What to eat when the right food isn't available (Hurricane Irma)?

@pdilly @retiredteacher I have pb on celery but also on Wasa Crisp and Light. Three of those are only 70 calories! I generally have just one so that's almost as good an option as celery.
JK

@retiredteacher Boy, do I hear you. I miss a lot of those things too. I live outside of Manchester NH and there is a restaurant there that claims to have invented chicken tenders and they are delicious. Everyone goes there for them. I don't have them. You can get them cooked a different way also but when cooked the other way they have marinating for an extended amount of time in a salty marinade. I have to keep my sodium low too. 🙁 When my son and daughter come home a trip to that restaurant, "The Back Room" is always a necessity.
I do still eat steak, just a small one and only once a week but I love beef.
JK

Perhaps it is late to respond to this comment string. However, I have found a very simple exercise to relieve my stress throughout the day.

I went to a Cancer Retreat over the weekend (at Ghost Ranch, NM) and we did an exercise called "iomogi" breathing (not sure about that spelling). Basically, you breath in deeply through your mouth to the back of the throat, and out the same way. You breath deeply into your stomach and release your breath slowly, starting out of your stomach. Each breath you count to 6 while inhaling and exhaling. As you feel confident that you can breath into the back of your throat you start breathing in and out of your nose, if you cannot make that switch (I have not been able to) not to worry it will work either way. Some people can get up to 30 seconds with each breath!

The point of this exercise is that it helps to relax your autonomic nervous system. Related some chemical in your brain and you automatically relax. I did it when my heart rate was up to 110, and I was able to relax and lower my heart rate.

Now I am not the type of person who tries these alternative exercises, but I realized I needed an open mind to get all the benefits of my retreat. Wild as it seems, It worked!

If someone knows what this breathing exercise is called, I would be grateful if they would let me know.

Hi JK, @contentandwell

I agree with the PB - sometimes I just eat it off a spoon (sounds tacky, I'm sure). I've also spread it on a half a banana (probably an Elvis thing) or apple slices. It is high in protein and I just love it as well!

Teresa

@retiredteacher and @contentandwell -- that really does sound hard having to pass over all those special foods and the food part of certain celebrations and traditions. Seems like it would actually feel like you were grieving all of that.

Do you substitute for other foods or give yourself another kind of treat that is not food, or how do you deal with that?

I wouldn't use the word grieving. Pity Parties cause people to distance themselves so I eat what I think will be the lesser of the evils and enjoy myself, as others do. I don't think there is a person who hasn't had a cheat treat ever. We are human and we do not always follow the rules. I do not drink. I do not smoke, so an illegal serving of something won't be the death of me. I haven't found anything that gives me the same reading two days in a row. I don't think that's possible---too many variables every day. I do the best I can and try to be consistent, but it doesn't always work. I just see if adjusting items makes a difference; it's trial and error for me since I don't have a diet that says exactly what and how much for every meal. Again we are all different. I mostly eat vegetables and chicken. If I'm out and about, I don't substitute. I eat what I've found is okay and don't obsess over every bite I put in my mouth. Diabetes is a frustrating disease that I despise, and at my age it just makes the golden years really rusty, so I do it my way, since all I've researched basically says that's what it has to be because we have to regard individuality.

@lisalucier I don't substitute really. If you want something that you can have nothing else will do so I just eat what I can eat but do not consider that substituting. I am pretty good with it all at home, but I find it difficult when eating out. That's why when we go on vacation next week I am happy that we have reserved a VRBO, I can control what I eat. Sure we will eat out sometimes but it won't be three meals a day out.
JK

JK, @contentandwell

That sounds like a good plan. I hope you have a lovely trip!

Teresa

Today I found a good meal for me, at least, at Applebee's. They have a smoked salmon on spinach and two sides. I got roasted veggies (squash and red bell peppers) and steamed broccoli. I don't like fish, but the salmon was not that extreme fish taste and was really good. I took my blood at the time after eating and it was 98! That is very good for me----anything under 100 makes me happy. I know salmon is on the "good: list of foods and the veggies are a usual for me, so I had fun eating out and having something that did not spike my blood. I have also found that eating at Cracker Barrel works for me, but only if I eat vegetables. that is proportioned already and my blood is always good after a vegetable plate. I get green beans, turnips, steamed broccoli and cabbage. Always under 100. I drink water and have no bread. So that's two meals I can eat out with not quilt.
Have fun on your vacation.

retiredteacher

@hopeful33250 Teresa thanks, we are on the first mini-leg, staying overnight at an airport hotel for our early flight tomorrow. I have been so busy this week that this the first time I have had time to get on!
JK