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Basic Shopping list?

lesleyp1978

lesleyp1978

Member
Messages
18
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hi,

I have tried low carbing before with fantastic results but I always struggle to stay on track cause I'm not varying the foods I eat enough. I find it difficult when at work for things that I can eat that don't involve cooking.

I definitely want to do this properly this time as over Christmas my sugars have been swinging all over the place and I have been regularly getting up in the morning with highs in the 20's.

I was wondering if you helpful lot would mind listing the staples of what you but each week so that I could go armed with a shopping list. I also think that the way for me to go is to plan a 7 day meal plan so that I never get to an evening and think, what can I eat , and then for ease just throw some chips in the oven.

Thank you!

Lesley x
 
Starting from that point of "what can I have for tea?" I first want to be sure I'm not hoarding stuff from my past life as a carb and sugar-guzzler, because we all know how temptation can strike when we're hungry or tired or fed up.
Second, I want safe snacks and drinks on hand while I'm thinking, like coffee, tea, nuts, seeds, Babybel cheeses (convenient), yoghurt, double cream and maybe some cheese bites made with almond flour. Also plenty of eggs at all times -- a great standby. And avocado.
Then ... well, what we keep in the fridge & freezer is a matter of personal taste. With plenty of safe standbys available, the pressure's off and I can relax.
As for planning ahead, I'm sure others will take up the baton.
 
Planning is the way to go. At the weekend i make a large batch of soup (i have a huge wok) and portion it up into these
mTObxqgxwEfmQoc9hCC1p2A.jpeg
then i can freezer extras and take each day to work to microwave at lunchtime.

For evening meals you can do allsorts with meat and veg. tonight im having roast gammon with sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower.
In the week its often a batch of slow cooked curry or stew from the freezer. I do quite a bit of cooking at the weekend. But a slow cooked stew really doesnt take much effort.
If i have left over chicken, i fry some onion and pepper, add fajita mix then add the chicken, pile it on the plate put some salsa on it then smother in grated cheddar and put under the grill to let it melt.

it all depends on the type of things you like to eat.
 
It's all about thinking ahead I find so I am never in the position of not knowing what my next meal is- that way I don't run screaming with hunger ( and if I'm honest , delight) towards the Chinese chips and curry sauce option.
My staple buys are: mushrooms, celery, chicken. pate, bacon, low carb high meat content sausages, red and white cabbage, leeks, onions, carrots, peppers, courgettes, cauliflower, swede, ham, steak , eggs, cheese, tinned pulses and tomatoes, chorizo, pork, lamb shoulder, mince of all varities, salad stuff, mayonnaise, asparagus, green beans, paneer, spinach, natural yogurt. I'll buy odd apple, esp Bramleys to make own apple sauce, rhurbarb for an almond flour crumble and berries when reasonably priced. Sometimes I buy a spelt loaf and slice and freeze it, and taco shells and poppadums as a low carb accompaniment.
From this lot, I have a cooked breakfast, a salad with homemade coleslaw for lunch, or soup, or if out I take some celery sticks, carrot and some cheese and pate, dinner is curry, stews, roast dinner with roast swede instead of spuds , shepherd's pie with cauli cheese mash, chill, stir fry( add beansprouts , pak choi and few bamboo shoots) , faijtas with lettuce wraps, home made burgers with salad and portabello mushrooms, halloumi mushrooms, saag paneer or cauli and paneer curry.
I actually think I eat a lot better than I did before , certainly more variety of veg.
 
I recommend buying a food flask. You can then take anything to work to eat.
 
I find packed lunches very easy (and I am very lazy!)

We have a fridge at work, and a microwave, so I can take in cheese, and keep it there (although I have had completely unreasonable whinging when the delicate aroma of my Brie has fragranced the kitchen when the door opens), and a microwave if I want to take in homemade soup.

But my usual fallback options are very simple - cheese, cold meat, hummus, taramasalata, guacamole (with a spoon), crustless quiche, pork scratchings, 9bars, olives, Greek salad (basically toms, cucumber and lettuce).

None of the above will raise my BG more than 2 mmol/l no matter how generous my portions ;)
 
And, since I've just been online doing a tescos order for home delivery (another example of my laziness :happy:). I thought I might make a wee bit more effort.

This week at work I will be snaffling mini hummus pots, using raw baby sweet corn, mange touts, green beans and carrots as dippers, with marinaded olives.

Very posh. Eh?

Only it turns out I won't be making any more effort, at all, cos the veg come in a single stir fry pack, buy 2 get 3rd free, and I can lob the lot into the work fridge and munch at my leisure, all week...:)
 
In addition to the above, celeriac is great roasted along with the swede, turnip and onions. Potatoes not missed.
 
Wow...Thanks for the idea's so far! I must say, I have never heard of some of the stuff mentioned but I will be trying it! I have quite brittle type 1 but I think with a bit of adventurism in the kitchen and preparation I can get this sorted!! Keep them coming ;)
 
If you look at the what have you eaten today thread on the low carb forum you'll see plenty of good ideas for what to make.
 
Hi Folks, just starting my LCHF journey as a T2.

Where I fall down the most is hunger-pangs mid morning / mid afternoon.

As a desk-bound, or out on the road kind of guy, what do people recommend as snacks between meals?
 
Bacon
Eggs
Mushrooms
Tomatoes
Double cream
Greek yoghurt
Cheese
Butter
Green veg and salad
Avocados
Houmous
Guacamole
Olives
Mackerel pate
Chicken
Salmon or trout
Aberdeen Angus burgers
Aberdeen Angus mince
Garlic
Blueberries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Brazil nuts
Desiccated coconut
 
FattusCattus said:
Hi Folks, just starting my LCHF journey as a T2.

Where I fall down the most is hunger-pangs mid morning / mid afternoon.

As a desk-bound, or out on the road kind of guy, what do people recommend as snacks between meals?
Click to expand...

9bars are your friend :D
http://www.9bar.com

I was DELIGHTED to find something (thanks again @Spiker ) which is easily transportable, delicious, looks and tastes like a 'normal' snack bar, and has minimal impact on my BG.

Yes, they have carbs. Yes, you might expect a spike from the ingredients list, but amazingly, magically, awesomely, they don't. The highest rise I've had was something like 0.9 mmol/l at 1 hour, back to original level at 2 hrs.

Obviously, you would need to test them for yourself :)
 
Excellent suggestion! I shall sample these extensively.

Is any variant any better than anyother?
 
FattusCattus said:
Excellent suggestion! I shall sample these extensively.

Is any variant any better than anyother?
Click to expand...

I think there is some variation in carb quantities for the different bars, but those differences have never shown up on my BG numbers. Hopefully you will be the same.

But the peanut ones are my fave ;)
 
FattusCattus said:
Hi Folks, just starting my LCHF journey as a T2.

Where I fall down the most is hunger-pangs mid morning / mid afternoon.

As a desk-bound, or out on the road kind of guy, what do people recommend as snacks between meals?
Click to expand...

Cheese, nuts such as brazils or hazelnuts (cashews are more carby)
 
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