Type 2 I have lost the self confidence in cooking meals. I don't know what to do.

[5Terry]

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I am posting this out of frustration with my situation regarding my diabetes.

I am in a situation that I do not have any support network as I live on my own, and I don’t have the space for a freezer. I have joined the local “Freshwell Group” and they meet twice a month for a chat and a catch up.

My biggest problem is I have got to a point where I have lost confidence in my ability to cook meals that are right for me to help control my diabetes.

I have done many a search on line to find recipes for single people, let alone finding the books for single people, as most recipes are designed for a family of four or more. As for following the instructions in the aforementioned recipes to are difficult to follow due to my disability (dyslexia).

The situation is having an adverse effect on my depression as I have not been enjoying the past few days, as I have now reached the point that I have lost interest in cooking. As I have managed well so far, the meals are plain, I would like to add more taste to my meals.

I was not taught on how to cook meals for myself, as when I asked my mother to teach me, she said “NO” it is too dangerous for you to be in the kitchen and she would chase me out of the kitchen with a broom hand.

I am not the sort of person that dose calorie counting or carb counting, I do not weigh as it will only make more depressed than I already suffering with.

I really need some form of help with the current situation regarding cooking meals and what to cook, and how to cook the meals. As all the courses that I have found on the internet are paid for courses, and I do not have the finances to pay for them.

 

[dawnmc]

Have a look at diet doctor, lots of recipes on there. Easy to make smaller meals, if it's for 4, halve the ingredients, then you have 2 meals.

 

[Resurgam]

@5Terry If you tell us what you do have - in the way of cooking and keeping food, perhaps we could be more help.
I wondered if you don't have space for a freezer, is there space for a fridge which you could use for a fridge freezer combination?
Is shopping easy for you? If so then a fridge might be all you need.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

​

I am posting this out of frustration with my situation regarding my diabetes.

I am in a situation that I do not have any support network as I live on my own, and I don’t have the space for a freezer. I have joined the local “Freshwell Group” and they meet twice a month for a chat and a catch up.

My biggest problem is I have got to a point where I have lost confidence in my ability to cook meals that are right for me to help control my diabetes.

I have done many a search on line to find recipes for single people, let alone finding the books for single people, as most recipes are designed for a family of four or more. As for following the instructions in the aforementioned recipes to are difficult to follow due to my disability (dyslexia).

The situation is having an adverse effect on my depression as I have not been enjoying the past few days, as I have now reached the point that I have lost interest in cooking. As I have managed well so far, the meals are plain, I would like to add more taste to my meals.

I was not taught on how to cook meals for myself, as when I asked my mother to teach me, she said “NO” it is too dangerous for you to be in the kitchen and she would chase me out of the kitchen with a broom hand.

I am not the sort of person that dose calorie counting or carb counting, I do not weigh as it will only make more depressed than I already suffering with.

I really need some form of help with the current situation regarding cooking meals and what to cook, and how to cook the meals. As all the courses that I have found on the internet are paid for courses, and I do not have the finances to pay for them.

Simple things. Eggs with bacon, a high meat content sausage to go with it, maybe a tomato? Seasoning whatever you like. Meat is pretty much okay, so is fish, (if they're not coated in whatever), cheeses, above ground leafy veg... Full fat greek yoghurt keeps in the fridge just fine, toss in some walnuts or pecans for flavor and crunch.

I can't follow a recipe to save my life (dyscalculia rather than dyslexia, both suck when trying to follow cooking instructions!), but just.... Wing it. No-one's going to kick you out of the kitchen now, and if you burn something, well... The only person put out by it 'll be you. If you make too much, put some in tupperware in the fridge for tomorrow. If you make too little, have some extra yog or a few cubes of cheese after. No need to weigh any of it as it's all low carb anyway, and if that's something you just can't do right now, skip it.

The thing with depression is this: you can't do everything. It's too overwhelming, too daunting... So do what you CAN deal with. If that's eggs with bacon, it's eggs with bacon. If it's a 5 course meal, fine. But some days you just can't. And if you can't, find what is still an option. Can't cook? Have some olives and cold cuts: just stuff you can pull right out of the fridge if actually functioning is a bridge too far. And keep in mind that high blood sugars can really mess with depression as well, eh... It might help to make better choices if you hold on to that: you might feel better if you eat better. And, maybe more importantly at this point, you could cut yourself some slack. You're trying. Yoda was a little $%^& when he came up with "Do... Or do not. There is no try", because sometimes just trying is the best we can do, and a small victory on its own.

Hang in there eh,
Jo

 

[MrsA2]

My interest in, and taste for, food has dropped dramatically since cutting way back on carbs so I find I rarely need or want anything fancy.

Simple guide for each meal :
First choose your protein - chicken, pork or beef, of fish, or eggs
Then choose green veg - cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, green beam, courgette etc. Or salad
Then choose flavourings such as spices or herbs (if wanted)
Chose your fat - cheese, dairy, olive oil, butter and use in cooking or add after for taste and moistness

Cook simply grill, boil, fry and it will make a good filling meal each time. The combinations are endless

There are plenty of threads on here with ideas, or posts from people of what they eat. Feel free to copy their ideas

 

[AloeSvea]

Hi @5Terry.

I thought MrsA2's simple guide above magnificent.

I've been cooking for myself/meals for one since diagnosis and the last 10 years (and cook for beloveds and family when around also). Admittedly I use my freezer space in fridges often! But I can imagine doing the daily shop at local wee shops method of food buying as well, if (and what a big 'if'!) I was living in that kind of shop environment. Not sure what your shop-environment is like. And - this extends to the budget too I would think!

I was wondering how you feel about learning to cook low-carbly? By upping your food shopping and cooking skills? I did this post diagnosis, and even though I hated cooking meals, I liked baking, and just kind of extended those feelings - eventually! to cooking meals from scratch. Well - hmmm - going a wee bit of a way to feeling mildly better about cooking? Yeah.

I did this by using my library to get out paleo and keto and Low-carb recipe books. Collecting recipes. Then starting to shop, and cook, from them. Now I rarely use recipes for meals, and go by something very similar to MrsA2's simple guide. But learning how to shop and cook low-carb gave me the confidence and practice to do so off the cuff, I believe.

you already have a support group which is really great! Because shopping and cooking alone is a lonely path, perhaps, if one does not actually enjoy either task. (And not forgetting - cleaning up before and after cooking is a major part of cooking from scratch.)

 

[Outlier]

I love food, and my tastes are for good ingredients simply cooked. I am also very lazy in the kitchen, and tend to go for peasant meals, using a minimum of utensils and energy. So whatever your slant on food and cooking, a diet that is good for diabetes can accommodate it.

 

[KennyA]

Start small, and don't think you have to switch over to cooking everything for yourself in the first week. Start with something you really like. For me that would be something like a bit of gammon steak and some fried eggs, or a pork chop, or a 100% meat beefburger with cheese and no bun. And some hot sauce out of a bottle.

If you need to brush up on basic skills, there are a load of "how to" videos on YouTube, some starting with very basic skills. This is just one:

Best of luck, and I'd really like to know how you get on.

 

[AloeSvea]

Hi again @5Terry. Oh! I missed paying proper attention to what you said about reading and following recipes! Sorry about that.

What a good idea of KennyA's about youtube then, for sure. I have a good friend who loves watching food and cooking videos on youtube, and I have enjoyed eating with him (he's in a wheelchair so I do the cooking to give him a break) and watching these for enjoyment.

I had a wee smile at the "a pork chop" and "a beef burger patty with cheese" as I am a two or three chop or beef patty at a time gal - you might be too as a low/er-carber? (Remember no buns or fries to bulk the meal up).

I watched the above, and clicked on the spices 101 as well. Back in the day I copied a couple of spice for meats guides, very simply laid out and easy to read in a grid, which I stuck in a protecctive sleeve and kept easy access in my kitchen, and have used for the decade I've been homecooking up large ever since. I love my spice guides, and developed a drawer for keeping herbs and spices in, as well as having the shelf for easy access.

Looking forward to hearing how you go with the developing kitchen confidence!

 

[RachelG.]

Hi @5Terry I am also quite new to this, so far I've been doing either yoghurt and nuts/seeds with nut butter for breakfast, or some Huel Black (the low carb version) if I'm in a rush. Lunch I usually do some veggies and eggs in olive oil. Dinner either meat or fish in olive oil and different veggies. Just cut up the veggies, heat some oil in a non-stick frying pan (oil burns less easily than butter), put veggies and meat/fish in when pan is heated and move the stuff around with a wooden spoon if it seems to be sticking to the bottom. When it's a bit golden on most sides, remove and eat.

I'm avoiding potatoes, grains and sugar but not really thinking about the amount of carbs in say beetroot or carrots as I figure the benefits in nutrients probably outweigh the effect on my glucose. If I go to the pub with friends I get wine instead of beer. I don't go mad about avoiding the occasional treat.

I also found getting a 2 week free cgm trail very helpful - https://www.freestyle.abbott/uk-en/getting-started/sampling.html You can relax about figuring out what will and won't spike your glucose as the cgm will alert you if something does.

Also for the depression, I'm on fluoxetine and it really helps me. It's sometimes necessary to try different antidepressants until you find something that works but totally worth the effort to do that.