AIBU - Help with meals for diabetic fella

[Diabeteswifey]

My bloke has been diagnosed with diabetes typ two and I try to make good food for the family but struggling as don't want to show our 4 kids that there is bad and good foods. DD1 is 14 and don't want to make her food wary. DH wants to go lowcarb and I need help with meals, lunches and tea. AIBU to still give kids pasta and that?

As they say OP "everything in moderation".
I think by 14 they should know good from bad food.
More veg less take aways and say why. Show them what a balanced diet is.

I’m type 2 diabetic and I just told my kids the truth. Something along the lines of…To be as healthy as I can I need try to reverse my diabetes. I’m going to limit carbs. You guys don’t need to as you don’t have diabetes. I still ate the food they do but missed out the carbs most of the time. I swapped rice for cauliflower rice, salad for wraps in fajitas, salad instead of pasta, unsweetened almond milk in my coffee, greek yogurt and berries rather than porridge or cereal. Not 0% fat yogurt btw as that sends my blood sugar too high for too long. I got my Hb1c from 74 to 51 in three months. Hoping it’s even lower next blood test. I’ve lost 1.5 stone too. I don’t talk about dieting at all.

But there are bad foods (processed foods, often full of sugar and unhealthy fats, and many takeaways and ready meals etc) and good foods (chicken, fish, eggs, (plus limited red meat and cheese) yoghurt, olive oil, lots of fruit, beans and legumes, all kinds of vegs, including potatoes , sweetcorn etc etc) , wholegrain pasta, wholegrain carbs of many different kinds, nuts, dark chocolate etc.

For active young people, nothing wrong with the occasional pudding , either. In areas associated with the famous healthy Mediterranean Diet (way of eatig, not slimming regime) www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/mediterranean-diet/art-20047801 traditionally people had really fancy sweet things like cake once a week, after a large lunch on Sundays. Or else for occasional parties. Otherwise, fresh fruit/yoghurt for afters.

I would have thought teenage years would be the ideal time to discuss this. Carefully, of course. NO fad diets, lots of tasty things to eat. Storing up good health for their adult future.

Diabetic is VERY different, of course.

Sorry if my previous post sounded unhelpful.

To help your partner, there are two routes forward (subject to proper medical advice, of course).

Either he eats simply - grilled/roast/bbq - no sauces - meat, fish, chicken, omelette, frittata etc etc - and has lots of different green veg and/or leafy salads to accompany it. (One widely accepted saying is that 'anything that grows above ground is usually OK to eat.') That means anything from lettuce and kale, cabbage, broccoli etc to green beans, peppers, tomatoes, cucumber, courgettes, gherkins etc etc. If - depending on medical advice - he can eat carbs, then wholegrain all the way.

Or else you find low carb substitues for high-carb dishes. Eg swede or celeriac mash instead of potato, noodles like these (really very good) instead of normal pasta: www.amazon.co.uk/Explore-Organic-Gluten-Edamame-Fettuccine/dp/B00QLU71T6/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2ZFASSKZYIE59&keywords=low+carb+noodles&sprefix=low+carb+noodles%2Caps%2C199&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1638639567&sr=8-10
There are several other such substitutes., such as MN favourite, cauliflower rice, or courgetti spirals....

Carb counting is a bore, but it really helps some people if you can set a daily total that suits you to work with. BUT VERY IMPORTANT He should only do this on medical advice. He should ask his GP or diabetic nurse to help. Brilliant - and accurate - resource here:
www.amazon.co.uk/Carb-Counter-Carbohydrates-Everyday-Collins/dp/0007176015/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=collins+carb+counter&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1638639777&sr=8-2

This (SUBJECT TO MEDICAL ADVICE) might be useful - has meal-planner:
www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/i-have-type-2-diabetes