Divabetic Reader #3: And Then There Were Crumbs By Eve Calder

I enjoy reading cozy mysteries like Then There Were Crumbs. I consider cozy mysteries to be the literary equivalent of a Suduko puzzle. I can put down a cozy mystery, pick it up two days or even a week later, and not miss a beat. Plus, I’m learning the art of cozy mystery storytelling as I’m reading. That’s a tip I got from two Best-Selling Authors, Tonya Kappes and Brenda Novak, on how to improve your writing.

Currently, I’m knee-deep in rewrites for this year’s Divabetic’s Mystery podcast, A Christmas Peril, debuting in September 2021. At this point, we have had several full-cast rehearsals, so I’m listening to rehearsal tapes and tightening up the script. One of the biggest challenges for me is to say more with fewer words. 

Eve Clader does a great job of storytelling in Then There Were Crumbs. 

However, I found that the biggest mystery could be the real identity of the author! My google search of ‘Eve Calder’ revealed ‘nada.’ I guess I’m not much of a super sleuth after all.

That said, I really enjoyed this book, the characters, the mystery, and the charming setting.

Agatha Christie said, “The best time to plan a book is while you’re doing the dishes.”

She was right! I was plotting out Divabetic’s Mystery podcast while my hands were submerged in sudsy water. So here’s the link to Divabetic’s Mystery podcast, Kill Me Madam.

I don’t know about you, but reading is one of my favorite past-times. But, unfortunately, the food described in the pages of whatever book I’m reading triggers hunger pain more time than not. This is why I don’t read Joanne Fluke‘s books. Her books are high-calorie, high-carb indulgences with tempting titles like Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder, Carrot Cake Murder, and Raspberry Danish Murder. 

To stay on track with my own personal health goals, I like to have a healthy snack handy. 

I believe developing healthy habits takes as much time and effort as developing bad habits, especially when it comes to snacks. Think about. In the time it takes to grab a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream from the grocery store freezer, you can reach for frozen fruit and vegetables in the same freezer.

Lucky for me, I found a delightful frozen vegetable snack option at my neighborhood grocery store.

While reading Then There Will Be CrumbsI supported my health goals by snacking on Strong Roots’ Spinach Bites. After all, this book’s sugar ladened subtitle is A Cookie House Mystery!  While the townsfolk of Coral Cay, Florida were chewing on one cookie after another, I was eating several delicious spinach bites are wrapped up in a carrot and vegetable crumb.

The first ingredient listed on the food label is Spinach, so you know you’re actually eating an actual vegetable. One serving, 3 bites, has180 calories and 16 grams of carbohydrates. I enjoyed 3 servings while I read. 

Did I mention that they’re easy to prepare too! Open the bag, then just pop them in the oven for 10 minutes, and they’re ready.

Staying on track with my diabetes wellness while I read is one of my Summer 2021 goals. Join me! Visit divabetic.org

Divabetic Reader #2: Viola Shipman’s The Summer Cottage

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.

What was I reading? 

I read Viola Shipman’s The Summer Cottage. Here’s a short synopsis:

“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.

Healthy Snacking Tips for Book Lovers from Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES

How are you coping with stress and anxiety related to the new ‘normal’ from the pandemic? 

Are you binge watching TV or are you reading books like me? I just finished reading Linda Holmes’ debut novel, “Evvie Drake Starts Over”

Unfortunately I’ve been known to polish off a salty snack or two while I’m reading without noticing! Since many Divabetics like to read after dinner and/or before bedtime, I contacted our good friend, a Diabetes Late Nite podcast guest, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES for her advice about healthy snacking. 

Q: I’ve been known to polish off a bag of pretzels while I’m reading without noticing! And a lot of us like to read after dinner and/or before bedtime. 

Susan Weiner (SW): Try not to eat directly out of a bag, container or box! You can avoid portion distortion if you pre-portion your snack and put it in a small bowl or dish.

Familiarize yourself with the difference between a serving and a portion. The nutritional information listed on a food item is based on a single serving (a specific amount will be listed for an individual food item). Portion size is the amount you eat or what you put on your plate. Please note that the portion that you are eating may be much larger (or smaller) than the serving size listed on the nutrition facts label. If you eat twice the amount of the listed serving size, you will be consuming twice the calories, carbohydrate, fat, sodium etc as listed. 

Cut up colorful, low carb veggies in advance. Try some radishes, cucumbers, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes. That way you have them at the ready, and can much on them as you read. In the mood for a dip? Mash up a ripe avocado and mix in some lime juice, garlic and onion powder. 

Q: What you recommend as a late night snack? 

SW: If you are not a late night snacker, there is really no reason to start now! But if you are looking for something crunchy and yummy, try a couple of flaxseed crackers with a spoon full of almond butter. It’s a delicious snack anytime!

Q: In Divabetic’s Diabetes Mystery podcast,  ‘Phantom of the Okra’ you used a combination of carbohydrate counts to unlock a safe, how can counting carbohydrates help people with diabetes? Can you provide a few  tips for beginners?

SW: Carbohydrate counting, or carb counting can help a person with diabetes manage their blood sugars. Carbohydrate containing foods raise your blood sugars, and therefore it’s important to be aware of which foods contain carbohydrates and how much carbohydrate is in a serving of a particular food item. That way you can count the amount of carbohydrate in a serving of a food. 

Common foods which contain carbohydrates include bread, pasta, cereals, rice, fruit, beans, sweets, cakes, cookies, candy, regular soda and fruit drinks. 

In addition to reading food labels, there are a number of websites and apps which can get you started with carb counting. Please know that in addition to food, many other things can affect your blood sugar, including your physical activity level, stress, medications and lack of sleep and so much more. So, please take good care of yourself and reach out to your health care professional.

For more information visit:

American Diabetes Association – Get Smart on Carb Counting

New York-Presbyterian – Carbohydrate Counting for People with Diabetes

Beyond Type 2’s 5 Calorie-Counting Apps To Help Achieve Your Goals 

Divabetic Mystery Podcas: Phantom of Okra

Find out what happens when Mr. Divabetic, the Diabetes Late Nite cast and some special friends try to solve this diabetes murder mystery, Phantom of Okra, loosely based on “The Phantom Of The Opera.” Enjoy diabetes self-care advice and nutrition information in between moments of suspense, wide-goose chases, and entertaining banter. 

Co-starring Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Asha Brown (founder of the We Are Diabetes organization), Central Farm Markets Co-Founder Debra Moser, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Author Peter Arpesella, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES, Leisa Chester Weir, Terri Seidman and Mama Rose Marie.

This podcast features song selections from “The Phantom Of The Opera” soundtrack courtesy of SONY Music. 

LISTEN NOW

In a sleepy seaside town in Maine, recently widowed Eveleth “Evvie” Drake rarely leaves her large, painfully empty house nearly a year after her husband’s death in a car crash. Everyone in town, even her best friend, Andy, thinks grief keeps her locked inside, and Evvie doesn’t correct them.

Meanwhile, in New York City, Dean Tenney, former Major League pitcher and Andy’s childhood best friend, is wrestling with what miserable athletes living out their worst nightmares call the “yips”: he can’t throw straight anymore, and, even worse, he can’t figure out why. As the media storm heats up, an invitation from Andy to stay in Maine seems like the perfect chance to hit the reset button on Dean’s future.

When he moves into an apartment at the back of Evvie’s house, the two make a deal: Dean won’t ask about Evvie’s late husband, and Evvie won’t ask about Dean’s baseball career. Rules, though, have a funny way of being broken—and what starts as an unexpected friendship soon turns into something more. To move forward, Evvie and Dean will have to reckon with their pasts—the friendships they’ve damaged, the secrets they’ve kept—but in life, as in baseball, there’s always a chance—up until the last out.

Author Linda Holmes