I had a half day at work today, because the other day, I realized it had been a few months since I had seen my diabetes doctor. I called, said it was time to make a check up, and casually asked “when was the last time I saw the doctor?” She said “are you sitting down?” DECEMBER 2008! What? I could not believe it had been that long, and I am supposed to follow up with him every three months!
So I was reprimanded by my doctor, and I deserved it. While I consider myself to be a very controlled diabetic, its all in the numbers! My diabetes friends Pubsgal and Foodie know how important this is! So I hung my head down with shame, and vowed that I would return in January! I had my blood drawn, still need to do the fasting tests, and hopefully the numbers that come back are good ones! 😀
So enough of that, let’s talk about the food! Breakfast was an egg white spinach sammie on an Arnold Thin with 6 ounces of cantaloupe on the side. The smell of cantaloupe alone transports me to the kitchen table of my grandmother – I’d sit in the chair by the back door, feel the summer breeze coming through the screen, and swing my feet back and forth since they didn’t reach the floor and watch my Grammy cut the cantaloupe and put it on the table in a big bowl. It’s weird how a smell can transport you in time! Do you have any smells like that?
Since my doctor appointment wasn’t until 3:30, Tony and I decided to have lunch out! We started out with the hummus appetizer – I had approximately 4 heaping tablespoons of hummus, and 3 pita triangles and carrots.
For my entree, I decided to go with the grilled buffalo chicken salad. Sadly, it was light breaded chicken! I meant to look back at the menu, but I forgot. I ate 3 of the chicken strips, about 3/4 of the greens, a teaspoon of blue cheese and the equivalent of about 2 tablespoon of ranch dressing – I did the dipping fork method!
And I had to have a tiny bite of Tony’s burger – Monday’s specialty at this place is build your burger for $5! And Tony always gives me his pickle!
The cutest thing was that the owners son waited on us, and he was about 10 years old? We sit at the bar, up walks this kid “what can I get for you to drink?” We both ask for diet cokes, he brings us our drinks, hands us menus, takes our order, and with the help of his Dad enters it into the computer! When we handed him our payment, I asked if he got to keep the tip and he smiled and said “usually!”
So as I was waiting for the doctor, they had this poster on the wall.
See the portions? 1/2 non-starchy veg, 1/4 protein, 1/4 carb, dairy, fruit. Sadly today’s eats has me at 44% fat, even though my calories were under 1400! I think I am going to have to revamp my whole meal plan! The good part about today’s doctors appointment? It was at his main office, which just happens to be two blocks away from my favorite Japanese grocery store!
I immediately thought of Mara when I saw all the sushi to go!
But you know what I thought of as I was half way home? I never looked for kobacha!! And Sophia and Maggie told me the best place to get it is at a Chinese or Japanese grocery store – never even thought to look!
I got home about my usual time that I would have if I had worked – and dinner was already in the making – I had marinated steaks in balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic and fresh rosemary. It looked good, but we really couldn’t taste any marinade and the steak itself was sub-par – luckily our dog enjoyed what we didn’t eat! I also did Pam fried polenta on the side. When I was making Joe’s margarita pizza (which my photo made it on Tastespotting!) Tony looked up a recipe for it and it called for diced tomatoes with olive oil, garlic, Italian seasonings – but when Joe came over, the one he had didn’t have any tomatoes, so I decided to spoon that mixture over our polenta – that was really good!
I did the steak on our indoor cast iron grill – but I smoke up the house so bad using this method! When there is a fog of smoke, or the smoke detector goes off, you know Biz is in the kitchen! :D
I also made a chopped salad for me with Annie’s dressing.
My plate – I had about 3 ounces of the steak – such a bummer because it looks so good!
Stats for the Day:
- 1354 calories
- 66 fat
- 80 protein
- 112 carbs
- 17.9 fiber
- 44% of calories from fat 🙁
- no exercise
Hope everyone survived their Monday – I could get used to working half days! :D See you tomorrow night!
great job getting on tastespotting, your pics are always fantastic! what a fun grocery store, i need to look around and see if we have something like that here!
I love your blog and your photography- what an inspiration! I love going into Asian grocery stores and finding new things to try, plus, the produce is usually cheaper.
Have a great day!
Yes, I love memories that come with smells. Sweet potato smells always remind me of Thanksgiving with my family 🙂 (Which I will be going to this year! We are moving back east!)
I love Mitsuwa; I didn’t know they were a nationwide chain. Their kabochas aren’t always ripe though 😛
Reference to your comment on my blog- Yes…. I bet there will be some good drama with Tracey tonight!! 😀
-A
Glad you made it to the Dr…. FINALLY! Ha! Don’t feel bad! You went and I’m sure all your blood work will be great! 😀
I LOVE Asian markets!! I could stay in them for EVER! BL tonight!!!! Yay!
-A
Oh, I know how time can whip by without us being aware of it. I’m late on my mammogram and my eye appointment. You take good care of yourself, Biz, so I’m sure you’ll be fine.
I struggle with the fats, too. I suspect that I swapped my sweet tooth for a salt-and-fat tooth (mmm, roasted nuts!). Guess now that I’ve got fiber to be a pretty reliable habit, it’s time to work on the fats. *sigh*…
I struggle with the fat to calorie ratio too. My doc has been having me eat slightly lower carb because I’m a thyroid patient. But that means I usually end up putting some extra protein in, which ultimately usually means higher fat than I would like. Looking at your diet for this day I’d say it was probably the hummus that did it to you. At least it was good fat.
I read/learned somewhere (psychology maybe?) that smells are the biggest memory triggers – I have LOADS of those kind of things 🙂
I need to try polenta! Congrats on the Tastespotting photo!!
I really love Mitsua too! I like going there when we’re in Chicago!
The trader joes polenta is the best – I like making “fries” out of it and baking it in the oven. Yum!
Um.. oops? LOL I am scheduled for a new blood draw in December. I haven’t been doing well with my eating though. Reading your blog gives me inspiration to get back on track 🙂 My foot’s been hurting so it’s been giving me an excuse not to walk. I need to get over that and limp around the block today!
I need to search your blog for that flat bread recipe, I love those sandwich things too!
I guess it’s easy to forget the doctor aspect of diabetes when you manage it so well via your diet and blood tests…glad you finally remembered to get in, though!
i love how you have such delicious meals and keep your calories low. now i just need a bigger grocery budget =)
lol, shame on you! But honestly, I think you are the best-eating person with diabetes! I’m sure the results will come out stellar! Meanwhile, forget abt it and continue on with your healthy GOOD eats! 🙂
hi there!
i just wanted to leave a msg about how much of an inspiration you are to me =)
i was just recently diagnosed w/ type 2 diabetes at the age of 24. i’m currently on 2 medications, and have started the whole “dieting” process… eating in moderation, calorie counting… blaaaaaaah! *always hungry*
i love how i can come back to your blog and see that i can still enjoy delicious food, and even learn new recipes while still keeping the diabetes under control.
in the week that i’ve known of my diabetes, stumbling across your blog has probably been the best thing that’s happend to me all week =)
thanks for being an awesome blogger!
<3 Jhen
That is so sweet! Thanks Jhen! 😀
Glad you made it to the doctor! It’s sometimes amazing how quickly time passes…
I love Mitsuwa. My goal this week is to buy and make kobacha. We’ll see if I’ll FINALLY do it! 😉
Polenta! One of the foods I’ve never cooked w/!! Mmm that steak DOES look so good! I always try to follow that 1/2, 1/4, 1/4 plate rule. Although, I’m not really a fan of starchy stuff anyways, so sometimes it’s more like 3/4 veg, 1/4 protein.
Oh, I can relate to the Cantaloupe — My Nan ALWAYS had cantaloupe and hot-buttered biscuits during the summer!
I miss her so. Whenever I get the chance to have cantaloupe, I always take a bite or two for her!
I saw that polenta at TJs the other day and I forgot to grab it – I always forget how much I like it!
I know whatcha mean about the smell thing – lots of smells do it for me, some bad, some good! 🙂
I totally know what you mean about smells transporting you in time. That happens to me quite often actually. Whether it’s a perfume, or a food smell, sometimes even shampoo!
It’s almost been a year since you’ve seen your diabetes doctor??? Shame on you! As your RD, I think you’ve been doing just fine, better than most diabetics for sure. Your doctor will be proud either way.
OMG I LOVE MITSUWA!!!!
We were going to go yesterday and then changed our minds… I would’ve forgotten to look for kabocha too, mostly because I’d get sidetracked by the sushi!