Eating out and special occasions

Eating out was one of the most daunting prospects when I transitioned to an alkaline lifestyle, however it needn’t have been. Eating out should be fun and I tend to relax what I eat when I go out. I personally always chose the vegetarian option, but still enjoy pasta, rice dishes and even cheese.

The aim of the diet is to balance 80:20 alkaline to acid foods.  Therefore, it’s helpful if you can pick where you eat. Steak houses and fish restaurants are often a bit confused if I ask for a vegetarian meal! In terms of the chain-restaurants, my favourites are Giraffe and Wagamama. Otherwise, Thai, Indian, Chinese and Mexican restaurants are a good bet, but check that they don’t use MSG.

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Eating Out & Special Occasions

Eating Out & Special Occasions
For the first weeks after diagnosis, you may be nervous about taking your child out for dinner. Many restaurants will supply nutritional information about their dishes if you ask. As well, you shouldn’t feel shy about explaining to waiters that someone in the family has diabetes and that you need to know if the meal will be delayed. If so, eating a breadstick or some crackers until the meal arrives is a good idea. These foods should be included as exchanges or part of the meal’s carbohydrates. Rapid-acting insulin gives you a huge benefit when you eat out. Your child’s injection can be given when the meal is served, with the dose adjusted to the meal’s carbohydrate content.
Friends who don’t know much about diabetes may be worried about what to feed your child. It helps to take the lead. Invite friends over first so they can see that your child still eats hot dogs, just as he used to. When eating at a friend’s house, ask what time they plan to serve dinner and provide some guidance. Children may be able to switch their bedtime snack and dinner, if dinner is being served much later than usual.
Special occasions
Birthdays
For many people, a birthday is not complete without a cake. Children with diabetes can still enjoy birthday cake. In fact, many children are so excited at birthday parties that most of their food stays on their plates. If your child is attending a birthday party (his own or a friend’s) the key is to ensure that you or the adult in charge knows your child needs to eat something. If your child’s blood sugar is high that evening, note the reason in your child’s logbook, and move on.
Hallowe’en
Hallowe’en is a special time of year for many children and parents. Children with diabetes shouldn’t lose out on the chance to dress up and parade around the neighbourhood in search of treats. Treats can be given out at certain times and worked into the meal plan. Remember to plan for the extra activity on Hallowe’en with extra food. Perhaps your child could have one small chocolate bar for each 20 to 30 minutes out on the streets. Other treats can be part of a meal or snack, or they can be used as extra food for planned activities. Remember how you handled Hallowe’en candy before your child had diabetes, and try not to make too much of it. Trade some of the lollipops, candy, and regular gum for chips, sugarless gum, or even a trip to the movies. Be creative!
Fasting
Fasting, for religious occasions like Ramadan or Yom Kippur, is extremely risky for anyone who takes insulin. Generally, people with diabetes do not have to join in these rituals. Check with your religious advisor.



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Meals eat birthday occasions

How to Practice Mindful Eating While Celebrating


Being mindful of your eating habits can be difficult when you are celebrating. During the holidays and on special occasions you often experience a change of routine. With this change usually comes exposure to foods that you wouldn’t normally eat. Social pressures during special occasions coupled with many hours of sedentary socializing time can often lead to weight gain. Practicing mindful eating will make a positive difference.

Be Mindful of Your Food Choices

Whether the occasion is a birthday party or a Thanksgiving meal, you can practice mindful eating by paying attention to your food choices. If you are hosting a birthday party for your child, for example, you might have a small slice of cake, but also have nutritious snack foods available. Fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts and vegetables with dip are some of the healthier options that can be enjoyed by you and others who are interested in watching calories.

When attending a holiday gathering in someone’s home, be mindful of choosing the healthiest food options. You might remove the skin from turkey, the fat from meat or limit the amount of gravy on your mashed potatoes. Being mindful in these situations means still enjoying your favorite foods on the table, but in a way that will not leave you feeling regretful.

Limit Food Quantity and Savor the Taste of Food

Mindful eating during celebrations entails tuning in during meal times. Sometimes it’s easy to become distracted by talking to people you haven’t seen in a long time. Then you suddenly realize that you have eaten way too much. When you sit down to enjoy a meal during a family holiday celebration or a birthday party, be mindful of portion sizes and quantities. You can avoid returning for seconds by eating slowly and really savoring the taste of the delicious food.

Mindful Preparation for Special Occasions

The change of routine and eating habits brought on by holiday celebrations and special occasions can interrupt your diet plan. Mentally prepare for these occasions ahead of time. If you know that your annual visit to your relative’s house is filled with social pressure to eat large quantities of fattening foods, prepare for this situation in advance. Think about how you might respond to repeated offers of food. Often, making such mindful decisions ahead of time can strengthen your resolve to enjoy celebration meals in moderation. You might also consider eating a much smaller breakfast and lunch on days that you will be attending a special occasion dinner. Be mindful, however, not to starve yourself. This strategy can often backfire by leading to binge eating.

Exercise before the Celebration

In some situations, eating foods you normally wouldn’t eat is an inevitable part of taking part in celebrations. You might try to prepare for this by engaging in a good aerobic workout in the days leading up to the special occasion. An extra lap around the block, an extra ten minutes on the treadmill or an extra mile on your bike might be just what you need to make room for the extra calories you will be enjoying during celebration time.



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