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Food gifts for people with D

Brunneria

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
21,884
Location
Lincolnshire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi All,

This thread was inspired by another thread which discussed the dire choices offered in a 'Diabetic Gift Christmas Hamper'.
I am sure we have all received inappropriate gifts and pasted on that fake appreciative smile! lol. But just think how nice it would be to actually give a gift that your loved one will relish.

How about we use this thread for suggestions?

Please bear in mind that different types of D have different criteria for choosing options. For instance, a Type 1 having clearly marked nutritional info may be enough to allow them to inject the right amount of insulin. Whereas for a diet controlled T2, the amount of carb may need to be very low indeed.

So, I would suggest that before you make any food gift choices, you find out what type of D your loved one has, how they manage the condition, and (for instance) whether they are a sweet or savory person.
 
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For those who want to avoid the carbs in mince pies:

I love a good mince pie.
But unfortunately, each one has around 30-40g of carbs, some very fast release indeed.
Plus the carbs in any brandy butter or custard that accompany it.

So, I am delighted to have made a fantastic discovery:
Mince Pie cheese!
Yippee!!!

It still has around 1/4 of the carbs of a real mince pie (per 100g), but whereas I could eat several mince pies, my capacity for cheese is rather lower.
And goodness this cheese is delicious!

https://www.wensleydale.co.uk/product/mince-pie-yorkshire-wensleydale-180g/

( found it much cheaper in my local garden centre, so shop around)
 
For those who want to give chocolate to a low carber:

First check that they actually eat choc
and what % of choc they enjoy.

I have to confess that I have never developed a taste for 80+ cocoa solid choc. Yes, I am a wimp.
However, a good 70-80% is something I find delicious.

If you want a posh box of truffles for a low carber, then I found this brand absolutely delicious
https://www.montezumas.co.uk/truffles-c2

I was delighted to find that they had virtually nil blood glucose impact, so was able to enjoy them without any worries.
And since they are quite pricey (a gift from Mr B) I rationed myself to one after a meal, and loved them all.
 
On my list would be high % chocolate, I have gradually worked my way up to 100%, Hotel Chocolat buttons especially. I’d also have dark chocolate Brazil’s on my list
I’m going to risk a mini mince pie after Christmas lunch with lots of extra thick double cream. Tesco mini pies are 11.6g of carbs each
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/279513185
 
Bacon. Streaky. Don’t bother wrapping it.

More seriously - Montezuma’s Absolute Black chocolate. 100% cocoa solids, nothing added. 8g per bar and no ‘sugar’

 
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I have a family member who, after a diagnosis of T2, won't be getting his usual crystalised ginger box from me.
He is eating low carb, bordering on keto, with the occasional treat.
So I have tried to get a bit more creative and found this:

https://www.snowdoniacheese.co.uk/cheese/ginger-spice/

OBVIOUSLY I had to test it by eating a truckle, and I pronounce it very good indeed!
 
Another vote for montezuma chocolate - part of my christmas present to my also diabetic mum last year was 12 bars of assorted flavours of the dark chocolate bars - her personal favourites were the coffee, orange and 100% dark plain and almond varieties
 
What about cheese boards, charcuterie (including some preserved stuff like chorizo), tea and/or coffee selections, smoked/preserved fish (take care as some gravalax recipes include sugar) or if you want to make something yourself, you could do some fat bombs ... But maybe change the name so they sound more appealing?
Unfortunately some of these need to be kept in the fridge or a bit smelly so not great to leave under the tree.
 
bulkbiker said:
Montezuma is just down the road from us in Chichester.. need to investigate if they have a factory "seconds" store....
Click to expand...

The Absolute Black is lush. For reference it’s available in Sainsbury’s for about £2.50 per 100g bar. I don’t, but you could eat the whole bar in one sitting and be unlikely to spike your blood glucose.

Cocoa is also incredibly nutritious.
 
A colleague of mine loves chocolate.
So do I.
She is T2 as well.

But since she doesn't count carbs, and limits her food choice by calorie and fat content, I am going to totally respect her decision (having made MY preference for Lindt 70% fairly clear )

So I will be buying her some Lindt Lindor blobs, milk chocolate flavour.

I figure she can eat them as quickly or as slowly as she likes, and control her intake according to her preferences, not mine.
 
Seriously though, Santa is going to be dropping a lot of bacon down my chimney this year
 
Mince pies are my weaknesses but am doing well haven't had any for five weeks
 
For this T2, well... Chocolate seems to be a theme here, so yeah... The next town over, Amersfoort, has a chocolate specialty shop called Sweet Sisters. (Obviously, run by two sisters.). They went around the shop with me once to try all sorts of chocolates, truffles and what have you. I didn't even drop out of ketosis that day! I ADORE LaBooko's 80% Peruvian Criollo
https://www.piccantino.co.uk/zotter-chocolate-factory/labooko-80-peru-criollo
Its slightly fruity, and you only need a single square to get to heaven. Seriously. It even comes with instructions. (Don't chew, but tickle the chocolate with your tongue when it's stuck to the roof of your mouth. Come on. Who can resist that?!). Naturally it is insanely expensive, so I usually make do with Lindt 85% But once or twice a year I'll visit "my" Sweet Sisters and have a little blow-out.

https://www.sweetsisters.nl/product/grenada-van-het-eiland-grenada/
This one by the Grenada Chocolate Company, of 82%, is really good too, fruity undertones, not too bitter, but the bar is thicker than LaBooko's and that makes it a little harder to eat in small doses that last you weeks or even a month. But it is delivered from Grenada by sailboat and bicycle, saving the enviroment.

Other than that, I usually just request nuts of some sort. Pecans, walnuts, a mix (just no peanuts in there). Or I mention my favourite Nespresso's or tea brands in conversation. I'm so subtle.
 
I've also made some sloe gin and stawberry gin this year.
Decanting it into small kilner jars and 200ml bottles for distribution, with labels, tags and bows.

No one will be the wiser that they are drinking erythritol not sugar sweetening (I hope), although I will mention the fact to those who are either watching their carbs or their waistlines.
 
I wouldn't buy any 100% chocolate for anyone unless you are sure they like it. I like Lindt 85% a lot but I find the 100% almost inedible.
 
Hey every One! Hope you're all well!! I assume that making dark chocolate from 100%cocoa powder with fresh double cream and butter, cannot be that complicated? For those with a sweet tooth, I would assume that a sprinkle or two of some Truvia/Xylitol sweeter should also be OK? I think I'll try making it and add some strips of Bacon in the mix too! LOL!
 
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