Lucky Me!

Lucky for me, red lentils are allowed back into my diet during the second week of my detox. Which is awesome since I've been craving the Red Lentil-Pumpkin Dal from my Lunchbox Challenge.

Lentils are one of those tricky little foods for diabetics. They're carby, like most beans, but also have a lot of fiber and a low glycemic index. Which in non-diabetes terms means I can eat them!
Unfortunately, gluten is still not part of the diet during this detox, but I'll share the 5-minute Naan bread anyway because it really is sooooo good with this dish.

Red Lentil Pumpkin Dal


Ingredients
3/4 c red lentils
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 can tomato paste
1/2 c pumpkin puree
1 tbsp curry powder
1 tbsp tikka masala spice blend
1 c veggie broth
1 handful of cilantro
salt and pepper
olive oil
Plain yogurt (optional)

Method
1. Heat up oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic. Cook until translucent.
2. Add red lentils and saute for a few minutes until lentils' color deepens slightly. Mix in spices and seasonings.
3. Add pumpkin, tomato paste, and veggie broth. Stir well. Turn down heat to medium low and allow to simmer for about 40 to 45 minutes or until lentils are soft and most of the broth has been incorporated.
4. Allow the lentils to cool down slight before adding chopped cilantro. Top with a dollop of plain yogurt to finish.

5-minute Naan
Adapted from Edible Perspective


Ingredients
1/2 large egg or 2 tbsp egg whites
4 tbsp milk of choice
1/4 c flour of choice
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp curry powder

Method

1. Heat a small sauté pan over medium heat with a little oil.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the ingredients.  The batter will be runny.  Add more milk if needed.
3. Pour into the heated pan and turn the pan so it’s evenly spread around.  Let cook for about 2-3min, until bubbles form on top and able to be flipped.
4. With a large spatula, carefully flip and cook for another 2-3min, or until golden brown.
5. Eat right away, or let cool, wrap tightly and refrigerate.

Doubled Over

On the first day of my detox, I was doubled over in pain.

It's not clear how much that had to do with the detox or my stupidity. I had a dull pain start in my back and slowly creep its way over to my side and lower abdomen. Intially, I tried to ignore it, thinking it was fleeting cramps or something.

But as the day progressed, it got more intense. I began racking my brain for possible causes. I googled different ailments and the locations of certain organs. Was this my pancreas trying to bust out? Figuring he wasn't working anyway might as well take a road trip? Seriously. I googled the location of my pancreas. No, pancreas was too high for this pain. What about an appendicitis? That sounds like it could hurt. Nope, wrong side.

Between my writhing and fruitless google searching, I gave in and went home. Only to realize in the car that I had eaten raw almonds on an empty stomach earlier that day. For some reason, I always forget that raw almonds will cause me to feel as though an alien is trying to escape into the outside world by ripping its' way through my bellybutton until the damage has been done and I'm trying to decide if I should pull over to the side of the road to take the fetal position in the backseat of my car!

And, of course, it always passes.

A couple hours after arriving home (or, rather, to Jerry's), I felt fine. And hungry. Keeping with this detox is hard, especially when you think it's trying to kill you...and you go to the diner for dinner.
Truth be told, I did pretty well by just eating the salad bar and a bowl of vegetarian-friendly lentil soup. Yay me.

Out of the Box

As part of my detox, I've been spending some time with my old friend, the Smoothie!

I use to be a frequent smoothie-maker. Until diabetes, that is!

I eventually cut myself off from them. It wasn't one of those "I have no self-control, so I'm going to take this jar out of the garbage and eat it" cut-offs. It was more of a "I'm a diabetic now and figuring out insulin for a smoothies seems too hard" kind of cut-offs.

My smoothie making ability was further impacted when I decided that I was only going to eat local and organic foods, which, unfortunately limits the amount of fruit you can put into a smoothie. When was the last time you saw a banana tree growing in the North East? I usually use bananas as a creamy base for my smoothies, but while on a trip to Coast Rica, I actually "toured" a banana plantation. I use the word "toured" loosely because really all we did was watch hard-working citizens of this third world country in the Dole Banana Factory while crazy gringos snapped souvenir pictures to bring home!

When I combine that image with the thought of how those bananas make it to our shelves here in the US, you can understand my hesitation of consumption.

However, this recent detox inspired me to think outside the box when it comes to my smoothies. Here's an array of "outside of the box" smoothie recipes that are surprisingly delicious! No. Really.

Sweet Tater Smoothie

Ingredients
1/2 c sweet mashed potatoes
1/2-1c milk (I used almond milk)
1 package vanilla protein powder
handful of ice
1/2-1t cinnamon
1t fresh grated ginger
1t vanilla
few shakes of nutmeg

Method
1. Throw it all in a blender and let it go! Add more liquid, until desired consistency is met.

Carrot Cake Smoothie - Seriously good

Ingredients
2 carrots, steamed
1/2 apple, roughly chopped
1/2 - 1 c. milk (I used almond)
1 1/2 tsp freshly grated ginger (or to taste)
1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom (or to taste)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)
1/4 c. old-fashioned oats (optional)
sweetner to taste (though you don't really need it)

Method
1. Throw it all in a blender and let it go! Add more liquid, until desired consistency is met.

Beet-Carrot-Fruit Smoothie - Doesn't it look pretty?

Ingredients
1 small beet, steamed
2 carrots, steamed
1/2 apple, roughly chopped
1/2 pear, roughly chopped
1 - 2 cups water
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp freshly grated ginger (or to taste)

Method
1. Throw it all in a blender and let it go! Add more liquid, until desired consistency is met.

Moldy Cake Batter Smoothie - Moldy, not because of taste, but because of looks! Live a little! Try it!
Ingredients
1 handful spinach leaves- I swear you can't taste it!

1/2 - 1 c. milk (I used almond)

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

1/4 c. old-fashioned oats

1 t. sunflower seed butter

1/4 c. organic cottage cheese

1/2 t. vanilla

8-9 ice cubes

sweetner to taste

Method
1. Throw it all in a blender and let it go! Add more liquid, until desired consistency is met.

Squeezing One Out

Have no fear (OR don't be too disappointed, depending on your preference). This post is not about pooping.

It's about my blood sugar testing!

I realized that I need to post this post before the weather gets any warmer and it's really untimely!

Since the weather was colder and my fingers a little calloused, it's become slightly more challenging to get a usable drop of blood from my hands for testing. I've started to blow on my hands before testing, like I'm on the Arctic Tundra, hoping that my hot breath will be enough to warm my fingers into proper blood flow. Whoever thought of that as a viable option for warmth?!

When I see this on my glucose monitor.....

I have to stop myself from launching it across the room before throwing myself on the floor into a full-blown, legs swinging about temper tantrum! Probably because I had just pricked, prodded, and massaged what I assumed to be a usable drop of blood out of my poor fingertip only for it to be DENIED! When I was first diagnosed, not getting enough blood would send me into fit of sobs. Now it's just a fit of expletives! It is ridiculously frustrating!

My Endocrinologist and Certified Diabetes Education assure me that my fingers will not become so calloused that I can't use them....as long as I switch up the fingers! Switch up the fingers?!?! How many do you think I have?! My pinkies don't count! They're so little and petite, like delicate baby fingers. I test at least 6 - 8 times a day, which means each finger is pumped for blood on a daily basis. They're covered in little bruise marks from being stabbed over and over again! It's like my fingers are working in third world country!
Poor little fingers. Stupid diabetes.

Spring on a Spoon

I have manage to find a recipe that is the closest thing to eating spoonfuls of Spring that I have ever tasted. With the exception of eating grass. Which I don't recommend. Smoking it on the other hand........

One of the reasons I chose my current detox is because it had recipes that looked pretty delicious. One of which was this Minty Pea Dip. It seemed fairly straightforward, simple and could easily be made from the overabundance of frozen peas in my freezer. I swear I buy frozen peas like I'm preparing for the zombie apocalypse. Which doesn't really make any sense since I probably won't have freezer access with it being an apocalypse and everything.

But I digress. Back to peas.

This dip is intensly pea-flavored. So you should only really eat this dip if you likes peas. Because it's made of mostly all peas.

Did you get that?

That there are peas in this dip?

Instagram
Don't worry...the dip doesn't actually look that dark and depressing

Minty Pea Dip
Serve with veggies or crackers

Ingredients

3 cups frozen green peas

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

1 clove garlic

1 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling

2 tablespoons tahini

Coarse salt and pepper

Method

1. Cook peas in salted boiling water until tender, 1 minute. Transfer to an ice-water bath; drain.
2. Pulse peas in a food processor with mint, lemon zest and juice, garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and tahini.
3. Season with salt and pepper; drizzle with oil.

Tapeworm

I believe I have one.

Mostly because I have an obsessive need to eat. I can't help it. It just happens. Before I know what I'm doing, I'm shoving food in my face! AND I'M NOT EVEN HUNGRY! It's almost like those people who take Ambien and start sleep-eating.

Except I don't take Ambien. And I'm fully conscious. But definitely similar.

Eating constantly without having an actual tapeworm does some very negative things to one's body. These are thing that I'm beginning to notice, like the uncomfortable way my thighs rub together or adjusting my jeans to allow for my muffin top to spill over the top of my jeans. So sexy.  My clothes are fitting a little too snugly. My energy levels are too low. I'm having less and less confidence. And I'm just generally feeling unhealthy. Even though it's just a few pounds, a few pounds really does make a difference.

In attempt to ween myself off "the junk(food)," I will be starting that long awaited detox. Which, ironically, is a food detox. I know. You're thinking "Hold on there, sister! You're detoxing from food by eating more food?" Yes. I am. Isn't it wonderful?

For this detox, I will be avoiding all processed food or beverages (which shouldn't be hard), added sugar (might be a little difficult), dairy, gluten, caffeine, and alcohol (let's call the whole thing off!). For the first week, I'll  be eating fruits, vegetables, and plant-based fats, including nuts, seeds, and oils. That shouldn't be too hard (except for that whole no booze thing) since this is essentially my diet anyway! If you're interested in following the same detox plan (and I know you are), you can do so here at Wholeliving.com. 

Wish me luck!

Sophie's Choice

As spring slowly creeps its way into view, we bid farewell to Hot Chocolate Season. But not without my sharing a homemade hot chocolate recipe. Because, unfortunately, Hot Chocolate season isn't exactly conducive to Diabetes Season, which isn't seasonal at all!

While I managed last year with a hot cocoa mix from Trader Joe's, which was only 15g of carbs per serving, it's a little expensive. $4.99 for the can! My cheap gene shows through when I'm clutching that hot chocolate tin in the check-out line, still not completely committed to buying it, but knowing that I'm going to have to make a decision soon! It's like Sophie's Choice on that line!

The other night I was craving some hot chocolate, but didn't have any of my overpriced TJ mix. I looked through the roomie's options of Swiss Miss, which still only had 23g of carbs, but also a crapton of chemicals in it! Not like my pure, delicious TJ's one.

I decided that I was just going to make it homemade. I do have a real cocoa sitting in my pantry, just waiting for diabetes to go away so I can start making delicious cakes and muffins and pies, oh my! This was actually pretty easy and much better then the processed, chemicalized SwissMiss version.

Pumpkin Pie Spiced Hot Chocolate - because you got to slip the pumpkin in every way you can!
Serves 1

Ingredients
1 1/2 tbsp cocoa
1-2 packets truvia (for the diabetics) or 2 - 4 tsps sugar - the less sugar, the more bitter the flavor
pinch of salt - helps to bring out chocolate flavors
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice or any flavoring of your choosing
1 c milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extra or any extract of your choosing

Method
1. In small saucepan, combine the cocoa, truvia/sugar, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Add a little bit of milk to help bind the cocoa. Put on over medium low heat. Stirring ingredients until sugar is dissolved or the mix comes together in thickish liquid.
2. Slowly add milk while whisking. Be sure to whisk up all the cocoa from the sides of the pan. Add vanilla extract.
3. Let come to a very low simmer before removing from heat, being sure to whisk several more times to incorporate the cocoa mixture.
4. Pour into a cup and enjoy!

As an aside, I love when I do spell check and it highlights "crapton" as an error. It makes me chuckle!