Improvising for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving on a carb-restricted diet.
That should say it all. I just couldn't look forward to Thanksgiving quite like I wanted because I knew I would be limited to 45 measly grams of carbs, thanks to the gestational diabetes. Have you ever realized how many traditional, yummy Thanksgiving dishes are just loaded with carbs? I'd never even stopped to think about, ever, before this week.
Mashed potatoes, stuffing, dinner rolls, sweet potatoes, cheesy potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, strawberry Martinelli's . . . all the standard fare we cook up for a Thanksgiving feast at my parents' house was going to be strictly limited for me. Not counting the pies. At least I could eat all the ham, turkey and gravy I wanted, right?
I tried to just be grateful that I was going to get out of my house and spend the day on my parents' couch instead of my own. However, it ended up being better than I expected. I had to really prioritize which things I wanted to eat the most and accept very tiny servings, but in the end I was probably the only one in the family who was not groaning and clutching my stomach for the next couple hours. I had just enough of a taste of everything (except the Martinelli's) to feel like I did get to eat a Thanksgiving dinner after all.
Of course, Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete in my book without pie, and we had four different pies, ice cream, and a German chocolate cake to tempt me for dessert. Since we ate the official meal fairly early, I used my 45 dinner carbs to get a small taste of almost every single dessert. OK, so that was probably cheating. As long as nobody tells my doctor on me, it should be fine, right?
That should say it all. I just couldn't look forward to Thanksgiving quite like I wanted because I knew I would be limited to 45 measly grams of carbs, thanks to the gestational diabetes. Have you ever realized how many traditional, yummy Thanksgiving dishes are just loaded with carbs? I'd never even stopped to think about, ever, before this week.
Mashed potatoes, stuffing, dinner rolls, sweet potatoes, cheesy potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, strawberry Martinelli's . . . all the standard fare we cook up for a Thanksgiving feast at my parents' house was going to be strictly limited for me. Not counting the pies. At least I could eat all the ham, turkey and gravy I wanted, right?
I tried to just be grateful that I was going to get out of my house and spend the day on my parents' couch instead of my own. However, it ended up being better than I expected. I had to really prioritize which things I wanted to eat the most and accept very tiny servings, but in the end I was probably the only one in the family who was not groaning and clutching my stomach for the next couple hours. I had just enough of a taste of everything (except the Martinelli's) to feel like I did get to eat a Thanksgiving dinner after all.
Of course, Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete in my book without pie, and we had four different pies, ice cream, and a German chocolate cake to tempt me for dessert. Since we ate the official meal fairly early, I used my 45 dinner carbs to get a small taste of almost every single dessert. OK, so that was probably cheating. As long as nobody tells my doctor on me, it should be fine, right?
Comments
Of course T-Day dinner is nothing but carbs! That's why it's so delicious! Poor heidiness. I'm sorry it wasn't as tasty for you. Next year though....