Cornish Holiday Help!

We had our annual fortnight in Cornwall back in July, as always i insist on having fish and chips once each week. I do miss the cream teas, but as i'm good most of the time the rest of the year, this odd break out will not do harm, and gives me something to look forward to. Enjoy your holiday, eat carefully but not excessively so, and get back on the wagon afterwards. This is the one time reward for working hard against your diabetes, enjoy it.

I love the advice given by others, especially the way to eat the tail end of the battered fish - always the best bit! BUT. Is it possible to communicate with your D in L? Because what she is proposing would, if you didn't have knowledge and won't-power is at best inconsiderate (and I'll let you consider the worse aspects). It isn't kindly meant - it's IMO selfish and disregarding of your illness. If you had other profound food allergies, or if you were vegetarian/vegan, would she still be like this? I think it's a conversation that needs to be had, albeit with all the diplomacy you can manage. I know how I handle it when it happens but I am not you, and unless you'd find it helpful for me to say what I do, it's more considerate to do it however you prefer. But suffering in silence is IMO not a good option.

Oof. I have no idea whether the itinerary included the exact locations, but could you research menu's online and check whether they have something suitable for you?

Wait a sec, lemme google...

Oh, oooh....! https://www.rockfishchips.co.uk/home is this the place? Because if everyone else is having chips, how about you get the prawns, scallops, or grilled mackerel? Looks good in the pictures, and low carb. On top of that, they do mention they are attentive to people's allergies, so if you just order heaps of fish and no fries, I think they'd be fine with that. Or get in touch beforehand and see what you can work out. But I think you won't miss anything, and who knows, you can maybe steal a fry or two off others to satisfy for a bit of a taste.

As for the pasty, is just eating the filling and feeding the rest to the gulls an option? I only ever had pasties that spiked me, but they weren't the real British thing. I don't know where you'll be at, but if all they have is pasties, that might be the way to go. Or share with someone other than the gulls, of course.

Can't help with the cream tea, though I have to say I'd have a really hard time with that myself. (Our wedding reception was an afternoon tea. High tea was listed, but we call all teas high tea here; we're heathens!). Maybe ask for a coffee with cream? Still decadent and filling, gives you something to handle while the rest eats. And a sunset with tea seems more pleasant to me than one with cocktails, but that's personal preference.

Look for work-arounds. And yeah, do involve your daughter in law, if you can. It all sounds like an excellent itinerary if you don't have to watch what you eat. Letting her know you want to participate but need to do it on your own terms might help get the next outting sorted beforehand, because she'll know what to keep an eye out for. (Namely, alternatives at the site!)

As a non diabetic she has no knowledge of the foibles of food on our systems, the only way she can learn, is from you. Do it gently though, as she may be mortified to learn of the potential damage. Who knows she may end up with better suggestions than you can think of.

Hi, hope you enjoy your holiday in Cornwall. As a Cornish born and bred maid, giving up pasties has been the hardest thing for me.
I allow myself one after blood tests, logic says I have 3 months to make amends!!
I do remove the crust though.

Padstow has several delis etc which offer a fantastic array of fresh seafood, or even better the little seafood shack on the harbour wall.
Same for the chip shop in Rock.
Our seafood is some of the best you’ll find anywhere, same for fresh caught fish which is readily available.

MissMuffett said:

Thank you all for your great suggestion. What a wonderful group this is to belong to! I don’t think my DiL is being inconsiderate as I’m just 1 in the group of 11, and trying to suit all of the people all of the time is very difficult, she’s a wonderful thoughtful DiL.
what a fab idea @JoKalsbeek ordering prawns and scallops. I’m not bothered about the chips as they tend to give me indigestion anyway. Taking most of the pastry off the pasty and giving it to the gulls is also another great idea, thanks @lovinglife it’s fun watching the birds squabble over it lol!
Because I’m on Forxiga (I can’t spell the generic name) I’d get UTIs if I had too many carbs so can’t forget about the diabetes and eat holiday food with gay abandon. Or do I not take the medication for a week and then eat what I want. Is that being irresponsible?

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You've been low carbing for quite a bit now. If you spike, you could feel decidedly unwell, (for me that means nausea, wobbly legs, sweats, confusion and a heart that beats so fast my ribcage can barely contain it; feels like kicking the bucket, really) and that would ruin the holiday as much as a UTI would. So I'd just be careful... Have nibbles here and there, but stay pretty low carb throughout, and keep walking around after a meal for a bit, if you can. Just a bit of a rise won't matter much, just try to avoid fast and furious spikes.

Basically though, just be sensible, and for the most part, just enjoy the holiday. And the prawns.

MissMuffett said:

cream tea (scones, cream and jam!)

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Just eat the cream with a spoon!

JoKalsbeek said:

As for the pasty, is just eating the filling and feeding the rest to the gulls an option? I only ever had pasties that spiked me, but they weren't the real British thing. I don't know where you'll be at, but if all they have is pasties, that might be the way to go. Or share with someone other than the gulls, of course.

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Pasties of the type we're talking here generally have potato, other high carb veges, or high carb fillers (e.g. oat based) in them in the UK. They're also sold in shops where most, if not all, of the other options follow in the same way mostly.

Needless to say, I've had to avoid any acknowledgement that these establishments even exist since my diagnosis!

I noticed on another thread you are currently trying to get your BG down in order to have an operation SO is it really worth throwing caution to the wind with all the high carb food? Maybe someone could let you have a small bite of a pasty (some places do child size pasties) and have the fish without most of the batter! Jo’s suggestion of getting some seafood from a shack when joining the others is a great one. I often have a dressed crab with wooden fork all to myself when we picnic in Cornwall. Re cream tea I wonder if the cafe would be able to provide just strawberries and cream to go with your tea. I don’t think you should feel awkward at all about not eating the same as everyone else! If you went out to a restaurant you would choose from the menu and not let someone else do it for you. Good luck and enjoy lovely Cornwall.

You could make keto strawberry jam too.

I take my husband as my secret weapon. He lets me have just a bite or 2 of what he (and everyone else is having) then I fill up on low carb that I either pick from the menu or take with me.
It's amazing how much that 1 bite satisfies my need to taste and to join in...and it helps that I've now lost the liking for a lot of things I used to like. And the odd scone (for example) won't matter for a special occasion, imho