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Lunch out with my friend

S

sdgray22

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Yesterday was really the first day I felt my diabetes was a real problem. I am trying to get my base levels down, so although I am not extrememly low carbing I do not eat mounds of Potatoes and bread only Burgen bread. My friend and I decided to go and look for a new shed for her and we went to a national nursery chain to look at the selection. She said to me lets have lunch there as it will be easy, usually we would go to a pub or local small restaurant, I wont name and shame them although they deserve it. It was a cafe type place the menu as follows: They stopped serving cooked breakfasts at 11 so could not have that.
selection of Sandwiches white bread and brown bread. Selection of cakes none with fresh cream all things like coffee cake with buttercream. Shepherds pie, Fish and chips, cheese flan and chips. Soup of the day was Potato soup with a white roll. There was a small childrens snack section and from that I had two baby bel cheeses and a pot of carrot sticks, the rest were crisps and biscuits. There was not a spot of green in the place, no vegetables and no salad. The place was full of pensioners gladly getting as much starch and stodge into themselves as they could manage from one plate, and I bet a few of them were diabetic too. Not good for the nations health nor mine, What a shame they could not manage a salad, do caterers not take nutrition as part of their training these days?
I did feel put out I paid £5 for my carrot sticks, and two baby bells and a cup of tea! The young boy serving looked at me like I was an alien when I asked if they had anything that wasn't potato, pastry or bread. :roll:
If I hadn't been with my friend I would have walked out. but I did not want to make too much of a fuss she was hungry too and had a sandwich. Have any of you had bad experiences in eating places?. Maybe I ought to research more before going to these places - to be honest at a nursery I would expect almost an organic veggie environment not unhealthy stodge.
 
sdgray22 said:
Have any of you had bad experiences in eating places?.
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No never but then I dont expect everywhere to cater exclusively for my personal tastes, it sounds like classic cafe grub to me, everything with chips. I would have had the fish and chips and only eaten the chips I know would be OK for me and if the fish was battered I would simply eat the fish and leave most of the batter, simple. I personally wouldnt expect a garden centre to offer a gourmet dining experience. But I can always find something to eat wherever I go.

And criticising other people for there eating habits is a but strong IMO, whether they are diabetic or not, what has it got to do with you or anyone else what someone else chooses to eat? Sorry but I cant get my head around that at all, you and I may have diabetes and choose to watch what we eat but what others do is non of our business is it?

I fit in with the world I dont expect the world to fit in with me.

Or am I missing something.
 
As you are a newbie, I can see where you are coming from. You want to get your BS levels down and all you see on the menu is unsuitable food. Yes they don't have to cater to everyone's individual dietry needs, but a couple of salads would be good.

Eating out is sometimes a compromise, you either eat the carbs then and eat less carbs later or you order something 'unsuitable' and leave most of the carbs.

Think yourself lucky that you don't have wheat intollerance on top of Type 2, that is a nightmare diet to cater for, as I have that too. There are usually only one or two items on a pub menu, two on a supermarket cafe menu (and that's leaving most of the chips), a carvery is good as long as they have gluten free gravy and I stay away from the potatoes.
 
I'm sure they must have had eggs where they could have made you scrambled eggs or a cheese omelette, being a type 1 I don't encounter the same problems as diet controlled type 2's but I have asked for alternatives when nothing takes my fancy on a menu. Most respectable businesses are pleased for your custom will quite happily rustle-up a meal for people with certain dietary needs.
 
Sid there is no need to insult me I do not think by any stretch of the imagination a salad is too much to ask for in a cafe, wherever you are and no veg I mean no veg not even a pea to be seen!!!! Pulea
 
I can see where you are coming from sdgray22. Long before I was diagonosed I was on a diet, and doing very well. I went with my kids to the local leisure centre, and said we would eat there as a treat. There was nothing healthy on the menu. It has got a lot better now, but at the time it was chips or starve. You would expect a thing or two you could pick in any circumstances.
 
I was just pointing out how unhealthy the place was considering it was a national chain who advertises their cafe's if you are of the mindset that thinks it is OK thats fine I do not and I am entitled to my opinion. They ought to be ashamed for serving what you call typical Cafe Grub for all the usual reasons I shan't repeat.
Anyway end of discussion they have lost at least two customers and a lot more I should think when they see the menu. Fish and Chips by the way wether battered or not would have sent my sugars very high, a complete no go area for me, and if you want to be pedantic very unhealthy for anyone pensioner or not. Think of all that grease,yeuch.
 
I think a diagnosis of Type2 makes us much more aware of the pitfalls of eating foods that are not healthy.
Prior to diagnose we were possibly one of many who would have eaten what was on offer and not be unduly alarmed by it.
 
catherinecherub said:
I think a diagnosis of Type2 makes us much more aware of the pitfalls of eating foods that are not healthy.
Prior to diagnose we were possibly one of many who would have eaten what was on offer and not be unduly alarmed by it.
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Big +1

It's only through a diabetic's eyes you can see what a load of old stodge the non-diabetic world forces down their throats on a daily basis.

Low-carbing at home (or at work with Tescos nearby) is never a problem, eating out is always difficult, especially at lunch where almost everything is full of carbs. The world will change eventually, it's not that unusual to find places in America that include dedicated "low-carb" options on their menu.

Greasy Spoons are the only exceptiion, where you can always get a nice fried breakfast.
 
I know plenty of non-diabetic people who dont want to fill up on stodgy carbs, there should be a wider range of foods available, putting veggies and salads on the menu wouldnt be just for the benefit of people with diabetes?!
totally agree with the OP.
 
Until recently, my local Marks and Spencer had a cafe menu like the one you describe. Last ttime I dropped in for a coffee, I noticed they had side salads in a pot.
My favourite eat out lunch is; Chef's Italian salad at Pret-a -manger
Hana
 
I think I am right in saying that battered fish is OK if you dont eat the batter.

The batter coats the fish and prevents the oil from seeping in. The heat of the oil seals the coating instantly. This, in effect, steams the fish inside. Thats why it is lovely and moist and white inside.

so it should be OK.

Please tell me if I am wrong.
 
Iam sure you are probably right lucylocket but£6.95 just to eat the inside of the fish. Mind you when you think out of desperation I ate 2 baby belle cheeses and a pot of carrot sticks and a cup of tea for £5 maybe it would have been better! Never mind, I did get a bit incensed and sent an e mail to the place suggesting they try something green on the menu. I didn't get nasty with them just said how disappointing the menu was for anyone who did not want stodge, and perhaps they should look at it again. You never know maybe they might take note.
 
Hi all

SDGray, Funnily enough I was just going to post suggesting you contact them to comment on their lack of green stuff!

Being honest, I am surprised that you are so surprised..if you see what I mean. :?

Really what pensioners eat is entirely up to them, many of them go for what they perceive as the most filling option they can get for their money. I do understand your annoyance at the total stodge on the menu but the obvious thing to do is what you did..complain and not eat there again.
We have had recent posts about the NHS offerings both in their canteens for outpatients as well as the inpatients menu of stodge, nothing suprises me.

My daughter has a condition where her diet has to be strictly calorie controlled as well as having type 2. Experience taught me that if I had to go out with her and I was to be out around lunch time, then I made something to take with us. It was less hassle than relying on places to provide something wholesome and filling without it being loaded with calories, we often used to take salads or a small amount of cous cous with olives, feta, cucumber that type of thing. Even though I am way overweight, I have alsways preferred to have a green option with my food, I am not a stodge lover so I do know what you mean!

I really do agree with you about the lack of alternative food, even greasy spoons often offer a salad but it's best to not expect too much then you won't be disappointed. Hopefully they will take some notice of your email and offer more options. :)
 
Hope this comment doesn't offend anyone but - have you ever watched people at these eat - all - you like buffet places and carveries ?

He and I are both diabetic and use insulin, we also caravan a lot and when we fancy a roast we head for a carvery. We have either beef or turkey and then fill up on veg - there's usually a good selection. What gets us is the amount of potatoes people pile on their plates, huge mountains of them along with stuffing and Yorkshire pud. The amount on their plates would give me 3 decent meals each.

I know we shouldn't criticise other and what they eat, but some people really do stuff themselves silly. Is it any wonder that so many people are over wight and have health problems ?
 
It amuses me no end that the very places i was taught to avoid for 20 years. the Carvery and the Greasy Spoon, are the ones restoring my health!!! :D

The carvery is one of the few places where I can have a plate full of fresh green veg and loads of meat, without having stodge or coming away hungry.

And the greasy spoon is becoming a favourite. We are now going to plan our next trip to take us past Truck stops on the way there and back.

How times change eh :shock:
 
:lol: I am so glad that I am not the only one who finds these places good to use !

Over the years we have worked out where all of the best places are and the ones offers the best value for money too.

We must compile a list so that everyone knows where they are :D
 
There's a proper diner in Swansea my daughter took me to last time I was there. can't for the life of me remember what it's called but it was very easy to go low carb or eat a huge plateful of nothing but carbs.

wiflib
 
I'm with the OP here. I can't see a problem with serving a choice of meals that most could at least chose from. Salad and veg are my dietary staples, so if they had either, I would have been happy. The issue we hear raised in the press with boring regularity is obese Britain. Lets assume there is a high percentage of the population who are overweight, that in it's self is a good reason to offer healthy choice. Also, anyone taking a child/ren into places that are all stodge and carb loaded is hardly a good example is it? It is quite ironic that greasy spoons so long vilified as heart attacks on a plate, should now be a haven for us diabetics.
 
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