This is my first year as a diabetic. Usually I would have already made the redcurrant jelly back in July from our own redcurrants. About now I would be doing the Chrisrmas puddings and cakes. I batch bake and give some away and some we keep. I would also be starting menu planning as more and more magazines and shops gear up for it.
BUT what am I to do this year? Hints, tips and recipes, please, to help me survive and enjoy it, preferably recipes that I can share with my family too, that make special meals at this special time of the year
If you want your family and a friends to have pudding or jelly from a "but it's part of the tradition" perspective, and you think you can handle being around that kind of food prep (the amazing smells do me in, personally), go ahead. You're following a diet, they're not. I bought a whole lot of petit fours and whatnot last year from a wholesaler, and really good praline's, making sure it was all pretty and set up on three high tea etagieres and crystal bonbon bowls. Meaning, to me, I could objectify it into a photo-prop for our family gathering, rather than view it as something to eat. The low carb toast I intended to make this year is a moot point, as with Corona I won't see most of my family probably, but I wanted to thinly slice and toast a keto mug bread and have the meats, home made salads and fish that way, while the rest used french bread and melba toast. Maybe next year. There's ketogenic work-arounds if you look for them.(Maybe a batch of jelly with erythritol instead of sugar? Dietdoctor and google might help)
I've had a hand in what gets put on the table for years now. I skipped the spuds others do have, but partook in the giant roast beef, assorted poultry ("no" on the filling) brussel sprouts with bacon, coffee with unsweetened whipped cream. Lots and lots of cold cuts of meat, fish, deviled eggs and (goat's) cheese whenever it was a gathering with hors d'euvres only. You could make keto chocolate mousse (variations aplenty on google), or other keto-fied desserts. Take heart, you don't have to go hungry. Between my family, inlaws, and friends, I spend 3, 4 days or so eating, eating, and eating some more, and usually there 's solutions to everything. I don't have to starve, and you won't either.
Mind you, some choose to relax their diet for the holidays, as it is a one-off, but that's entirely up to you. And it doesn't mean per se, you'll stuff your face with all the carbs in the world. You could be selective. Low carb throughout, but a bit of christmas pudding for your efforts for instance.
Whatever the case... I hope you'll still thoroughly enjoy the holidays!