you go, either online or by requesting it from the restaurant?

 

[Debs708]

Hi Debs, welcome to the forum.

What type of afternoon tea is it? Is it one where there's cake on top of more cake, or are other options available too?

Can you view the menu before you go, either online or by requesting it from the restaurant?

Hi Paul thanks for your reply. The afternoon tea is where you start with finger sandwiches first, then scones, then cakes. I will look at the menu online to see what it does consist of. I am at a loss now as what I can do

 

[Paul_]

Hi Paul thanks for your reply. The afternoon tea is where you start with finger sandwiches first, then scones, then cakes. I will look at the menu online to see what it does consist of. I am at a loss now as what I can do

It's never easy for situations like afternoon tea, it doesn't lend itself easily to low carb eating. Another example of this is chain pizza restaurants, which as a father of two young kids, is one of the pressures in my life when it comes to days out, kids parties etc.

Generally, in these situations I would:

1) Confirm the menu beforehand to see if there are any suitable options.

2a) Consider not going, if it's not a special occasion or if it's not for a close friend/family (probably not an option for you here).

Or...

2b) Having confirmed the menu, selectively eat what I can, e.g. in a chain pizza restaurant, I just pick off the toppings and leave the base. (Again, if this is a nice restaurant you're going to, I appreciate that etiquette may not allow for this style of eating ).

3) Having confirmed the menu, call the restaurant (or email if there's enough time before going), explain the situation, and ask if there's any alternatives they can offer. I've personally found many eating establishments to be very accommodating, either with substitutions at no cost, or alternatives which may be priced differently.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Hi Paul thanks for your reply. The afternoon tea is where you start with finger sandwiches first, then scones, then cakes. I will look at the menu online to see what it does consist of. I am at a loss now as what I can do

That's basically carbs stacked upon carbs with more carbs on top... Which doesn't leave a whole lot of wriggle room. You could just ask for a little fork and scoop out the filling of the sandwiches (assuming watercress/ham/cucumber etc are still a thing), which might make you feel like a "special little snowflake", but if you let the venue know beforehand they might be accommodating somehow, or you know, not mind about the bread going to waste, or make little cups with sandwich filling or whatever. (You'd be surprised how accommodating most places are willing to be!) Scones depend on what they come with... I mean, the scones themselves are basically not a good idea, but if it's strawberries and cream, you could ask for just those.... (If they're jam and cream, ah well...). Cakes, well... *Le sigh*.

You get the idea.

But.

I don't know how you respond to relatively large fluctuations in blood sugars. I know a swift spike'll make me a big panicky and wobbly. But if you can avoid a quick spike, by having extra cream (in lieu of actual scones) or mayo (sandwiches)... Or just have half a little tart and share with a friend who's hungry. YOU decide how you do this, and it's not like you're having a Tea every week or something. If you think it's worth it, with or without some adjustments... And maybe a quick walk around the block to get a rise down... Whatever you end up doing, make sure it's worth it. Is it? Will you enjoy it so much it'll make your toes go all fluttery in your shoes? Let it be a guilt-free treat if you do plunge in. No kicking yourself about for enjoying a one-off.

Life goes on. And sometimes you just want to partake a little. See what works for you. Beware of Carb Creep, as carbs demand more carbs and getting back on the low carb wagon can be a bit difficult in the days following the party, but you know... You and your meter can decide what you want to do.

But yeah, getting back to thoroughly low carb is a good idea... At the same time, if this brings you any kind of joy, and it's not a regular occurance... You decide. No-one here is going to point fingers if you have a treat. You're sure working hard on getting things back under control, after all.

You be good to yourself, whatever that may end up looking like.
Jo

 

[Debs708]

It's never easy for situations like afternoon tea, it doesn't lend itself easily to low carb eating. Another example of this is chain pizza restaurants, which as a father of two young kids, is one of the pressures in my life when it comes to days out, kids parties etc.

Generally, in these situations I would:

1) Confirm the menu beforehand to see if there are any suitable options.

2a) Consider not going, if it's not a special occasion or if it's not for a close friend/family (probably not an option for you here).

Or...

2b) Having confirmed the menu, selectively eat what I can, e.g. in a chain pizza restaurant, I just pick off the toppings and leave the base. (Again, if this is a nice restaurant you're going to, I appreciate that etiquette may not allow for this style of eating ).

3) Having confirmed the menu, call the restaurant (or email if there's enough time before going), explain the situation, and ask if there's any alternatives they can offer. I've personally found many eating establishments to be very accommodating, either with substitutions at no cost, or alternatives which may be priced differently.

Hi Paul I have just emailed the restaurant to see what they can offer me. It is very tempting in situations like this to just go with the flow, but I do not want to do that and start to undo what I am doing.

 

[Outlier]

And make sure that you eat before you go! This is a tricky situation to navigate, but not being at all hungry should help. And there will be a lovely choice of teas.

What would I do? I'd contact my friend, explain how really difficult this would be for my health and therefore offer to take her out to a place you both enjoy as soon as possible instead, as an acceptable alternative that won't risk making you really ill.

 

[mouseee]

I have enjoyed a couple of afternoon teas and have dealt with them by literally cutting things in half.
I cut the sandwiches up and had half and had half a scone. The cakes were chunky homemade ones so easy to cut up into pieces and I tried each piece. If they couldn't be cut up I only had a couple.
They will give you a box to take left overs home. I then shared them with the family.
I've got to make low carb sustainable for me as I can't do it otherwise. Having a treat once every couple of months works for me. If you can manage to abstain, great, but I can't do that.... as proved on precious attempts.

 

[Lupf]

Hi @Debs708 welcome to the forum.
I can relate to you as I lost about 10 kg using Michael Moselely's 5+2 diet, i.e. 600 calories on 2 days only. which got my HbA1c down into the 40s.
How is your weight now? Given that you managed to put your T2 in remission by fasting, consider going down this route again.
This might be sufficient for you. It works for me and I am still fasting on two days, which is sustainable.

 

[MrsA2]

@Debs708
An alternative stategy is to plan for the event so you fast beforehand (or eat low carb just before), enjoy and eat the occasion then fast again the rest of that and the next day.

Basically decide how you feel about the event and the food and plan around those feelings.
It's not like your going to do it everyday, or even every so often is it? Once off the straight and narrow isn't going to lose your eye sight for example, but only you know if it will lead to a slippery slope of cake every day perhaps?

Concentrate on the social side of the event, the being with friends and having fun is far more important than the food.

 

[RayCox]

Enjoy your tea. Then go back to you low carbing

 

[AloeSvea]

I'm on the side of pre-load with low carb food beforehand, and really enjoy the tea and/or coffee! And the conversation, and socialising.

I'm a social bunny, so I would always choose to go to such functions, and then just say I'm a sugar addict on the wagon, and have T2D. Women are usually very understanding about this. Men tend to look puzzled (if they don't have T2 themselves!) I have never regretted going to such functions, and even wax lyrical about the gorgeous carby offerings, and can even enjoy watching other's enjoyment of the fare.

My own line is I enjoyed wonderful food like that pre diagnosis, enough for a lifetime. And it helps me not partake in it now.

 

[Sarah69]

I’d eat what was on the menu. It’s a one off occasion so I don’t see the harm.

 

[AloeSvea]

I’d eat what was on the menu. It’s a one off occasion so I don’t see the harm.

But you are taking insulin? So.... (I am being massively educated in this Forum these days, at how different T2d is when insulin dependent when being treated with insulin...)

 

[mouseee]

Went out for afternoon tea again this week for a friend's 50jth. Did the same as usual. This time I literally had my own lunch box on my lap so I put things away and wasn't tempted. Worked better than I'd planned technically as my husband found the box at home when he got in from work and ate it all! I'd didn't get to eat even one! Best thing really, but also annoying!! Lol