[ett]

I was diagnosed as type 2 back in Janury of this year.
I've improved a lot (actually hell of a lot ) since being diagnosed. I place most of the improvement on eating properly.
The reasons I am eating properly is because I payed attention in my diabetes education classes, listened to my doctors and dietitian, did a lot of research on my own, quit listening to non-professional people such as co-workers, advertisements, friends, family, etc ..., AND never ate out.

This past Saturday was my mom's 80th birthday party. So I was pretty much obliged to eat out. I wasn't too worried though. Because my brother and I reserved the restaurant with a buffet. And I specifically asked about having lots of vegetables available and being able to bring my own salad dressing due to my diabetes. They assured me that the buffet would have a large salad bar section and that it was not a problem for me to bring my own dressing.

Well their "large" salad section was a 4-quart bowl of iceberg lettuce with a small covering of 1 very thinly sliced tomato, onion slices, and a dozen of non-pittted olives.

WTF ?! Only 4-quarts of lettuce for 60 people ??
And nearly everything else was loaded with carbs. Such as rice, white bread, pasta, etc ...
They did have a carving station that had four different meats. It consisted of roast beef, roasted turkey, roasted ham, and salmon.
BUT the employees doing the carving couldn't tell me what was on each meat.
The most I got out of them was that the salmon had a "wine sauce" on it.

My own salads have very little lettuce.
My own salads are at least 2-quarts, weigh about 5-lbs, have baby carrots, walnuts, a whole cucumber, a whole x-large red or orange bell pepper (green peppers are nutritionally useless), cherry or grape tomatoes, black olives, sometimes blueberries, broccoli, jalapeno slices, and the leafy green is only about 25% of the 2-quarts. AND it is never nutritionally defunct iceberg lettuce !
It's usually spinach; but some times romaine lettuce or kale.
I have at least two of these salads per day.

Is it only Americans who think "salad" means a small plate consisting of 95% cheap iceberg lettuce ?
Or is that the whole world's idea of a salad ?

And how does everyone else handle eating out ?
(Assuming you actually take care of yourself and are controlling your diabetes.)

--ET

 

[not yet]

Restaurants are geared towards making money, not providing nutritious meals. When eating out, the average American, has very little interest in eating kale and romaine lettuce. You are well above the norm for what most people consider to be 'healthy' in a salad.

How do I cope? Honestly, I start with a plain meat -usually chicken- or fish, and then ask for two servings of the vegetable of the day. I always cringe when I hear it's the heat and eat mixed blend of carrots, broccoli and green beans or whatever. That has no nutritional value. I also get a side salad, and make sure I eat the entire thing. I am not a fan of iceberg lettuce either, but it keeps me away from the foods with absolutely nothing to offer but high glycemic empty calories. i.e the bread basket.

The other thing to do is to eat as much as normal and as possible at home, and then eat as little necessary at the restaurant. It's really challenging to find healthy meals when eating out and without paying an arm and leg. I put my health ahead of cost in these situations and don't let the perceived value of price of the buffet line get in the way of what my body really needs.

 

[diabetes709]

WTF ?! Only 4-quarts of lettuce for 60 people ??
And nearly everything else was loaded with carbs. Such as rice, white bread, pasta, etc ...
They did have a carving station that had four different meats. It consisted of roast beef, roasted turkey, roasted ham, and salmon.
BUT the employees doing the carving couldn't tell me what was on each meat.
The most I got out of them was that the salmon had a "wine sauce" on it.


Is it only Americans who think "salad" means a small plate consisting of 95% cheap iceberg lettuce ?
Or is that the whole world's idea of a salad ?

And how does everyone else handle eating out ?
(Assuming you actually take care of yourself and are controlling your diabetes.)

--ET

I read this when you first posted it, and walked away for a time, so I could find a courteous way to reply.

First of all, I doubt you eat ten pounds of salad every day. Me thinks tho dost exaggerate just a bit.

Second, what are you doing in a buffet you know nothing about, and then complaining about what is available? A buffet is where people pay a small amount of money, to eat all they can. You have a disease that restricts what you can eat, so you should be a bit more responsible than to think you can go to any old 'all you can eat trough' and find lots of healthy, expensive food that you need to eat.

Third, there are 230 million people in America, and neither you nor I have any idea what they all consider a good salad, but I can promise you that a buffet is out to make money, not cater to diabetics, and iceberg lettuce is cheap, and will stay fresher a lot longer than the types you are used to eating.

The meat will have zero carbs. What they cook it in, isn't going to affect those numbers very much, so that is good stuff to eat.

Best to look around for 'quality' restaurants that can tell you a bit more about what they serve. The poor guy slicing the turkey probably doesn't have a clue where turkeys even come from, let alone how that buffet cooked it up.

Also, no one is fooled by the acronym "WTF" so perhaps you could back away from the implied foul language just a bit?

I am sorry you had a bad experience. Frankly, I suggest you get used to it. The world of eating out, is not built around restricted diets. When you do find a place that answers your questions, and provides what you enjoy, hang onto it. Meanwhile, just realize you may have to go to parties, just to enjoy the company, and be grateful that you have family to share time and memories with.

As for "if you bother to take care of yourself and control your diabetes" well, that one really got under my skin. This forum, and others like it, are where people who do care, come for support, advice, and even to vent like you did. You won't find people here who don't care, because that would be a waste of time. In addition, the choice to take care, and get control is left to every individual, and judgmental comments don't do much to foster a friendly environment where those who struggle and worry, can come to get a boost every now and then.

Many T2's simply don't eat out very much for the reasons you have observed. Its tedious, and requires a little forethought. Just another side of being a diabetic. We can go to restaurants, but our options are limited, and that is not a critique, its just a simple fact that cannot be avoided.

Sorry. I just felt I had to say it. Please remember its just me talking, I don't speak for the whole group, so if I put you off, just ignore me, and let others help you and do what they can for you. We are all in this together, good times and bad.

John

 

[Richard157]

ET and not me, my daily salad is the bigges part of my evening meal. It is 50% lettuce and also includes pickled peppers, cherry tomatoes, small pepperoni slices, a quarter cup of kidney beans, a spring onion and a half cup of cottage cheese on the side. I use two tablespoons of a dressing that runs 2-5 carbs. My salad has 20-25 carbs. About two hours later (8 PM) I have a piece of fruit, another 20 carbs. I do not eat after 8 PM since it interferes with my BG during the night.

 

[ShottleBop]

I eat out quite a bit--almost every day, for lunch. I can run downstairs to the sandwich takeout place, buy an Italian hero, and discard the bread (the way they make them, it's like eating a mortadella taco). I can go to any number of places and have grilled chicken or fish on top of a salad (and the places around here all seem to use romaine or baby mixed greens), or a steak salad. I can order a burger without a bun, with a side salad. I always ask for plain olive oil dressing, and for no croutons. Lots of places have Cobb salads. One of my favorite lunch places serves omelettes all day; I usually have an avocado and Canadian bacon omelette, and have them substitute fresh tomato slices for the fried potatoes and fruit salad that usually come with it.

 

[Richard157]

Excellent choices! Your way of eating will give you very good contrl and health.

I read about diabetics who hate veggies. I love them!

 

[foxl]

Richard your salad sounds SO good!

I am a longtime vegetarian who hated vegetables. Supposedly. As a child vegetables meant watery reheated frozen veg., for one thing. Salads were iceberg in pieces so big it was embarrassing to eat them. Now I have discovered roasted veg, and stir-fry, and of course salad greens other than ICEBERG (nod to OP). And bags of pre-washed greens ... And spaghetti squash, and cauli-rice ... vegetables ROCK!

So, in a nutshell, I agree with the OP, some restaurants, especially those catering to older people who view salads and veg as a dismal necessity, make it a bit sad for those who have learned to appreciate well-prepared salads and veg!

 

[Richard157]

Linda, we just got home from grocery shopping an hour ago. I bought a tray of carrots, broccoli, cherry tomatoes and celery pieces all nicely arranged and attractive. There was a container of ranch dressing in the middle of the tray. My wife looked at the itemized bill and it cost $10. I feel guilty!!! I had no idea.

I hate the fact that we have no way of knowing what a lot of things cost anymore. In the good old days there was a price stamped on the items or on the edge of the shelf/display. I guess they might think that would be too discouraging now that food prices are so high.

 

[foxl]

Linda, we just got home from grocery shopping an hour ago. I bought a tray of carrots, broccoli, cherry tomatoes and celery pieces all nicely arranged and attractive. There was a container of ranch dressing in the middle of the tray. My wife looked at the itemized bill and it cost $10. I feel guilty!!! I had no idea.

I hate the fact that we have no way of knowing what a lot of things cost anymore. In the good old days there was a price stamped on the items or on the edge of the shelf/display. I guess they might think that would be too discouraging now that food prices are so high.

Those trays are SO expensive! And not that much value added through labor, either. And, I think we need to go back to the purple price stamps!