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Whats in my food?

E

Emma Smith in remission

Member
Messages
9
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Other
I was wondering what resources people use to work out how many carbs are in specific foods?

Are there any sites you reccomend?

I am finding when I go to the supermarket there is less and less 'real food' and more processed **** packed full of well disguised refined sugars - is it just me?

Thanks,
Emma
 
I usually shop online with Tesco, and find that they have a fair amount of information on their website regarding nutritional content of their food. Packaging should also provide this information, or you can also use Google online. But be aware that US sites may give different carbs values to the the UK as they measure these differently - as far as i can remember they count fibre separately. So if you're in the UK, stick with UK information for consistency where possible.

Cook your own meals from scratch and avoid ready meals, soups and sauces, and bought cakes, confectionary, etc,if you can eat these, and you'll avoid most of the nasties.

Robbity
 
Emma Smith in remission said:
I was wondering what resources people use to work out how many carbs are in specific foods?

Are there any sites you reccomend?

I am finding when I go to the supermarket there is less and less 'real food' and more processed **** packed full of well disguised refined sugars - is it just me?

Thanks,
Emma
Click to expand...
No its not just you, it takes me ages to shop looking at all the labels. This morning I was looking for something different to have if I get hungry at work but don't have time to eat. Came up with nothing really. I like to keep to 5g or less per meal but very often it's between 5-10g. Simply because I don't have a lot of time to prepare things at home, I am out the house at 6.30am and very often dont get back til 8.00-9.00pm. Like you say most things are processed ****, quick food is full of carbs, so on days off I try and do a batch cooking session and put it in the freezer. I bought the book carbs and cals from Amazon which a few people off here recommend and its fabulous for calculating how many carbs you have had.I downloaded the app on my phone as well which gives you a running total throughout the day.
 
Robbity said:
I usually shop online with Tesco, and find that they have a fair amount of information on their website regarding nutritional content of their food. Packaging should also provide this information, or you can also use Google online. But be aware that US sites may give different carbs values to the the UK as they measure these differently - as far as i can remember they count fibre separately. So if you're in the UK, stick with UK information for consistency where possible.

Cook your own meals from scratch and avoid ready meals, soups and sauces, and bought cakes, confectionary, etc,if you can eat these, and you'll avoid most of the nasties.

Robbity
Click to expand...

Brilliant, I had no idea the UK and US did things differently - are they trying to make it purposefully difficult!!!!!
 
killerkaz said:
No its not just you, it takes me ages to shop looking at all the labels. This morning I was looking for something different to have if I get hungry at work but don't have time to eat. Came up with nothing really. I like to keep to 5g or less per meal but very often it's between 5-10g. Simply because I don't have a lot of time to prepare things at home, I am out the house at 6.30am and very often dont get back til 8.00-9.00pm. Like you say most things are processed ****, quick food is full of carbs, so on days off I try and do a batch cooking session and put it in the freezer. I bought the book carbs and cals from Amazon which a few people off here recommend and its fabulous for calculating how many carbs you have had.I downloaded the app on my phone as well which gives you a running total throughout the day.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll have a look at that book/app! Sounds like we need a snacks app too! :-)
 
Emma Smith in remission said:
Thanks, I'll have a look at that book/app! Sounds like we need a snacks app too! :)
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, but thats what got me diabetic in the first place, along with take aways, chips, cakes, chocolate and everything else that is high fat, high sugar and high carbs. Can't imagine eating that rubbish now, although some healthy snacks wouldn't come amiss now and then:rolleyes:
 
I just use the Carbs & Cals book already mentioned, and try and stick to packaged food that has less than 5g/100g total carbohydrate, certainly no more than 10g/100g unless I'm having a very small portion of it. Ignore the 'of which sugar' bit, it's the total carbs that matters.
 
killerkaz said:
Oh yeah, but thats what got me diabetic in the first place, along with take aways, chips, cakes, chocolate and everything else that is high fat, high sugar and high carbs. Can't imagine eating that rubbish now, although some healthy snacks wouldn't come amiss now and then:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Its hard to avoid. Only now do I understand how addictive the refined sugars are - I used to think it was just me who would eat even after really full! I now know more! I spent years addicted with no idea, it messed up my mood, my mind and my body. I was lucky enough to learn what I was doing wrong when I was still prediabetic but insulin resistant. I've lost over half by body weight (13 stone!) in two years since giving up processed food! I feel like a new person. I even jog!!

It make me so mad that consumers are tricked into eating food which is literally killing them - profit before health!!!!
 
Emma Smith in remission said:
Its hard to avoid. Only now do I understand how addictive the refined sugars are - I used to think it was just me who would eat even after really full! I now know more! I spent years addicted with no idea, it messed up my mood, my mind and my body. I was lucky enough to learn what I was doing wrong when I was still prediabetic but insulin resistant. I've lost over half by body weight (13 stone!) in two years since giving up processed food! I feel like a new person. I even jog!!

It make me so mad that consumers are tricked into eating food which is literally killing them - profit before health!!!!
Click to expand...
Oh wow! well done you, I have lost almost 2stones and feel great for it so I can only imagine how fantastic you must feel. I have yet to get round to the exercise bit but I'm working myself up to it.........slowly. I have the theory that your heart only has so many beats in it and I don't want to use them up all at once:D
 
I don't shop on-line, I prefer to go to the supermarket myself. However, I do use the Tescos and Sainsburys websites to check on nutrition values. I also spend ages looking at food labels when in the supermarkets looking for some new ideas.

I'm another that has the Carbs & Cals book and find it invaluable. I could never have managed without it, and still use it regularly now.
 
killerkaz said:
Oh wow! well done you, I have lost almost 2stones and feel great for it so I can only imagine how fantastic you must feel. I have yet to get round to the exercise bit but I'm working myself up to it.........slowly. I have the theory that your heart only has so many beats in it and I don't want to use them up all at once:D
Click to expand...

Awesome work!

Want to know my secret.... raw food cakes! I discovered these natural treats and they meant when I was feeling bad I had something to turn to full of only natural raw healthy ingredients they saved me. I used to keep a set of 'emergency' raw cake ingredients in the cupboard, they are so rich, made with cacoa etc. that you only need a little bit!
 
nomistheman said:
I (along with numerous other members of the forum, use MyFitnessPal to log and monitor my food intake. It's free works on the web, Android and iOS.

May be worth checking out.
Click to expand...

I use MFP to log my food and track my nutrients but I do not use their own data base because the majority of entries are wrong, many are entered by American users with different ways of calculating things, and many are just entered carelessly. I add my own foods after checking the nutrients myself.
 
I generally find the supermarket packaging labels quite good. You must use the total carbs figure and, for some foods, beware things like HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) etc which some don't classify as a sugar or carb. My DN gave a me leaflet by Roche which shows pictures of typical food servings and their carbs. I've never used any other reference.
 
Emma Smith in remission said:
Awesome work!

Want to know my secret.... raw food cakes! I discovered these natural treats and they meant when I was feeling bad I had something to turn to full of only natural raw healthy ingredients they saved me. I used to keep a set of 'emergency' raw cake ingredients in the cupboard, they are so rich, made with cacoa etc. that you only need a little bit!
Click to expand...
How do you make those then? They sound like just what I need
 
There's a great book called The calorie Carb & Fat Bible that has a good comprehensive list of food and drinks that I always refer to when unsure of the carb content, the book costs around £10 .
 
nomistheman said:
@ Emma Smith in remission.
Those raw food cakes sound awesome. Raw food is great in my opinion.

Would you care to share more details?
Click to expand...

I can do better than that, I am writing a book! About my recovery, the misleading advice and more top secrets. It ****** me off so much the misleading advice out there that I have teamed up with a US fitness coach and we are going to take thw world by storm. Watch this space....
 
nomistheman said:
There's a lot of dried fruit in the few recipes I've looked at on that site - that's not really for me. .
Click to expand...

Now if you were sensible :wideyed::D, you'd be stuffing yourself with currants and raisins, which I was advised by my diabetic nurse in all seriousness to eat instead of sugar when I was first diagnosed. :banghead::banghead:

Robbity
 
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