by Susan Blake, MS, RD
Guide to Healthy Restaurant Eating, Edition 3
by Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE, BC-AMC, a publication of the American Diabetes Assoc. 732 pgs.
Ms.
Warshaw offers true hope for what seems a hopeless maze of facts and figures
for carbs and fats in the dining out restaurant routines of our hectic lives.
Meal planning can be stressful and confusing. This book can decrease mealtime
stress by guiding you to healthy and delicious choices.
Over two thirds of meals are now consumed away from home for most busy Americans. There is something for everyone in this edition. This book may be small in size, but it packs a wallop for diabetic diners everywhere. “Healthy” can mean pleasant, if planned correctly.
Most restaurants are listed, except for small chains or those who do not publish their nutrition numbers. It is then easy to make wise comparisons for similar fare. One nice feature is that most menu items are listed, just a select popular few from each. This book offers more information than the average fast food frequenter probably wants to know —but its comprehensive listings make dining out more manageable for diabetics, who need to be in the know. Knowing the fat grams makes selections less frightening. Staying in control of your choices keeps you in better control. This book helps you take charge of your eating habits!
The Guide to Healthy Restaurant Eating can simplify diabetic dining. Meal planning with exchanges is clearly outlined. Carbohydrate counting can become contagious. Even the Weight Watchers can whiz through the calories, fat, and fiber grams to determine their points!
Interspersed between the tables of nutrition charts, we find the Healthy Tips, offering more ideas and insight into the healthy choices. These sections break up the sameness of the food listings and calculations.
As a Registered Dietitian, I found this book informative and useful—and amazingly alarming! I was startled to find out how high the calories and fat grams had risen in breakfast and luncheon sandwiches. Ranges from 400 to 650 calories and 17 to 39 grams of fat per serving took my breath away! Just imagine the calories, fat and sugar that one can easily consume while on the road, even during a shopping trip to the mall—all adding up to an overweight equation that is negatively impacting our health.
This book would make a great gift for a loved one who spends a lot of time on the highways and byways, a good traveling companion for your treasured trucker. High blood sugars and and increased weight for these convoyers can rise easily without some careful pre-meal planning.
Childhood obesity is linked to early onset of Type 2 diabetes. Increasing exercise and healthy meal planning activities can be a family affair. Begin healthy food conversations with the kids before outings. Make facts into trivia type games. To repeat an old phrase: Learning is fun da mental.
This little book is not a light weight! It is small and compact, filled with information. But it should stay in the glove box so selections can be made before you stand in line at the counter. It could add an extra pound to your purse or back pack, but the listings will add healthy bites to your diabetic data base and give you savvy and thinking muscle so you can win the eating races!
As an RD, I highly recommend this book. I respect the accuracy and compatibility with other nutrition and program resources. It is a wonderful resource, inclusive, and relatively easy to use.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Terrific Meals
by Lucy Beale, Joan Clark, RD, CDE and Barbara Forsberg.
The 408 pages include index, helpful glossary and glycemic index table.
The talents of these nutrition experts and chef have been combined to produce a wonderful informative cookbook for diabetics. You never have to feel like an “ idiot.” The explanations concerning diabetes, meal planning, nutrient roles, carbohydrates, and fiber are very clear. The glycemic index is well explained, and practical steps are given for use of the listing to select the best carbohydrates for glucose/glycemic control.
The recipes are fabulous! I tried some! Preparation/cook times, portion sizes and nutrition information are plainly listed and easy to understand. There is a wide variety of recipes for each food group and different ethnic cuisines. The beauty of the recipes are that they are simple. No need to buy 25 new ingredients and spices you will never use again. This book can add variety every day, making the “diabetic diet delicious.”
The recipes and format are delightful. Meal planning should be simple and fun! The recipes and price are “do-able.” The book is paperback and can be purchased for $16.00 on Amazon.com. The book is a great achievement for the authors and those who will use it daily.
The title of the first chapter sums up the life recipe for all diabetics and those who enjoy good food: “Cooking for Health and Pleasure!” This terrific diabetic meals book will make meal time experts out of all of us! No idiots here! As an RD, I endorse this book highly! Buy it for a diabetic you love!
Dare to Dream, Flying Solo with Diabetes; Around the World in 159 Days
by Douglas Cairns
Published by Albyne Publishing, 182 pages.
Doug Cairns shares his passion for life, flying, and achieving good diabetic control, with type 1 diabetes. After being diagnosed with IDDM, his hopes were dashed for flying with the RAF. To follow his dream, the author finds new routes to fulfill his dream of flying solo. He will not be grounded by diabetes. Nor should you.
We are drawn into his quest for knowledge of flying. Rules and regulations threaten to hold him down. He learns flying guidelines in various countries, builds networks, forms international relationships that will help him soar. He overcomes the obstacles of finding planes, securing permits, tools and equipment. He learns to plan ahead for any emergency. His goals are finally met. He embarks on a 159-day flight around the world in his “diabetes world flight” plane. He flies as an ambassador for raising awareness, funds and networking.
The principles for flight preparedness, preparation, supplies, knowledge concerning food, snacks, insulin and exercise form his diabetes flight plan. Optimism and a strong “never quit” mindset help Doug and the reader achieve victories in the air and on the ground, with essential good diabetic control. Without it you will crash. You can “dare to dream” to achieve any goal: flying to living well with diabetes daily. Don’t let diabetes, fear, insulin or the powers that be keep you down. Climb high with Doug to achieve any dreams you want!
This book will hold you at the edge of your seat. Grab on to the throttle, soar into the skies of Doug’s dream. Enjoy the 16 pages of color photographs, and the flight maps of the adventure of flying the world for diabetes.
This courageous adventure book will inspire you. It will even make the non-flyer smile. You need to find a dream, then go out on a “wing” and achieve it. You can win with the “know how and know who” in your life. This book is a winner! You can be a high flyer. Only your dreams can stop you! Let nothing stop you from reading this compelling flight log.
As an RD, I endorse this book for its simple explanation of food and insulin,
part of your daily flight plan. I was very inspired and enjoyed the high excitement.
You will be, too! Pick up a copy for your favorite diabetic who needs to dream
high!