PICTURE POST II!

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The closest thing I could possibly get to going vegetarian is my fondness for cheese pizza.

Give up meat? Forget it. I enjoy eating it too much. I may like my pizza without meat, but I also love a good Philly cheesesteak.

[RoJoHen]

I don't trust a meal that doesn't contain some form of meat. And actually, if I go more than a day without meat, my skin starts to break out. So...yeah, I'm not giving up meat any time ever.

[CorporalClegg]

iguana_tonante wrote:

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One thing I agree with RoJoHen, salad dressings are doubleplusungood. Olive oil, salt, maybe some lemon juice or vinegar. If you need anything else, your salad is not worth much to start with.

Agreed.

This pretty much sums up my typical dressing as well. Sometimes I add a small spoonful of dijon to give it a little bite.

Oh and +1 on tea's "going veggie" thread.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The only times I ever eat salad, I absolutely drench it in ranch dressing and bacon bits.

[thestrangequark]

J. Allen wrote:

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I had tried once before, some years ago, and managed for a year. This time it's much more important to me. My blood glucose was in the upper 240s four days in a row, and coupled with my blood pressure being high, and the likelihood that I have high cholesterol (can't afford the blood test to know for sure), and I said "that's it, I've had enough."

I know that as a vegetarian, I can at least bring my blood sugar and blood pressure under better control.

Firstly, a very genuine good for you and good luck! I've known type 2s who just didn't care, and didn't even try to care for themselves. That you're making the effort is awesome, and I know that as a type 1 I can't "get it" the way another type 2 could, but if you ever need support or suggestions, I've been navigating diabetes since I was 12, and I know my way around a bit, so feel free to ask!

Secondly, as you probably know, J, I can't let any inexactitude or possible misinformation slide anywhere ever (I try, I really do!), so I wanted to be sure that you knew that meat doesn't affect blood sugar! It is one of the few foods that doesn't! There are a ton of great health benefits from going vegetarian, like weight loss and lower cholesterol, but eating meat won't directly affect your glucose levels. I say directly, because diabetes is complicated as fuck; if you lose weight by going veggie, that will most likely affect your glucose, and the fat and protein in meat slow carbohydrate absorption, which is generally good for blood sugar control. I'm not trying at all to dissuade you from your vegetarianism, I just want to share any information and experience I can, because information and experience are the best tools in dealing with diabetes.

In my own experience, vegetarianism was hard on my control, but the saying is true: Your Diabetes May Vary.

Now, for salad dressings, I have to disagree with the iguana. I love experimenting with new dressings, and I like trying different kinds to compliment what I've put in my salad (both homemade and store bought). One of my favorites is to mix a tablespoon of tahini with a splash of vinegar, a squirt of lemon juice, a little water, and some pepper. There's a grocery near me that carries a really nice fig dressing, and when I visit Seattle I try to pick up a bottle of local blackberry dressing.

[iguana_tonante]

Well, my experience with salad dressings is somewhat limited to what is found in Europe, so it might be skewed. Let's say we have a salad together, and if I like it, and you can get your hands on my prized Modena's traditional balsamic vinegar collection.

[thestrangequark]

^Oh, that sounds good!

I had a salad tonight, too. Sauteed asparagus and mushrooms over baby kale and fresh parsley, chives, cherry tomatoes, and slivered almonds, with a light and slightly sweet soy-based coleslaw dressing. It was lovely.

[J. Allen]

thestrangequark wrote:

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Firstly, a very genuine good for you and good luck! I've known type 2s who just didn't care, and didn't even try to care for themselves. That you're making the effort is awesome, and I know that as a type 1 I can't "get it" the way another type 2 could, but if you ever need support or suggestions, I've been navigating diabetes since I was 12, and I know my way around a bit, so feel free to ask!

Secondly, as you probably know, J, I can't let any inexactitude or possible misinformation slide anywhere ever (I try, I really do!), so I wanted to be sure that you knew that meat doesn't affect blood sugar! It is one of the few foods that doesn't! There are a ton of great health benefits from going vegetarian, like weight loss and lower cholesterol, but eating meat won't directly affect your glucose levels. I say directly, because diabetes is complicated as fuck; if you lose weight by going veggie, that will most likely affect your glucose, and the fat and protein in meat slow carbohydrate absorption, which is generally good for blood sugar control. I'm not trying at all to dissuade you from your vegetarianism, I just want to share any information and experience I can, because information and experience are the best tools in dealing with diabetes.

In my own experience, vegetarianism was hard on my control, but the saying is true: Your Diabetes May Vary.

Now, for salad dressings, I have to disagree with the iguana. I love experimenting with new dressings, and I like trying different kinds to compliment what I've put in my salad (both homemade and store bought). One of my favorites is to mix a tablespoon of tahini with a splash of vinegar, a squirt of lemon juice, a little water, and some pepper. There's a grocery near me that carries a really nice fig dressing, and when I visit Seattle I try to pick up a bottle of local blackberry dressing.

Thanks, tsq. Yeah, I remember that meat is a zero point food, but I guess I've just stopped wanting it. Plus, I won't lie, I actually had more energy today. I did a spontaneous "running man" for a good 10 seconds. Seriously, just out of nowhere I started doing the running man, and then it was gone.

I'm going to steal some of these ideas, and all the great ideas from teacake, too!

[Mr. Laser Beam]

J. Allen wrote:

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I did a spontaneous "running man" for a good 10 seconds. Seriously, just out of nowhere I started doing the running man, and then it was gone.

So I take it you killed all of the stalkers in the game zone?

[lurok]

I'll second a J.Allen veggie/healthy eating thread. Couscous is one of my favorites. Very quick and easy. Apart from Caesar salad dressing, only oil/balsamic.

[thestrangequark]

^That is a good idea. Come on, J, get crackin'!

[Robert Maxwell]

iguana_tonante wrote:

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Well, my experience with salad dressings is somewhat limited to what is found in Europe, so it might be skewed. Let's say we have a salad together, and if I like it, and you can get your hands on my prized Modena's traditional balsamic vinegar collection.

Balsamic vinaigrettes are about the only type of dressing I like anymore. Yum.

[thestrangequark]

^They're good, but they get boring after awhile! Carrot ginger is another yummy dressing, and easy to make too.

[Robert Maxwell]

I mainly just don't like the really thick and heavy ones anymore, which are so common in the US.

[thestrangequark]

^I do agree with that. There are a couple of creamy-ish dressings I like, but they tend to be on the lighter side. Ranch and bleu cheese dressings are way to heavy for salads, but yummy for dipping.