Nuts for COCONUT OIL

My aunt recently emailed me about a new diet she is testing out. I am typically on board with the new diets she tries, but this one was different. It is a fat-based diet called the ketogenic diet. The chart below paints a clear picture of what I am talking about.

Just for some context, the typical American diet is:

• 55% Carbohydrates
• 30% Fat
• 15% Protein

I was shocked and decided that I had to do some more research. Ketogenic diets are extremely popular right now! Recently, Americans are going nuts over the Bulletproof Coffee trend. This also falls in line with the ketogenic diet. The more I scoured the internet, the more I kept finding articles about ketogenic diets and T1 Diabetes. The key in this diet for diabetics is coconut oil--a kitchen product I have never purchased.

I am not going full-swing into the ketogenic diet, but I am implementing the coconut oil. Basically, this diet is low-carb. As a diabetic, I would say I aim for this on a daily basis. If you would like more information on ketogenic diets, read here.

I began by replacing all of my cooking oils with coconut oil. I typically use olive oil for EVERYTHING. If you do not like the coconut taste, don't worry unless you use too much! Please note that coconut oil is solid (like butter). Once you heat it, it will melt into oil. You cannot taste the coconut flavor unless you use too much. A little goes a long way! Another note--be sure to buy virgin coconut oil. Regular coconut oil usually has chemicals added in and it won't work as well as pure/virgin coconut oil.

Secondly, I began eating 2t of coconut oil every morning and have worked to eating 2T each day. It doesn't taste bad, but the texture takes some getting used to. Imagine spooning butter/margarine in your mouth. Needless to say, it feels a little uncomfortable at first.

I have tried many different "quick fixes" for my T1, but incorporating coconut oil into my daily routine has by far been the most dramatic. My blood sugar levels are low and stable throughout the day and I stay full longer. This is important for me because I am a HUGE snacker. Other than being my saving grace with my health, coconut oil has many other benefits. For example, my roommate began swishing some in her mouth to reverse a cavity. See below for a short list of the great benefits:

I plan to keep you all updated on my progress. I am excited to see what my next AIC is when I visit my endocrinologist in March. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. I would also love to from anyone who has adopted the ketogenic diet lifestyle or has incorporated coconut oil into their diet. 

The DiaBlogger 

Self-Control

Most people would tell you I am very organized, scheduled, and follow the rules. Typically I am. 

I strongly lack self-control in two areas of my life: eating and shopping. In these areas there are no rules for me. This becomes a problem for both my health and my wallet.

If I am craving something, I eat it. 

If I need want something, I buy it. 

I am currently sitting at Starbucks thinking about how I want to leave and pick up Chipotle before I babysit. No. Maybe yes. I will keep you posted. 

I am planning on posting soon about my health-related new years resolutions, but today I will give you a glimpse into how I am going to combat my bad habits. I think about ways to better my health every day, as I am sure many of you do. I wake up in the morning and think to myself I am not going to eat sugar today, I am going to check my blood sugar at least three times, I will drink plenty of water, etc. AND THEN I WAKE UP AND NONE OF THAT HAPPENS. 

I am motivated by incentives, so I am going to incentivize myself to eat healthy. I mentioned in an earlier post that I want to get back on Katie Couric's Fed Up Challenge. I fell off this band wagon, and I fell off hard. I also have a few big ticket purchases that I need to make. For every 10 days I can go without eating sugar, I will allow myself to purchase one item. 

When I get going on a diet and am truly committed, I find that it is hard for me to give in to one little temptation. I am trying to build back that endurance as holiday season approaches. My mom makes BOMB sugar cookies/cinnamon rolls, and it will take every thing I have to fight eating those at Christmas. I will start accepting prayers now. Thanks. 

Me failing at everything. 

What are some ways you keep yourself from falling into holiday temptations? 

PLEASE LMK. 

The DiaBlogger 

It's a sugar-(full)free life for me

A few months ago my Mom told me about the Fed Up movie--have you heard about it? It is basically a documentary that talks about the food industry and how much added sugar Americans consume on a daily basis. Watch the trailer here:

Along with the movie, producers Katie Couric and Laurie David created the Fed Up Challenge. In order to complete the challenge you have to eat on a no-sugar added diet for 10 days. Unfortunately I have a HUGE sweet tooth. This becomes an issue with my T1 very easily. I am trying to get better at saying no to sweets...but if someone is offering dark chocolate covered pretzels, I am taking them.

I read about the challenge and thought I could definitely do it. I should not be eating added sugar any day of my life, so I could at least go 10 days, right? It was more difficult than I thought! I think I am going to try this challenge again...starting tomorrow.

Read about the challenge and the rules here.

This challenged really helped me become better at reading labels. At the grocery store, I typically look at 4 parts of a nutrition label: Carbohydrates, Fiber, Sugar and Sodium. I look at how many grams of each are in the product. However, now I am better at looking at the actual ingredients listed. Katie Couric explains that a food label may show that it is low in sugar, but in the ingredients you can find all of the dangerous sugar chemicals that have been added. At the top of this post is a list of all the names for sugar. Watch out for these + if you see it listed, do NOT buy it.

Products you should stay away from that are not obvious include:

• crackers
• Nutrition bars/granola bars
• bread
• pasta
• sauces/condiments/dressings
• alcohol

Challenge yourself to complete this and WATCH the movie! It has some great information and is truly shocking.

The DiaBlogger

The cure is...now?

How many times have you heard: There will be a cure in 5 years...In the next 20 years nobody will have diabetes anymore...They are so close to finding an answer! 

I have heard this way too many times. After awhile I think I just began to zone it out. At my first endocrinologist appointment after a rough hospital stay (read my diagnosis story) I was shaking and crying as my nurse tried to check my blood sugar. It was too painful to get my finger pricked and I was not afraid to be defiant. Looking back at that image of myself makes me laugh and think "wow, you have no idea what is coming." The nurse tried to console me and started the well-rehearsed soothing lines... It is really okay. There will be a cure for diabetes in the next 10 years. It will be in your lifetime, you are going to be fine.

That was the first thing that made me perk up since being diagnosed. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad after all. Now, after living with diabetes for over 5 years it really just makes me laugh when I hear someone say that. You could say I have a negative outlook, but I think I am just realistic to a fault.

We have seen data on pancreas transplants, the bionic pancreas, different diets, etc. and things look promising, but not all that great. I was surprised this week when I read an article about these scientists at Harvard that are mass-producing new fully functioning beta cells. Check it out here. Beta cells are what produce insulin. Auto-immnune disease attacks these cells, and then we are left with manually injecting insulin into our bodies. Here is my favorite blunt quote from the article:

“A lot of the complications associated with manual insulin monitoring can lead to a lower quality of life.” Jeffrey Millman, a doctor in this research study 


Spot on, Jeffrey.

My biggest fear has always been that I will live for the discovery of how to stop T1 diabetes, but not be here for the day doctors learn to cure people already diagnosed with it. This research is exciting because the scientists were already able to rapidly cure one mouse in the experiment with their new cells. It is also exciting because I am an auto-immune cocktail recipe for disaster.

This is a huge breakthrough for the T1 community and for health research in general. If it is a potential cure, it will be years before we can get our hands on it. However, I am keeping my fingers crossed.

The DiaBlogger

Black Bean Brownies

I think that one of the most horrible parts about having T1 Diabetes, is knowing that I have the biggest sweet tooth of anyone I have ever met--dead serious. Clearly, this has become an issue time and time again. I think I am pretty good at controlling my cravings, but chocolate wins every time.

This recipe is a nice alternative to actual brownies. and ADDED BONUS: each brownie contains about 5g of protein AND 5g of fiber. This is obviously due to the main ingredient being black beans. I know it sounds disgusting, but you have to trust me..I think they might be better than actually brownies.

Here is the recipe:

Gluten-Free Brownies

 1 15oz Black Beans, rinsed and drained

3 eggs

3T vegetable oil

5T cocoa powder  (I added 6T)

1 pinch salt

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

¾ c sugar (can be substituted for artificial sweetener)

Nuts and chocolate chips (optional)  (I added chic chips--obviously) 

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth, absolutely NO chunks. Lightly grease 8x8 glass pan.  Bake 30 min @ 350°.

Enjoy this sweet treat along with some steady blood sugars!

xoxo

The DiaBlogger 

HELLO 2014 WORLD

Hi Everyone!

Sorry I have been MIA. My New Years resolution is to keep up in the blogosphere and not fall behind as much as I did in 2013---I fell about 6 months behind. oops. In my defense, I went to South America for a few weeks so cut my some slack!

I have made A LOT of New Years resolutions actually….so I feel like I need to narrow them down. Each year, I try to dedicate at least ONE resolution to my health. Because T1 is treatable and not curable (yet)…I think that there is always room for improvement with my diet and exercise regimen. I have learned that when I try to make a whole bunch of changes to my regimen, I just fail miserably. However, when I focus on one thing it is easier to make a habit out of it.

In 2013, I focused on cutting red meat out of my diet. In february, I will have successfully not had one meat in one year! I am a little reluctant to cut out all meat just because it is pure protein…and we all know that pure protein= no insulin.

Lately, I have been researching a lot about dairy products. I am curious as to what you guys think about this. Since cheese is also a protein that does not require insulin, I do not want to cut that out completely either. There has been a huge uprising against dairy products in the past year and I want to look more into it. If you are interested, check out this article. I think it shows great perspective to both sides of the argument.

xoxo
The DiaBlogger

T1 Support

Diabetes is a complicated disease that makes me personally feel like it is me vs. the world. It is a diagnosis that is isolating and depressing. Many patients that are diagnosed feel the heavy weight of the disease just due to the name. Our society paints a very negative picture around the disease, and sometimes just using it as a word to describe me makes me unbearably sad. It is difficult for me to be surrounded everyday by people who do not comprehend my constant struggle. Here is an article that discusses the severe risks that diabetics face when they do not seek out support.

I love my friends and family more than anything, but sometimes they are no the support system I need when it comes to my health. When I was first diagnosed, it was difficult for me to take my health seriously because nobody around me did. Sometimes I felt like people either underestimated or exaggerated my disease...there was nothing in between.

My biggest pet peeve is when people without diabetes try to correct something that is related to my health or act like they know how my diagnosis makes me feel. I do not always make the best choices for my health, but if I want some chocolate every once in awhile, I am NOT about to let my burdensome disease stop me.

Joining Glu was a turning point in my life with Diabetes. Glu and other online communities are so important for people who are looking for support and information. Being connected online has taught me so much about my health, and little tips and tricks that I never learned at my doctor's office.

I love communicating with other T1's online, because I feel like we are equal.

Another great option for people who want face-to-face support is finding a therapist or a local community. Many college campuses have College Diabetes Network (CDN) Chapters. This is a great way to connect with other people in your community that you can reach out to. Also, look at your community centers. This is an easy place to find groups that use the community centers for a meeting place. If you are striking out, always ask your doctor or nutritionist--they should be in the know, if not, we are in trouble!!

If you find yourself down in the dumps about your diagnosis, always remember this:

"If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back."

xoxoxo
The DiaBlogger

HERE COMES SUMMER

HOW TO: pump iron while pumping insulin.

Putting on a swimsuit is just not in my cards anytime soon. Now that nice weather is here to stay, I need to put my winter body away. However, this is much easier said than done when you throw diabetes into the mix. I have really been struggling with keeping weight off and also following my daily medical routine. I recently took up running, which I have really enjoyed, but have found that running has repetitively given me high blood sugars. This is extremely frustrating.

With summer approaching I need to find recreational activities that keep my blood sugar consistent. Is this possible?

Here is an interesting web page I found with tips on exercising with T1. 

For the most part, I think that the goodness of staying active and participating in physical activities outweighs the bad of a slight higher or lower blood sugar. It is so important to stay active with diabetes, because we hold on to fat so easily due to our insulin intake.

The trickiest part of dealing with my health during the summer is not wanting to lug all of my medicine and medical supplies around. I feel like I can never go anywhere without a giant bags to cover all of my “what-if” situations. BUT NEVER GO WITHOUT. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Plus, with my luck if I ever tried to go without….that would be the time that I find myself in a compromising situation. AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS wear a medical ID. 

Stay active and enjoy the fresh air and flowers!!!!

xoxo

The DiaBlogger 

Educating Co-Workers

I have always worked in retail, so I have never really been in a work environment that was too strenuous for my health to handle. My managers all know that if I work in the evening I have to take a quick break to shoot up some Lantus and check my BG periodically throughout my work shift.

My biggest concern with Diabetes in a workplace setting is not putting myself in a position where I feel unsafe but actually educating my co-workers on diabetes.

I think it is safe to say that we have all become comfortable with diabetes, we live with it. The problem is that  I think sometimes it is easy to forget to mention crucial things when explaining how to treat diabetes to others. We deal with this stuff ALL the time.

[True story, I had a dream the other night that I was out to dinner and before my meal I counted my carbs...in my dream. Needless to say, I was pretty impressed when I woke up. ]

So who do you educate, when do you tell them, and what do you say?

In my opinion, the most important people to educate are your superior, and the people that you are surrounded by the most. These will be the people who will notice a change in behavior or attitude that can be attributed a low blood sugar.

Depending on the job, I don't necessarily think that your health status needs to be brought up in an interview. However, after landing the job it is important to make your close co-workers aware. I have found that it is the easiest to bring up my struggles with T1 diabetes when I am out to lunch with somebody. It easily explains why I have made certain food choices or why I mysteriously leave for the restroom with a sack full of needles before each of my meals.

When you do talk to your co-workers, they may be overwhelmed if you over-educate them. You want to focus on telling them what a low blood sugar is and what they can do to help you.

Something I always share when educating people on my health is the way I act during a low blood sugar. I am usually stubborn and am adamant that I do not have a low blood sugar.

"I don't need to check my blood sugar, I'm fine"

That is probable when I do need to check my blood sugar. Make the people around of aware of this. I think that people feel like you know what you are talking about and do not want to bother you about your health. However, in situations like blood sugars it is important for them to step in.

xoxo
The DiaBlogger

Gluttony for Gluten

My favorite part of being diagnosed with T1 was sitting with my nutritionist and listening to the long list of fabulous diseases and disorders that I now have a 26% higher, 13% higher, 67% higher or 42% higher chance of getting. 

"Congratulations. You just got T1 Diabetes. Regardless if you take care of your health or not, here is a long list of problems you will probably come in contact with in your far, or not so very far, future."

Am I the only one who feels this way???

The only disorder that struck my attention the most from this looong list was Celiac Disease.  I think it caught my eye simply because gluten-free diseases have been so trendy recently. I am sure you are all aware...but just in case....Celiac Disease is a condition in which you must go on a strict gluten-free diet. 

FUN FACT: 3-8 % of people with type 1 diabetes will have biopsy-confirmed celiac disease. 

So...recently (over the past month or so) I have been experiencing some severe stomach pain after eating. I tried to track exactly what food I was eating that was causing the pain. Unfortunately, many of the meals I had pain after had a combination of dairy and gluten. When I ate dairy or gluten separately, I would have absolutely no stomach pain at all. This led my doctor to believe that my stomach pain was IBS related because it was also occurring during more stressful times for me. 

To make a long story shorter than I am making it....This past week, my stomach pain has evolved into some digestion issues. I will elaborate this way: when I eat gluten, I have about 5 minutes to get to the nearest bathroom. 

According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness:

Celiac disease associated with diabetes is usually silent, showing no symptoms, and may only be found upon screening. Signs and symptoms, such as abdominal pain, gas, bloating, malabsorption, weight loss, and abnormal liver function tests may also be seen and easily confused with poor glucose control of type 1 diabetes or gastroparesis - when the muscles in the wall of the stomach do not function normally.

So tonight, when I was low blood sugar I opted for eating a piece of toast with crunchy peanut butter. YUM. I was getting ready to leave my apartment to get on a 10 hour long Megabus ride home for the weekend. So I figured the toast would raise my blood sugar and the protein in the peanut butter would keep my blood sugar stable. 

CARBS  + PROTEIN= GOOD DECISION

TOAST= BAD DECISION

 I am not diagnosed with Celiac or gluten intolerance, but my body is speaking LOUDLY, clearly and very brownly [sorry if that was too much information]. 

Well, I am leaving you all there. Please, PLEASE let me know of your experiences with T1 & Celiac. I am new to the business. And wish me luck on my bus ride with my digestive issues..... only 8 more hors to go, right?

xoxoxo

The DiaBlogger

DON'T FORGET THE INSULIN!!

All of us have our own special ways to keep our diabetes supplies organized and accessible at all times...some of our ways are much better than others. I would hope that all of your organization tools are better than mine.

MY WAY: a gallon ziploc bag containing multiple humalog and lantus pens, handfuls of needles and alcohol swabs, a glucose monitor, extra testing strips, a glucagon pen, glucose tablets, and a tube of frosting.

It's quite a site watching me pull it out at sleepovers, restaurants, and in airports. I would love to know what goes through people's minds while they watch me pull out a ziploc bag full of frosting and needles. However, it is what works best for me.

The bad part is when I forget the bag....I forget everything. SO- I am definitely taking notes if anyone has suggestions on how I can better keep track of my supplies. I also am known to overpack (see picture above). So once I finally get my suitcase zipped, it is extremely depressing to see that I have packed everything I don't need and not the one thing I do need, my diabetes supplies.

When it comes to traveling, diabetes supplies are ALWAYS at the top of my travel list (right next to blankie and cell phone charger, obviously). Even though I always try to remember, I have been put in multiple situations where I did leave my bag and was left to venture on an insulin-less vacation...sounds great right?? But an insulin-less vacation is anything from fun as I am sure you have all experienced.

Here are my tips for you:

1. I know I feel too old to be reminded things, but there is NO shame in having a designated person to remind you while you are packing your things to pack your supplies. 
2. Write it at the TOP of your packing list. 
3. Pack supplies in your main suitcase as well as in your carry on. That way if you forget to throw the supplies in your carry on bag, at least you will have something to fall back on when you open your main suitcase. 
4. Switch your prescription over to a drugstore. I like to keep my prescriptions at a grocery store, however, having access to your medications at places such as CVS or Walgreens will come in handy when you are some place that your grocery store is not located. 

By the way, I have always wondered how needles are allowed through security? I am sure it is very common for the TSA to see needles in security, but I have never been stopped or questioned. Are they trained to look for certain needles? I have always been curious and would love to know. 

I'll being flying out to Pennsylvania next Thursday to see my grandparents for Easter. So maybe I will cross my fingers that the TSA stops me...just so I can ask them a few questions myself!

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and Spring Break. and please, please DON'T FORGET YOUR INSULIN. 

safe travels, 

The DiaBlogger 

HASHiMOTO

Hashi..whaaaat?

Yes. My body seems to have a things for diseases with asian names. Starting with my diagnosis of Kawasaki disease back in 2010, I have had a strange path of foreign-born illnesses.

However, Hashimoto is very common with us diabetic people. I knew that eventually I would be diagnosed with this thyroid disease, I just did not realize how soon it would sneak up on me.

When I recently visited my doctor, she instructed me to start taking Levothyroxine. I was very excited because I had clearly been gaining weight and been blaming my own laziness. It was nice to blame my thyroid for packing on the pounds rather than myself (lazy...right?).

My dad has recently started taking a thyroid pill as well, and we were shocked to learn all the details about taking a pill for hypothyroidism. There are some very strict rules when it comes to taking thyroid medication that I was pretty unaware of. I have done some research and here is my list of things YOU SHOULD KNOW if you are treating Hashimoto, or taking a pill to help your thyroid activity:

• Take pill as a single dose, 
• Take on an empty stomach, 
• Take in the morning, one-half to one hour before breakfast. 
• Take with a FULL glass of water
• Do not take with other medications. It can make the thyroid pill less effective. 
• Many experts recommend you take vitamins or supplements with iron at least two to three hours apart from thyroid hormone. Iron can interfere with thyroid hormone absorption if taken too close together.
• You should avoid infant soy formula, cotton seed meal, walnuts, and high-fiber foods while taking medication.

Following these rules have been difficult for me considering I wake up at different times each morning and usually start my day with a multivitamin. However, I have been doing alright for the most part and have seen great results.

happy bolusing...

The DiaBlogger

To Flu or Not to Flu

That is the question...

Is the true for Diabetics also?

As I sit here blogging out to all of you, I am of course stricken flu symptoms. I am not a huge fan of the flu, and as I am sure neither are you. Growing up, the flu had its positives--skipping school, full attention from mom, "my throat hurts"--unlimited supply of popsicles, etc. 

But now that I am living on my own...over 500 miles away from my mom, and as a T1 Diabetic, there are a lot more negatives. 

At the beginning of January, my mom pleaded that I get a flu shot. Of course, I did not listen. I know that my immune system is pretty shady and that I can pick up things easily, however, I am extra cautious when it comes to taking my vitamins and washing my hands. Also, I tend to get mixed answers from endocrinologists when it comes to getting a flu shot. Some say to get one no matter what. and others seem pretty wary to suggest getting one due to us having a week immune system. What do your doctors say?

I have yet to vomit--HOORAY! But I do have a pretty high fever and a sore throat. When I previously felt flu symptoms coming on about a month ago, I talked to a Pharmacist in order to find out what the best immune system booster is for Diabetics--Vitamin C!! My dad lives and breathes Alka-Seltzer for reasons that I am unsure of, and he insisted that I give it a try. The Pharmacist instructed me that Alka-Seltzer tablets and Airborne are basically a Vitamin C supplement with additives, mainly sugary additives that diabetics do not need. 

According to Ask Dr. Sears: “You don’t have to take in massive amounts of vitamin C to boost your immune system. Around 200 milligrams a day seems to be a generally agreed-upon amount. If you take vitamin C supplements, it’s best to space them throughout the day rather than take one large dose, most of which may end up being excreted in the urine.”

So, currently I am pretty high on Vitamin C in case you were wondering. Obviously now that I am sick I am not going to run out and get a flu shot, but in the future I wonder if I should?

The DiaBlogger 

Travel Snacks

Today I am starting my journey back to Kansas to see my family and friends for the holidays. Unfortunately, I waited too long to get a flight home so I am taking the Amtrak. I have taken the Amtrak before to Milwaukee from Chicago and it was a fabulous experience (that trip was an hour and a half). My trip from Chicago to Kansas City will take about 12 hours because I have a long stop in St. Louis.

My only opportunities to eat from 9am-9pm will be from food on the train cart (soda, crackers, candy, etc.) or at the Amtrak station in St. Louis. I am really looking forward to getting home with a good attitude...so that means good blood sugars all day. This triggered a day of finding healthy snacks that will keep my blood sugar balanced, keep me full, but also not take up a lot of room--I am taking A LOT back home.

Here is what I decided to pack:

-WATER: obviously water is key for all of us. The water offered on the train is in small bottles and is extremely overpriced so I made sure to bring a lot of my own.

-Tomatoes: I bought a small box of cherry tomatoes, simply washed them and put them in a Ziplock bag.

-Celery: and I brought a lot of celery. We all know that consuming celery actually helps you burn calories because the amount of effort it takes for your mouth to crunch up celery burns more calories than the calories you are digesting from the celery itself. This snack is always a winner in my book. I bought a bag of celery that I washed, cut, and put in Ziplock bags.

-Carrots: a small bag of pre-washed baby carrots were perfect for this trip. Plus we could always use some help with our eyesight, right?

-Craisins: these are easily packaged and are a good alternative to raisins because they have less sugar.

-Nuts: these are my salty snack. If I don't bring any, I know I would definitely be hitting up the chips on the snack cart. Plus they are a good source of protein.

-Apples: a healthy snack that fills me up and is easy to dispose of. I brought 3 Honeycrisp Apples. To me, these are the equivalent of eating a spoonful of sugar. I am hoping that these sweet treats with help away me from my chocolate cravings on the train.

-Oranges: I just brought one, but oranges are great for traveling because the thick peel keeps the actual inside of the fruit clean and sanitary so you can throw one in any bag and not have to worry too much about it. Cuties are a must if you are traveling with T1 kids.

-Cliff Bars: of course I brought my favorite kind, Blueberry. This is my snack with the most dense amount of carbs/sugar so it will be my lifeline during a plunging low blood sugar. Of course I have a small tube of frosting as well!

-Sandwich: as a main meal to make SURE I stay full, I went to the grocery store Deli and had a sandwich made and packaged for me to bring with me. I will probably eat 1/2 for lunch and 1/2 for dinner..unless I get too excited at lunch.


My trip is a little extreme because I will be traveling for 12 hours, however, all of the snack options are good for any kind of traveling or even going out for the day. Nobody wants to be the person to hold up a travel day because you are unprepared. bringing snacks that are prepackaged, easy to Carb-Count and also easy to carry around are key when it comes to traveling.


Have a safe holiday and keep that 70-140!!

By the Way, here were my menu choices. Thanks for aiding obesity and inconsistent blood sugars Amtrak. We appreciate it, truly. 👎👎👎