Thank you to everyone who joined the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for Divabetic’s recent Baking Party with special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, September 23, 2021, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.
During this virtual Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef showed how to prepare her popular Sugar-Free Pumpkin Spice Muffin recipe, shared expert baking tips for substituting sugar substitutes and flours in recipes, and answered questions. One lucky participant received a free Splenda Gift Basket featuring a variety of their products.
Sugar-Free Pumpkin Spice Muffin Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef
Ingredients
1 cup white whole wheat flour
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, optional
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup pure pumpkin filling
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup water
2 eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp molasses, optional
sugar substitute of your choice, equal to 1 cup sugar
pumpkin seeds, reserved for topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, sift together all of the dry ingredients.
In a separate medium-sized mixing bowl, combine all of the wet ingredients with a whisk.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients. Whisk just until combined; do not overmix.
Scoop into 12 paper-lined muffin wells. Sprinkle tops with pumpkin seeds. Bake for 20 to 24 minutes.
Note: The Diabetic Pastry Chef does not recommend using Splenda sugar substitute in this recipe unless mixing half with another sugar substitute such as Whey Low or erythritol.
Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?
Register now for Divabetic’s next Baking Party with special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, December 9, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.
Now people with diabetes, “Divabetics”, can have their cake and eat it too thanks to Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetes Pastry Chef’ and her simple four-part substitution system that turns any decadent dessert into a diabetic-friendly delight. Visit: http://www.diabeticpastrychef.com/ Find out more about this book
These famous Pie Crust Cookies are insanely good! They’re perfectly proportioned bites of pie in a cookie! Each bite delivers a flaky crust, a heavenly layer of pie filling ( I tried blueberry lemon and strawberry rhubarb), and buttery caramelized streusel. I discovered them on the Upper Westside after a power walk across Central Park.
I read on their website that Pie Crust Cookie owner, Janie, spent years struggling with addiction and homelessness in her early 20’s. At a time when Janie had no self-love, seeing the looks on people’s faces when they devoured her treats slowly filled her with pride that she had never before felt. Janie says “I never intended to be a small business owner, had no idea what being an entrepreneur meant but this path chose me and it’s the most amazing ride”.
The website also mentions that Janie is a Food Network Chopped Sweets Champion, the recipient of Pepsi’s “Stacy’s Rise Project” grant and scholarship to the International Culinary Center’s Culinary Entrepreneurship Program, and she was also a finalist on the 2018 Culinary Voice Scholarship Contest.
Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?
Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, September 23, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.
During this virtual Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef will prepare a Sugar-Free Dessert recipe and share expert baking tips for using sugar substitutes in your favorite recipes.
After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Stacey Harris (The Diabetic Pastry Chef) taught herself how to make pound cake, pecan rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods with about half the carbs you’d get from a traditional bakery item.
Divabetic® (divabetic.org) is a national nonprofit diabetes outreach organization committed to changing attitudes in people at risk, affected by and living with diabetes. We strive to encourage prevention, early action, and above all, education. Check out our free monthly podcasts and our free Zoom outreach programs.
If you missed last night’s Salad Making program on Zoom with special guest, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, she offered the following advice for anyone facing a weight loss plateau:
1). Learn to love yourself at your current weight
2). Focus on your health habits (Examples” How are you sleeping? Do you exercise regularly? Eating fruits and vegetables? Portion control, etc.)
3). Make a detailed list of what was working for you to begin with, and be honest with yourself. (Examples: Was it portion control? More, or regular exercise? Were you eating more salads?)
“I actually like people to do this during the weight loss process because most of us tend to underestimate what we’re doing and what aspects are working for us,” says Jill. “Then when we hit a tough spot, we can look at our list for motivation or a reality check. Maybe you were eating out less when the weight was coming off? Or maybe you were under-eating, and now you can see it’s not a good idea.”
4). Talk to your doctor about medical intervention using medications and/or surgery. using medications, devices, or surgery.
Finally, we tend to SHAME ourselves into getting better, but research proves this approach does not work. Self-compassion is much more effective at helping with blood pressure, weight loss or maintenance, sleep, and diabetes self-management. Be kind to yourself. We believe in YOU!
Jill Weisenberger’s Divabetic Salad Recipe features Arugula, Beets, Purple Cabbage, Jicama (a root vegetable that’s low in calories), Garbanzo Beans, Chery Tomatoes, and Avocado.
Divabetic Salad Dressing
2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon herbs such as herbs de Provance, oregano or Italian seasonings
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
salt and pepper
4 tablespoons lemon juice (or vinegar)
8 tablespoons high-quality olive oil
Jill Weisenberger’s Tip: When cooked potatoes cool, some of the starch changes and becomes resistant to our digestive enzymes. Resistant starch then doesn’t get absorbed as glucose (so cold potatoes have slightly less calories and contribute slightly less to glucose levels). Resistant starch is food for our good gut bacteria.
Jill Weisenberger’s Stick With It is a self-paced video course that guides you step-by-step to the healthy habits you want. You’ll learn why your motivation and willpower move up and down like a roller coaster and what you can do to keep them up higher and longer!
Need a boost? Listen to Divabetic’s podcast focused on Eye Challenges related to diabetes with music from TLC. Guests include Sherrol Reynolds M.D. (Associate Professor and Chief of Advanced Ophthalmic Care at the Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, President of the National Optometric Association (NOA)), Rishi Singh, M.D. (Retina Specialist and Staff Surgeon at the Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic), Andrea Sledge, Natalie Karabel,Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES.
Don’t miss Divabetic’s Annual Mystery podcast. This year’s A Christmas Peril is based on a real-life story premiering on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at 6 PM, EST. Starring Mr. Divabetic. Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie-Gentle, Maryann Nicolay, Catherine Schuller, Terri Seidman, Wendy Radford, Seveda Williams, Chef Robert Lewis, and Trisha Artman.
Please join us for Divabetic’s freeBaking Party withStacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ onThursday, September 23, 2021, 7-8 PM. Stacey will be sharing tips for how to cut back on the sugar in recipes, using sugar substitutes and alternative flours, and cutting back on the carbs without losing any flavor, and demonstrating one of her most popular Sugar-Free baking recipes.
Register now for Divabetic’s free Salad Making Party with special guest, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWWC, FAND on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.
Eating a salad sounds healthy, doesn’t it? But a leafy green salad can go bad when you pile on the high calorie and high carb toppings, dressings, and other deep-fried offerings.
How do you make a great-tasting salad without sacrificing your diabetes wellness?
Special Guest, Jill Weisenberger shares 2-3 of her favorite nutrient-dense salad and tasty dressing recipes that you can make at home and answers your nutrition questions.
Nationally recognized Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND. Jill has authored four books. Diabetes Weight Loss Week by Weekis a bestseller and can help you manage your weight and blood sugar at the same time.
And Jill’s latest book Prediabetes: A Complete Guideleads you through dozens of concrete steps to lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other chronic health problems.
Learn to finally Stick With Itand keep your motivation and willpower up for healthy lifestyle habits. Jill Weisenberger’s Stick With It is a self-paced video course that guides you step-by-step to the healthy habits you want. You’ll learn why your motivation and willpower move up and down like a roller coaster and what you can do to keep them up higher and longer.
Jill Weisenberger’s Grated Summer Squash Salad: A New Favorite
“I came up with this simple, pretty, and very tasty summer squash salad,” says Jill Weisenberger. “I’ve tried it with zucchini and with yellow squash, as well as a variety of types of summer squash. Use what you have or what you like best! Feel free to call it zucchini salad, or anything else.”
I find it fascinating that the New York Times bestselling author and Queen of the Beach Reads Mary Kay Andrewsnever fails to mention diabetes in her novels. I feel like she’s as obsessed with raising awareness for diabetes as I am.
Every one of her books that I have read has made some mention of diabetes. But, usually, there’s little to no information shared about living with diabetes past the initial reference which always bugs me.
One of the characters, Mrs. Lorraine DuBignon Conley, referred to as ‘G’mama,’ has prediabetes in her latest book, Hello, Summer.
The first reference to prediabetes comes on page 20. G’mama’s housekeeper, Winnie, tells G’mama’s youngest granddaughter, Conley, that her grandmother refuses to fill her prescription.
Conley asks her defiant G’mama if she has checked her sugar yet?
G’mama responds, “Not you too.” Then adds, “my blood sugar is perfectly fine.”
The following reference comes on page 156. G’mama says, “I’m a grown woman, and I can eat whatever I want.”
Thankfully, this time Mary Kay Andrews provides a bit more information about managing prediabetes.
Conley replies, “No. You can’t. According to your doctor, you’re prediabetic. You’ve got to limit your carb intake, eat protein, balance your diet, and drink plenty of fluids. Preferably not black coffee.
This sound advice is rather shocking since the author seldom educates her readers about diabetes self-care. I only wish there was more information sprinkled throughout the book.
Although recent statistics state that 88 million U.S. adults, or 1 in 3 – have prediabetes, most people don’t know what it is.
Prediabetes means a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes.
A quick Google search will inform you that normal blood glucose levels for adults without diabetes range from 90 to 110 mg/dL. However, every person is different, so it’s essential to have your doctor check your blood sugars.
Without intervention, many people with prediabetes could develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years, which puts them at risk of health complications such as heart issues, stroke, vision loss, and kidney failure.
Of those 88 million living with prediabetes, more than 8 in 10 of them don’t even know they have it.
The risk factors for prediabetes include:
Being 45 years or older.
Being overweight.
Having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes.
Being physically active less than three times a week.
Having gestational diabetes.
Having polycystic ovary syndrome.
African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans are at higher risk.
Our special guest, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWWC, FANDfor Divabetic’s upcoming Salad-Making Party on Zoom scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 7-8 PM, EST is the author of Prediabetes: A Complete Guide. This comprehensive guide will lead you through dozens of concrete steps you can take to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Taking an individualized approach to your lifestyle reset, Prediabetes: A Complete Guide will allow you to choose your own path to wellness and help you gain a greater sense of wellbeing, boost confidence in your abilities to maintain a healthful lifestyle, and potentially even help you reverse prediabetes, avoid type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses, and have you feeling better than you have in years!
As obsessed as I am about finding misinformed references to diabetes in her books, I still enjoy Mary Kay Andrew’s storytelling. Her easy-to-read style and the blend of romance and mystery make for a winning combination.
Not surprisingly, I fell in love with the character, the Silver Bay Beacon’s society columnist, Rowena Meigs. Her ridiculously long narratives in which she describes the food and the fashion in glorious detail, along with each notable attendee’s family lineages at soirees happening around town, are delightful.
I remember watching the documentary, Bill Cunningham New York, about New York Times photographer Bill Cunningham, who said he was just as fascinated by who was talking to who at charity parties as he was in what anyone was wearing. For decades, this Schwinn-riding cultural anthropologist chronicled fashion trends and high-society charity soirées for the Times style section. His lens zoomed in on the ultrawealthy of New York and the Hamptons networking with one another.
Legendary New York Post celebrity and gossip columnist Cindy Adams also made a career writing about famous people networking with each other. But she’s not is a fan of the term “gossip” and admits she didn’t set out to be a newspaper writer.
“I don’t like the word gossip because it’s pejorative,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be nasty and biting. It should be chatty. It should be funny. It should be something you do over coffee in the morning,” she told Mo Rocca in an interview for “CBS Sunday Morning”.
Conley Hawkins left her family’s small-town newspaper, The Silver Bay Beacon, in the rearview mirror years ago. Now a star reporter for a big-city paper, Conley is exactly where she wants to be and is about to take a fancy new position in Washington, D.C. Or so she thinks.
For small town scandals…
When the new job goes up in smoke, Conley finds herself right back where she started, working for her sister, who is trying to keep The Silver Bay Beacon afloat—and she doesn’t exactly have warm feelings for Conley. Soon she is given the unenviable task of overseeing the local gossip column, “Hello, Summer.”
And big-time secrets. Then Conley witnesses an accident that ends in the death of a local congressman—a beloved war hero with a shady past. The more she digs into the story, the more dangerous it gets. As an old heartbreaker causes trouble and a new flame ignites, it soon looks like their sleepy beach town is the most scandalous hotspot of the summer.
What am I eating when I’m reading Hello, Summer? FIBER!
Did you know that fiber-rich foods slow down the delivery of glucose into the bloodstream? Your blood sugar levels will gradually rise. Even more, fiber-rich foods tend to keep us satiated for longer periods of time, which helps with weight loss.
New research finds that adding fiber to your diet can help combat the effects of type 2 diabetes and hypertension. But only 25 percent of adults get the recommended amount of fiber daily.
Are you struggling with ways to add more fiber to your diet?
Omega3NutraCleanse® is a delicious, gluten-free, organic flaxseed blend rich in fiber and nutrients. Recently their marketing team sent me a 14.8 oz sample to try. I love it! After I consulted with my doctor about adding it to my diet, I started adding it to my morning bowl of nonfat, plain yogurt, and berries. It has a nutty flavor that I enjoy. This product compliments Keto, 0 Net Carbs, Paleo, and Vegan lifestyles. And just like their website states: ‘O3NC is a simple way to get the right amount of fiber to keep your inside healthy’.
Talk to your doctor before adding supplements to your diet.
Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?
Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Salad Making Party with special guest, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWWC, FANDon Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.
Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?
Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Salad Making Party with special guest, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWWC, FAND on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.
Eating a salad sounds healthy, doesn’t it? But a leafy green salad can go bad when you pile on the high calorie and high carb toppings, dressings, and other deep-fried offerings.
How do you make a great-tasting salad without sacrificing your diabetes wellness?
Special Guest, nutritionist Jill Weisenberger shares her favorite nutrient-dense salad and tasty dressing recipes that you can make at home and answers your nutrition questions.
Divabetic is committed to making sure that every ‘wellness with a wow’ program event that you register for is going to be great!
Just because something is called a salad on the menu does NOT make it the best choice.
Here are a few tips for making sure your stay on track with your health goals when you eat salad:
Reach for darker greens, such as spinach, leaf lettuce, arugula, kale, and watercress, instead of iceberg lettuce.
Croutons don’t add much nutritional value, but they can add a lot of calories. So if you like a few crunchy toppings, add a tablespoon or two of chopped walnuts or flax seeds.
Nationally recognized Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and Author Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND is the author of four books. Diabetes Weight Loss Week by Weekis a bestseller and can help you manage your weight and blood sugar at the same time. The Overworked Person’s Guide to Better Nutrition offers solutions to your everyday food and nutrition problems – no matter how busy you are. 21 Things You Need to Know about Diabetes and Your Heart gives you specific actions to take to improve your health right away. And Jill’s newest book Prediabetes: A Complete Guide leads you through dozens of concrete steps to lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other chronic health problems.
Learn to finally Stick With It and keep your motivation and willpower up for healthy lifestyle habits. Jill Weisenberger’s Stick With It is a self-paced video course that guides you step-by-step to the healthy habits you want. You’ll learn why your motivation and willpower move up and down like a roller coaster and what you can do to keep them up higher and longer.
Special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chefdemonstrates one of her favorite sugar-free recipes, answers your questions, and shares the dos and don’ts of baking with popular sugar substitutes at Divabetic’s upcoming Free Program on Zoom.
After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Stacey Harris (‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’) taught herself how to make pound cake, pecan rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods with about half the carbs you’d get from a traditional bakery item.
“I started experimenting by using almond milk or whole milk mixed with water to cut down on carbs, then tried different flours, incorporating white whole wheat flour, soy flour, oat flour, black bean flour, and other alternatives into my brownies, cakes, and cookies,” she said in a How 2 Type 2 article.
She adds,” To cut back on sugar, I started using all-natural substitutes, like agave nectar, and trying erythritol. I also bake with a store-bought blend of sugars that tastes delicious.”
All of The Diabetic Pastry Chef‘s recipes are adapted to her preferences and dietary needs; we encourage you to adapt them to yours!
Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chefshares her recipes in a fabulous book so that people with type 2 diabetes and others looking for sugar-free treats can make their own lower-carb versions of baked goods at home. She also started her own online bakery that ships homemade treats all across the country. The most common thing she hears from customers is, “I don’t even miss the extra sugar!”
Don’t miss Divabetic’s upcoming Free Baking Party Program with The Diabetic Pastry on Zoom on Thursday, September 23, 2021, 7-8 PM, EST.
There’s a good indication that murder might be part of the recipe when Nantucket’s ten-time reigning Baking Champion’s last name is ‘Coffin’. But resentment, greed, and Britannia’s own bad dealings turn everyone into a suspect when she’s found dead in the parking lot just before the Annual Decadents on Deck! Bake Off competition is about to kick off.
Delusional baker and amateur sleuth Mr. Divabetic is even shocked to find himself being treated as a suspect in the case by the local police, after meeting her just once!
As if his life wasn’t crazy enough before, escaping a murderous mishap in New York and attempting a fresh start in Nantucket has turned into a complete and utter baking disaster, now Max, along with his friends and nosy mother, have to add tracking down a murderer to his To-Do list, as well.
Can our team hunt down the real murderer before they strike again? Will he become the next victim? Can Max ever manage to bake a cake that’s actually edible?
Divabetic’s Mystery podcast cast includes USA Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.
Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.
On the heels of reading Viola Shipman’s The Summer Cottage and Nancy Thayer’s Family Reunion books back to back, I noticed two trends. First, readers are obsessed with stories about homes located in idyllic spots like Nantucket and Lake Michigan. Second, authors go to extreme lengths, not to mention the protagonist’s size.
Now, I like nothing more than watching a new homeowner knock down a retaining wall to open up space on HGTV but still, I get easily bored reading about an actual house like its the main character. I imagine that we all have a natural curiosity to know what type of people living in white elephants and cottages on the coastlines of oceans and lakes. Or even in the garden districts of cities like Savannah, Charleston, and New Orleans. In both novels, the protagonists’ family have owned their property for several decades. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind inheriting beachfront property either, regardless of the home’s condition. However, I would hope owning a home wouldn’t be my only claim to fame or strongest personality trait.
Regarding the second issue, the ambiguous shape and size of protagonists in fiction. Several authors have mentioned their publishers have pressured them about the size and shape of the protagonists on Divabetic’s monthly podcast. Publishers either want authors to describe the protagonists in general terms or make their protagonists smaller in shape and size. For example, one author interviewed told me that her publisher forced her to make her size 18 protagonist a size 12. She stated that her publisher didn’t think it was believable for a size 18 woman to have a romantic life.
I admit that I found Viola Shipman and Nancy Thayer’s ambiguous references to their protagonists’ size distracting. Descriptions of both main characters lead the reader to believe their beautiful. Both characters also express their own dissatisfaction with their bodies too. But that’s about the extent of it. Both authors’ avoidance seems downright obvious. So what is the big deal? There are plenty of women who looks like the cast of ‘Sex & The City’ but still manage to have active, fulfilling sex lives.
A widow over seventy starting to date again is an exciting story regardless of her size! However, if I had a clearer picture of what she looked like, I think I would have enjoyed reading more about Eleanor’s dating adventures.
Strangely, there are many mentions of her displeasure with the softness of her upper arms but nothing else.
Eleanor struggles with her energy level, and lack of focus, and coping with financial matters as she ages.
A lot of Family Reunion is about accepting the aging process. I found these passages to honest and heartfelt. Here’s a quick synopsis:
Eleanor Sunderland loves living on Nantucket, in a gorgeous cliffside home that has been in her family for decades. Yet this year she can’t help but feel a bit isolated, even as the island begins to come alive with summer tourists and travelers. Her best friend has skipped town on a last-minute cruise, leaving Eleanor feeling lonely and nostalgic about her family’s weekend trips to the island, made less frequently in the years since her husband’s passing. Now, her money-driven children contact her mostly to complain and to beg her to sell her beloved home for a steep payout. Hoping to kick the season off on a good note, Eleanor decides her seventieth birthday may be the perfect occasion for a much-needed reunion.
Fresh off the heels of her college graduation, Eleanor’s dear granddaughter, Ari, has just ended an engagement that felt less like true love and more like a chore. She longs for a change of scenery and to venture far from her parents’ snobbish expectations. Taking advantage of her newfound freedom, she heads to Nantucket to clear her head before graduate school, moving in with her grandmother and taking a job at the local beach camp. As she watches Eleanor begin to form a bond with an old acquaintance, Ari herself becomes completely smitten with a friend’s charming older brother. But just as grandmother and granddaughter fall into a carefree routine, a few shocking discoveries throw them off course, and their ideas of the future seem suddenly uncertain.
Eleanor and Ari make exciting connections, old and new, over the course of an unpredictable, life-changing few months, and learn to lean on each other through every new challenge they face in life and love, in this tale filled with Nancy Thayer’s signature Nantucket magic.
Here’s what we were snacking on while reading Family Reunion. Grilled romaine lettuce, with tomato and topped with Tabitha Brown‘s carrot bacon. Added a little olive oil to make a simple marinade for the dressing.
TabithaBrownis an American actress and social media personality. She creates online video content incorporating veganism, humor, and motivational speaking. Brown has over four million followers on TikTok and over three million followers on Instagram as of July 2021.
Check out Tabitha Brown’s favorite bacon substitute is Carrot Bacon!
As for her advice for others who are considering starting a vegan diet, Brown recently told our sister magazine Health that “food can be medicine, or it can be the thing that puts us in the ground…You have to start with your ‘why.’ My why was that I was sick. My why was life or death. I chose life,” Brown said. Sure, it will be challenging at first. “Do I still get cravings? Yeah, girl, right now I could see myself dipping a crab leg into some butter. But my why is strong enough. I say: ‘Be easy on yourself. Take your time. Don’t be hard on yourself. The world is hard enough already.'” Truer words have never been spoken, Tab.
Summer reading is fun. However, Summer snacking while reading can quickly derail your diabetes health goals. For example, this past weekend, I spent several hours in the airport reading and snacking after multiple plane delays. Aunt Annie’s Pretzels and aisles of Chex Mix galore, as well as any carb-heavy snack, are like kryptonite for me. I am usually entirely powerless when they’re within my reach. But now that I can walk longer and play tennis without difficulty or pain, my health goals have been re-ignited after sustaining a significant leg injury. So instead of Traditional Chex Mix, I snacked on The Fresh Market’s Everything Parmesan Crisps as I read Viola Shipman’s book, The Summer Cottage. This keto-friendly snack has 2 g of net carbs per serving versus the Chex Mix’s 23 g of net carbs per serving.
We all know that manufacturers of unhealthy snacks masquerade their food products as healthy snacks with catchy names, health claims, and green-friendly packaging so it’s important to read the nutrition label.
The Mayo Clinic recommends you start with the list of ingredients.
Keep an eye out for heart-healthy ingredients, especially those that are less processed, such as whole-wheat flour, soy, and oats. Monounsaturated fats — such as olive, canola or peanut oils; nuts; and seeds — promote heart health, too.
Avoid unhealthy ingredients, such as excessive salt or added sugars, saturated fats, or hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil.
Look at total carbohydrates, not just sugar.
Keep in mind that ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. The main (heaviest) ingredient is listed first, followed by other ingredients used in decreasing amounts.
MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, DTR‘s summer nutrition tips, echoed in my ear as I scanned the snack aisle before approaching the cash register. She encouraged participants to spend their carbs wisely throughout the day on a recent Divabetic virtual outreach program on Zoom. By the way, we will be hosting our next free Divabetic On Zoom program in Fall. For details, visit Divabetic.Org.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states people with diabetes should aim to get about half of their calories from carbs. If you usually eat about 1,800 calories a day to maintain a healthy weight, about 800 to 900 calories can come from carbs. At 4 calories per gram, that’s 200–225 carb grams a day. That’s a general guideline but for a more personalized approach, consult with a registered dietitian.
“Adie Lou Kruger’s ex never understood her affection for what her parents called their Cozy Cottage, the charming, ramshackle summer home—complete with its own set of rules for relaxing—that she’s inherited on Lake Michigan. But despite the fact she’s facing a broken marriage and empty nest, and middle age is looming in the distance, memories of happy childhoods on the beach give her reason for hope. She’s determined not to let her husband’s affair with a grad student reduce her to a cliché, or to waste one more minute in a career she doesn’t love, so it becomes clear what Adie Lou must do: rebuild her life and restore her cottage shingle by shingle, on her terms.”
I have been looking forward to reading a Viola Shipman book since Wade Rouse appeared on Brenda Novak’s virtual Book Club on Facebook Live. Best-Selling Author Brenda Novak is a passionate diabetes advocate. She has raised millions of dollars for Diabetes Research with her online auction!
Before Brenda’s interview, I didn’t know Viola Shipman and Wade Rouse are one and the same. Wade chose his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman, as a pen name to honor the woman whose heirlooms and family stories inspire his fiction. And he’s successful to boot!
If it’s true what Elizabeth Marvel said, “if you can see it, you can be it. And I believe in that”, then Wade’s writing journey just might inspire me to write too. I just didn’t think a man could or would be embraced to write the kind of books I tend to read. Now that I know it’s a possibility, my brain is spinning with so many storylines. I just might have to open a new google document once I finish rewrites and edits for this year’s Divabetic Mystery: A Christmas Peril. We have another rehearsal scheduled for tonight!
Enjoy last year’s Divabetic Mystery podcast: Kill Me Madam using the link below:
There’s a good indication that murder might be part of the recipe when Nantucket’s ten-time reigning Baking Champion’s last name is ‘Coffin’. But resentment, greed, and Britannia’s own bad dealings turn everyone into a suspect when she’s found dead in the parking lot just before the Annual Decadents on Deck! Bake Off competition is about to kick off.
Delusional baker and amateur sleuth Mr. Divabetic is even shocked to find himself being treated as a suspect in the case by the local police, after meeting her just once!
As if his life wasn’t crazy enough before, escaping a murderous mishap in New York and attempting a fresh start in Nantucket has turned into a complete and utter baking disaster, now Max, along with his friends and nosy mother, have to add tracking down a murderer to his To-Do list, as well.
Can our team hunt down the real murderer before they strike again? Will he become the next victim? Can Max ever manage to bake a cake that’s actually edible?
Divabetic’s Mystery podcast cast includes USA Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.
Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.
Join us tonight, Tuesday, June 29, 2021 for Divabetic on Zoom at 7 PM, EST. Our free one-hour virtual program features ‘What To Wear When Nothing Fits for Summer’ presented by Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller and ‘How To Master The Menu at The Cookout’ presented by MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR.
Photo by Kate Hliznitsova on Unsplash
MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR’s quick tips for enjoying outdoor picnics without compromising your health include:
3-4 servings of carb foods will be around 45-60 grams of carbohydrate. (This falls within the American Diabetes Association carb recommendations per meal.)
Use your carb servings on foods that you don’t get to eat as often.
Treat desserts like a snack by eating it 2-3 hours after the main meal.
Think about the face of a clock when eating pie or a round cake.Instead of having a “15-minute” piece, have a “5-7 minute” piece.This will give you the treat you desire while keeping you closer to your carb goals of less than 30 grams of carb for a snack
Get up and move, don’t just sit and eat.Go for a walk, play games, have fun!
Tune in to the latest edition of Divabetic’s popular Diabetes Late Nite podcast for a unique mix of music with diabetes information.
Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?
Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, virtual diabetes support program with style.
