Someone else suggested skipping breakfast, but I've been advised by my endo not to due to the huge BG spike I get when doing so (even with a "pre-correction" bolus).
I like the idea of a bar or even a shake for breakfast, though. I'm pretty sure whey is milk so I'd have to find something else, but thanks for the idea!
Someone else suggested tofu and I really like the idea, will definitely check it out when I get home. Thanks!
Pre-cooked meat would be awesome, but it's really hard to find without either wheat, egg, or potato starch (I'm very allergic to potatoes as well). I'll definitely keep my eye out for some pre-cooked meat I can have, though! (And I also like the idea of scrambled tofu!)
Jen, I have a question due to curiosity. Not a suggestion for you. But has an allergist ever suggested the newish method of "de-sensitizing" you to certain allergic foods? I have read a few times about kids being able to overcome peanut sensitivity by supervised tiny does over time, by the allergist, until eventually the kid is no longer allergic to peanuts.
This is a different approach than allergy shots, of courselI don't know if this would work for you or if it is mainly for kids. Good luck on breakfast. I can't eat eggs every day due to preference so it is hard to get protein with my picky eating habits--not allergies. I don't like meat alone either!
Jen, I don't like meat much, eggs nor peanut butter. I wonder about soup, you could make a big pot of soup at the weekend and portion it out so you can just heat some up every day.
There is also a new Special K out that is low carb, but that may not be wheatfree, I haven't checked.
Bacon, could you add bacon to your tofu scramble? My sister is wheat and dairy sensitive and has found a few gluten free breads she can eat.
Not sure how you react to rice, but there is a rice porridge available.
Hugs, Maureen
Look in the frozen section, pre-cooked sausages. There are a few brands and types. Here's a link to one: SAUSAGE Ingredients: TURKEY, WATER, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS: POTASSIUM LACTATE, SALT, SPICES, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, DEXTROSE, SUGAR, SODIUM PROPIONATE, SODIUM DIACETATE, BHT, CITRIC ACID, CARAMEL COLOR.
The amount of sugar is trivial (one gram carb per three links) and added so they'll brown. But check them all out and you may find one with no sugar at all or fewer chemicals (if you care). As I said, very quick and easy in the microwave.
I have had allergy shots suggested a few times for my environmental allergies (trees, grass, cats, dogs, dust mites, etc.) because they are quite severe, but it would require going to the doctor's office once a week for six months to a year, and then once a month for three to five years. I don't know how it would be feasible while working full-time. Allergy shots can't be done with food allergies because of the risk of a severe reaction.
As far as I know, the oral immunotherapy is still experimental. I've seen articles about it for kids with peanut and milk allergies, but I don't think it cures the allergy, it just makes it so they can tolerate traces of their allergen without going into anaphylactic shock.
With the exception of my potato allergy (which is an anaphylactic allergy but is so rare that I doubt it will ever be seriously studied) the issues I'm dealing with now are a bit different in that it's not that my immune system is launching a full-scale nuclear attack on the food proteins, but rather that the immune system is attacking in a more delayed and chronic fashion. It's sort of more like celiac disease than anaphylaxis, from what I've read. I won't die if I eat a peanut, but if it's one of the foods my immune system is attacking it causes swelling and inflammation of my esophagus, which can lead to long-term damage like scarring, unpleasant symptoms, and even emergencies like having food get stuck for hours.
I have a visalus shake great for diabetic's
hey too avoid spikes try taking a medicine(after consulting your doctor) that stops liver from secreting excess sugar in our blood specially after meals... i faced the same problem of sudden high and low blood sugar...Good Luck.Bless you
I sometimes have Coconut Chia Seed Pudding for breakfast -- found on the blog of a fellow Type 1. The texture reminds me a little bit of rice pudding. I tend not to bolus for it before eating because the chia seeds slow down the rise in my blood sugar so much -- I just watch the CGM and correct very slightly when and if needed.
Another go-to for me that doesn’t involve eggs is this smoothie:
1 cup of almond milk
1/2 avocado
1 cup strawberries
The smoothie is creamy due to the avocado and contains about 9 grams of effective carbs.
I second the chia seed pudding. There is a great recipe for a chia seed breakfast bowl from the oh she glows blog. If your blood sugar can tolerate a whole banana in the morning this may be a good option. I mix in whatever I have on hand and ignore her suggestions for toppings. The stuff tastes good but if you have texture issues, it may not work so well.
I also like to eat different types of green smoothies. I throw in a banana, spinach, almond milk, chia/flax seeds, ice, and either berries or some type of nut and chocolate flavored powder and some stevia. You can also use 1/2 an avocado in place of a banana for the thick/smooth texture. I’ve changed up the ingredients a lot with different suggestions from pinterest to find a smoothie that works with my blood sugars.
Thanks for the idea! Unfortunately bananas are out as I'm also allergic to them, but I'm sure I could find something else to substitute in a smoothie, like an avocado. I need to get a new blender, though; I bought a cheap $20 one hoping to use it to make smoothies last summer, and it can't even blend ice. I'd like to get a really good one, but they cost like $500.
Geez! I do not envy your situation at all! If you are looking for something just to make smoothies, I would highly recommend the ninja pulse. It runs for about 80 bucks but comes with a couple of good sized cups/travel lids and a medium sized blender cup. The downfall of it, however, is that you actually have to hold the cup down to blend just like you would with a magic bullet. I have a couple ninja products, though, and have had good success for a lower price. Good luck!
Thanks for the recommendation! Will definitely look into it. I don't mind having to hold it down - in fact I like that because it makes it safer IMO.
I just wanted to add that, if you do make that smoothie, the strawberries I use are frozen. (I failed to note that above.)
Thanks! I'll definitely need a new blender before trying that; my current one can't handle ice or frozen berries. :(
Could you use soy protein powder? You can buy it in huge tubs at the health food store and put it in just about anything. I can't do soy, but have used rice protein powder with good success. Maybe if you added it to your oatmeal it would smooth out the spike.
What about the vegetarian "meat" products? I know a lot of them have wheat in them, but if you search the celiac boards you might find some suggestions for the brands that do not. They cook up in minutes in the microwave. Sunshine Burgers, for example, have 8 grams of protein per burger (http://www.sunshineburger.com/) From their website:
"Sunshine Burgers are a great choice for many people who have food sensitivities and allergies because they are free of: gluten, wheat, soy, corn, oats, dairy, eggs, treenuts and peanuts."
How about youbars? They are pricey, but you can build your own bar with a host of ingredients, including several protein sources. They even have a high protein bar. They do not guarantee that your bar will not be cross contaminated, though. I'm not sure how strict you need to be with avoiding the allergens.
Have you tried quinoa? It's fairly low GI and has a fair amount of protein. I think you can even buy it pre-cooked in the frozen food section. I have seen quinoa-based porridge and breakfast cereal in the store, but haven't checked the carb count. If you buy plain, dried quinoa, don't forget to rinse it before you cook it ... the first time I made it, I didn't know to rinse it and it tasted awful. Maybe also try buckwheat porridge?
About the fake cheese ... I tried (and liked) Daiya. It doesn't have a lot of protein, but was a good substitute when I just wanted cheese. Almond yogurt is pretty good too.
I also second the avocado suggestion. They are filling and easy to prepare. I even like them straight out of the skin with a spoon.
Thanks for all the ideas! My mom found quinoa biscuits for me that I really like (taste like chocolate chip cookies but are gluten-, dairy-, egg-, and nut-free). My allergist said to be strict, but I don't worry about "may contains" labels, otherwise I wouldn't be able to eat anything processed at all. I have already been mostly avoiding milk due to having reactions immediately after drinking it - was pretty sure I had an allergy. So I'm already drinking things like almond milk and coconut yogurt. Didn't know there was almond yogurt, though, that sounds good. I got some Daiys "cheese" and quite like it, too. Made a successful gluten- and dairy-free grilled cheese sandwich yesterday that tasted different but still pretty good.
Since starting this new diet my insulin requirements have dropped quite a bit, maybe because my body is settling down a bit! I've also found that if I am meticulous about weighing and measuring everything and being exact about calculating carbohydrates, my blood sugar is fine after eating. The first few days it was definitely spiking, and maybe the fact that I'm having to lower my insulin each day is contributing to the lower two-hour reading.
I had blood tests done that indicate my body is producing IgE antibodies toward not only wheat, milk (by far the highest), peanuts, and eggs, but also shrimp, sesame, and soy. My symptoms have improved but haven't resolved yet, so I suspect my allergist may ask me to avoid some of the other foods that were positive on the blood test (at the appointment he only asked me to avoid things that were positive on the skin test). So for now I'm just buying smaller quantities of foods in case my diet changes again when I see him in a few months. I'm pretty sure that milk is completely off the table forever, though, between my past reactions (throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, voice changing sometimes, upset stomach) and the highly positive blood test.
I'm impressed, Jen, with how flexible you're being about all the food limitations. And I'm very excited for you that you might finally be getting a handle on all this allergy stuff!
I'm excited, too—partly why I'm so motivated. This allergist is SO much better than the one I saw a few years ago who just said I had seasonal allergies and needed allergy shots! Even though I was only referred for food allergy testing due to EoE, this allergist also stressed the importance of making environmental changes to get my environmental and seasonal allergies under control, and he has me taking medication to get my nose, lungs, and throat inflammation under control. He was very serious about how allergic I was, which sort of freaked me out, but at the same time is really good!