We'll have to catch up for a night out before xmas

[theblokefromstoke]

That's a statement that's been made by old work colleagues, friends, relatives etc all year.

Well it's that time and i'm into some sort of social occasion every weekend from now until xmas. Friday night i met up with some old work mates for a night out on the 'lash' in town. I handled that quite well as I live out in the sticks so drove and managed to use that as an excuse for sticking to diet cokes and sparkling spring water all night. It was quite fun being sober and seeing everyone else drunk.

Last night was a completely different story. The wife and I had arranged to go out with some relatives and suggested something to eat at a local bar that do an excellent carvery. They are curry eaters so asked if we could go to the local balti house instead. I didn't want to be a misery and consulted my bible (the collins little gem book of carbs).

The Collins advice is Chicken tikka for low carb. So I had no popadoms, no starter, stuck to water, had chicken tikka with a plate of chopped lettuce for a rice substitute, no naan bread. I had an extra Metformin tablet and hoped for the best.

What a nightmare, my BG when we got home 3 hours later was in double figures, i felt ghastly so heaven knows what it spiked too.

Fortunatly the following weekends involve more traditional meals so i will be able to be more choosey for my low carb foods but has prompted me to think what are the best low carb options for Chinese, indian etc as we are but human and social occasions can be difficult for us diabetics.


Cheers Carl

 

[Sid Bonkers]

Hi Carl, sorry to hear you had such a bad night at the curry house, I must be lucky as I find currys OK for me, I usually have a chicken something or other and a dip into a couple of veg dishes and only a spoonful of rice and have never had a problem, could it be that your local curry house uses a lot of sugar in its cooking? Or a diet coke that turned out to be a normal one perhaps?

 

[bedshaped2000]

im the same i normally have chicken jalfrezi with vegtables with no problems. i do ask first that they havent used potato or parsnip to thicken the sauce. they do use a lot of fat in there currys so you may get away with more than what you think. as for the naan and rice i just steer clear. if we order takeaway i get my mrs to put some veg in the steamer while i nip down the road to get it. it is actually quite nice with cauli and brocoli

 

[cugila]

This again goes to show just how different we all are with reactions to foods.......

I usually have a Tandoori Chicken on a large salad, 2 poppadoms, pickles and maybe a 1/4 of a restaurant Nann or a chapati. No adverse affect on Bg at all. I also have Jalfrezi and a VERY small portion of Pilau rice. All the taste etc but no adverse effect.

If it's Chinese then a Chicken Chow Mein or Chop Suey NO Rice or Chips ! I also have a Special Curry (Mixed meats etc) with noodles or small portion rice. No adverse effects.

As for going out I just drink what I want and don't make excuses to people about what I am drinking. I have seen my Mates etc getting legless while I am stone cold sober........I have a great time drinking Diet drinks and/or water. No problem and I don't feel self conscious about it....mind you I was never one for worrying about what others might think. It's MY life, my choices. There is also the added advantage that the ladies prefer a man who is sober rather than some drunk !! :wink: If you know what I mean........

 

[Hobs]

I can't touch a ruby or summat from the far eastern emporium as I suffer severe ****-burn as well as high BG's, but I can certainly manage a descent chunk of steer and some fibrous veggies. Instead of carby wine or beer I stick to bubbly water with a good cooking scotch for some colour and as an after drink a good sipping malt without too many repercussions... or Hine Antique if I'm not paying :lol:

As already pointed out, we are all different so after some cautious experimenting, its an eatery I've visited before for my rare nights out.

Oh yes, and nothing from the sweet trolly for me thanks :wink:

PS .. if anyone is in the Windsor area, I can recommend (Advertising name removed) in Eaton High St for good food and 1st class service... and no, I have no connection to the owner :lol:

 

[cugila]

Can we just remind Members that it is Forum Policy to remove names of particular establishments from posts........however good they are. It is classed as covert advertisiong and is not allowed.

You can either pm members with details if asked or just make it vague, eg: An Indian restaurant in High St, Anytown. Please do NOT be specific on the board. It will be removed.

cugila
Forum Monitor

 

[anniep]

I had a take away curry last night, veg bhuna, poppadoms, (but no mango chutney ) onion bhaji - no rice or naan and 2.00 hours was 7.4 and although I did peak at 9.00 at 3 hours i was back under 7.00 by 4 hours.

Poppadoms, and very often onion bhajis are made from gram flour and I an handle that,

I didn't think it was too bad for a special occasion.

I do find chinese very difficult as many sauces have hidden sugar and many spike my bg very badly, and they vary from chinese to chinese, so it is impossible to tell.

 

[dorcas61]

I've been worrying about this too - so much socialising is done over food, but since diagnosis I have avoided meals out - I feel I have only two choices - either total abstention, or have a blow-out and end up with a "food hangover" the next day (Type 2, diet-only) - a happy medium seems impossible.

Perhaps it will get easier... I hope!

One thing I have done is to meet friends for coffee - if I can resist the cakes, a certain high-street chain of coffee stores does decaff latte with soy milk so I feel I'm having a treat - but in December I have the office christmas meal... hmm... so far my thinking is have what I fancy for starter and main, and give the pudding away! Not sure how to deal with drinks tho... and I dread being invited to friends for a meal...

... being a recluse seems so much easier!

 

[DazG]

If I go out for a meal in a pub/restaurant, I will have a small mixed grill with salad, I dont eat chinese but for an indian I can have a chicken madras and small amount of bombay potato without problem, and often a tiny bit of garlic rice. I dont drink alcohol so its diet coke all the way for me, I never see eating out as a problem.

 

[clearviews]

I don't find it a drama going out for meals as long as it is not a set menu. My usual choice is a steak and salad, chicken and salad or grilled seafood with a salad. The other night I went to a club and saw they had lamb shanks with mash and vegies. I asked for no mash and a salad and they were happy to do it although they still offered me chips but I just asked for extra salad in place. Often a lunch I might order the hamburger with the works without the bun and extra salad instead of the bun.
When shopping in Sydney I might go to a food court and have been ordering a laksa or a hot pot with no rice noodles but ask for extra bean shoots. I make the kitchens tailor their meals to my needs and these days they are quite used to having people with special dietary needs and they want the business.
I sometimes order Coke Zero with a rum as diet coke spikes me and I prefer it to be in a bottle and not from the pump so I can be sure I am getting the real deal. Diet coke is not as good as Zero is for me.
Alison

 

[jaykay]

This is the only are I have a problem in eating out...what to drink? I don't drink coke of any kind, just don't like it. If we're eating, I have a glass of red wine but after that it's just water or water or water with gas. I've never found anywhere that does diet drinks other than coke

 

[cugila]

This is the only are I have a problem in eating out...what to drink? I don't drink coke of any kind, just don't like it. If we're eating, I have a glass of red wine but after that it's just water or water or water with gas. I've never found anywhere that does diet drinks other than coke

Jaykay.
You need to spread your wings a bit........I can get different types of diet drinks many of the places I go too. Weatherspoons for one. Maybe you live in a small town or something ? I just drink still water or any sort of diet drink that's available. Pepsi, Coke, Lemonade, Tonic water etc......Never really have any problem getting them....... Always bottled though ! Actually prefer water now.

 

[jaykay]

Well, I suppose it depends how big is big (aah the perennial question :lol: ). I mean TOWN-wise! ( Can you tell I was brought up in the golden age of Carry On...movies ). I live in a small village but go to Colchester and Ipswich for my shopping. Don't tend to eat in pubs, so that might be the problem but we have Slug and Lettuce, Cafe Rouge, Frankie and Benny's. None of them do anything diet other than coke! I keep asking and locally have started to threaten them with taking in my own drinks on 'health reasons' if they don't sort something out. Went to a wedding the other day at the tennis club and they at least did sprite zero. But have started taking a couple of cans of something and leaving it in the car, just in case. Don't need anything except water but it is boring if I can't have something vaguely 'treat-like' when everyone else is slugging back the juice.

 

[dorcas61]

Don't need anything except water but it is boring if I can't have something vaguely 'treat-like' when everyone else is slugging back the juice.

Yes, that's my feeling too - everyone else is enjoying themselves, I want to have fun too!

Went out yesterday afternoon to celebrate a colleague's birthday at the local Christmas Markets , renowned for German food and drink stalls - however, the variety is very limited - no wine, just beer and gluhwein! I ended up drinking three halves of cold light beer, which was not only tasty but seemed to have no effect on me beyond a dose of the giggles

I have a theory that if I'm really happy my body can cope with "bad" foods much better than usual... am I deluding myself, or does anyone else experience this?

 

[Bluenosesol]

Living near Brum, I use a Pakistani All you can eat buffet house.
If I eat selectively, i can really gorge myself.....

I CAN eat :-
Shami kebabs sheek kebabs, all curries, chick peas, tandoori chicken, spiced fish

in large quantities without any significant rise i bg

I need to be careful with
samosas, bhajis, rice (very small portions only), papadoms and nan or roti breads

These will send me into high bgs
Full portions rice, all sweets

So for me the indo/asian diet is a great alternative and I usually get 2 hour post prandial bg's in the 5's.

All the best - Steve

 

[Buck]

i have last night for my eating Chinese rice and chicken mantorian very tasty no have problem not concern on eating i eat every thing.

 

[anniep]

I went to a tapas restaurant last week, and it was great. I could pick the things that suited of the menu, without making any fuss and without anybody realising that I was being 'picky'

 

[jaykay]

I like tapas too! Most of the dishes are meat, cheese or veg - right down my street! And I like picking at food. The only trouble is keeping an eye on the portions but otherwise it's definitely one of the easiest ways to eat out and celebrate!