Friday Favorites

     I love to try new things. In fact, my sister-in-law, Amy, often tells me I should be a paid consumer because I'm always sharing the best new whatever with people. My husband calls me a bit of a sucker since I will try anything that is new but hey, I've discovered some fabulous things this way that are now part of our daily or weekly routine. And yes, my husband, Eric, has even embraced my recommendations from time to time!
     So, onto my five favorites today. They are all items to eat or drink but rather random in all other ways...

          Beware: these are addicting! They are basically peas that have been freeze dried and are crunchy, salty goodness. I suppose you could count these as a vegetable serving on a good day but regardless, they make me feel a bit better about eating than a bag of potato chips and I don't know about you but serving size is a big deal to me. If I can have 4 crackers as a serving, sort of disappointing. These allow 22 pieces, which is a pea apiece, which is actually almost 1/3 of a bag, for 15 grams of carb. Nice snack and haven't noticed these impact my blood sugar like a similar size of a potato chip serving would, even though there are 7 grams of fat. It must be because it's a veggie, huh? :) 



      This stuff is amazing! 15 grams of protein, 0 carbs and it has a flavor reminiscent of Jell-O liquid. No other way to describe it but it is fabulous after a hard workout and really does taste quite good. This flavor I think is strawberry and it also comes in lemon and grape that I know of but my favorite is this one! 

      Who doesn't love a good cup of OJ? I typically save this drink for blood sugars that are low but whether you have diabetes or are just a big fan of OJ in general, Simply Orange is by far my favorite of all! I do consider myself a bit of a connoisseur on orange juice for the simple fact that it was THE recommended treatment for low blood sugars back in 1979 when I was diagnosed and it has stuck by me all these years! I could literally drink half of this jug but that just wouldn't be good in any way, whether you have diabetes or not! So, enjoy a small glass in moderation, or a larger one if your blood sugar is 50 and dropping! :)

 

     I think I have mentioned I enjoy red wine now and again and you just read that I am a bit of a connoisseur on orange juice, but if I consider myself an expert in anything edible, it would have to be peanut butter! Now this is beyond nostalgic for me...after I was diagnosed with Type 1 I recall going to lots of appointments with dietitians and diabetic educators and even spending a Saturday at various classes near where I grew up but a lot of this time invested was for my mother's sake, God bless her, so that she could understand what I should be eating and when. Protein was a big deal and eating it with every snack and meal was instructed to help better control my blood sugar. Well, my dear mother took that to heart and I had to choke down two tablespoons of peanut butter every morning before getting on the bus. This started back in 1979 and lasted throughout my teen years until I went onto college, where, I can't lie, Mom, I didn't eat peanut butter every morning! But I do stick by the protein idea about sustaining steady blood sugar (see, Mom, I do listen some of the time! :). Well, with all the years of peanut butter expertise behind me, I discovered Reese's about two years ago and I don't care what you are using it for or eating it with, IT IS THE BEST! Seriously, I feel like if I have a spoonful of this I don't even miss the chocolate and it's comparable to a peanut butter cup! YUM! 

      Last but not least, Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews. I strictly use these for treatment of low blood sugars and I cannot tell a lie, after trying one I couldn't wait to have a blood sugar below 70 just to sample one again! These were recommended to me by a peer, Anna, whose son has Type 1 diabetes, and he is very active in high school sports. These are his go to and now mine. I've only tried the fruit smoothie flavor but they come in a ton of options. I get a large box on Amazon for around $20 but each packet has 39grams of carb so they last awhile and there are 12 packs in a box. This is where I recommend being a Prime member with Amazon so shipping is free...LOVE Amazon! I have a pack or two in each bag, purse, car, etc. and I've also noticed they don't freeze solid if they are in your car, important note, especially this year in SD! They are also energy chews so a nice option for runners or any strenuous activity!

 

     I had a few stories to go with this Friday Favorites edition but I promise to be a bit more brief next week! Now, go out and get a jar of that fabulous Reese's peanut butter and stop back this weekend; I will find my recipe for those peanut butter bites I promised to share! (And no, I won't judge if you use up your Jif, Skippy, or generic PB before running out to find the Reese's, but I do recommend it! :o)