To feel down about food this weekend

[Megapops]

The heatwave seems to have brought with it tons of sugary/fatty food adverts everywhere, and everyone talking about BBQs and all the delicious food and booze they're going to be having this weekend. I feel really overwhelmed and bombarded by it (I don't even have social media or anything.)

I'm not overweight (BMI 21) but have a high risk of getting diabetes (rife in my family) so I eat very plain foods, no sugar, no booze. I also put on weight incredibly easily. It's a real burden for me as I love food.

Just been to the supermarket and everyone is piling up their trollies with ice cream, cream cakes, crisps, sweets, fizzy drinks. How comes everyone else can stuff their faces with sugar and fat with no consequences? Makes me sad.

You have issues with food . I’m trying to loose weight, last weekend I went to the pub I went to a bbq I had a burger and Ice cream and I enjoyed it. I still lost weight I eat healthy and moved more the other 6 days . What’s unhealthy people saying eating junk is bad for you , you can eat what you want in moderation if you eat more than you burn off you put weight on . Food should be enjoyed without the guilt .

You can have healthy BBQ food.
You can have unhealthy things in moderation.
One “bad” meal isn’t going to give you diabetes.

You really have 3 choices here:

• start being more inventive in the kitchen and cook healthy but also exciting new food


• allow yourself a treat once in a while so you don’t feel so down about being “left out”


• continue as you are but stop being so jealous of other people. You’ve made your choice to eat “boring” food and not allow yourself a drink, others have made the choice to indulge (whether it just be this weekend or they do it every day). It really isn’t any of your business, though.

I'm not overweight (BMI 21) but have a high risk of getting diabetes (rife in my family) so I eat very plain foods, no sugar, no booze.

This sounds like a miserable way to live. You can enjoy food and a drink without getting diabetes. Everything needs to be in balance.

There are consequences! I have to exercise or I gain a lot of weight!

Sugar is a problem if you dont burn it off.

You’ve chosen to eat as you do. I choose to eat moderately and enjoy unhealthy foods sometimes. Some people choose to eat as much junk as they like. The consequences of all those choices are different. To be honest I think feeling sad and burdened because other people are buying things you don’t choose to eat is OTT and makes it sound like you are resentful that others don’t share your food issues.

I’m vegetarian but I don’t stand in McDonald’s feeling ‘sad’ that everyone is eating a Big Mac. I order a McPlant and get on with my life.

This. But I suspect this is just a thread to create a debate and shame people in general. Healthy food doesn’t have to be plain, do a cooking course!

I mean 2/3 of the population of the UK (me included) is overweight or obese so it's not a zero consequences game.

But also, you don't have to never drink booze or eat sugar again just because you have a risk of getting diabetes in the future. What is it that makes you feel like you have to be so obsessively careful about your diet - something must have triggered that?

Even on a weight loss diet you can fit in some treats, so if you are just maintaining your weight and trying to be healthy it seems like you could easily fit in some treats and some healthier versions of favourite foods, such as a low sugar icecream or healthier choices on the BBQ.

I think this must be some sort of confirmation bias. Ads and supermarket trollies look just like they always do to me.

Alcohol tends to lower blood sugar, certainly doesn't increase it.

Drinking too much can add empty calories but there is no reason to avoid alcohol completely just because you are diabetic.

As PP point out, moderation might help you feel less left out.

there are definitely consequences, but heatwaves like this are really rare, so people can have a bit of a blow out without putting on loads of weight. I got into Too Good To Go a few weeks ago. I have now barred myself from it because I was eating so many doughnuts and cakes from the Greggs Magic Bags (ooh, they are good!) and have put on weight as a result, when I already feel quite fat. So no, it definitely isn't consequenceless!

Sorry, by plain food I mean just basic stuff with no added sugar, salt, fatty sauces etc. For example: plain yoghurt or scrambled eggs for breakfast, salad for lunch, salmon with vegetables for dinner.

The key is all things in moderation you really do not need to deprive yourself.

You have a BMI of 21

Family pre-disposition to diabetes is nonsense

give your head a shake

So.. you've chosen to eat in a way that makes you miserable and now you're complaining it makes you miserable.

Diabetic friendly food (which.. you don't need tbh, because a basic healthy diet will do you and if you're genetically predisposed to develop T2 i hate to tell you this, but it will happen anyway if it's going to!)...does not have to be plain or bland or boring.

Scrambled eggs - pop in a finely chopped slice of smoked bacon in the pan first, get dry cure free range artisan whatever bacon, freeze it in slices so you don't have to eat a whole packet.

Or sling in some spring onions, or mushrooms, and some pepper or paprika or chilli powder.

Any of those options will add flavour and even the bacon option won't add much bad stuff, certainly non from a diabetic POV.

Serve it on a slice of brown, wholemeal seeded bread - you'll be much fuller for longer and feel happier!

It's sensible to be aware of salt but if you're NOT adding any salt at all to food you're making from scratch, you've quite probably not got anywhere near enough salt in your diet. We do NEED salt, the reason its such a risk is that it is in processed foods in large amounts, but those of us not living on processed foods do NOT need to cut it out of our cooking!

Salt is also a flavour enhancer, food will taste very boring and very bland without any!

Go stock a herbs and spices cupboard and try out flavours! You should also eat some fat, fat is not the enemy and if you're cutting out carbs and sugar, you really need to - fat and salt in moderation will make food taste SO much nicer and your brain will be so much more satisfied.

There is no need to eat plain food! Lots of good, home-cooked food is a lot tastier and nicer than pre-packaged sugary shit. Imo the best BBQs have good quality, home-marinaded meat or fish with plenty of herbs and spices, colourful salads etc, maybe strawberries afterwards. It doesn't have to be a lard fest, and a glass or two of wine occasionally isn't going to give you diabetes!

I think you might be limiting your diet to very plain foods unnecessarily. DH is in a similar position re diabetes and finds BBQ food easier than the usual meals. Bbq steaks, fish, chicken and veg skewers lots of salads, just avoids the carbs and any sweet sauces or dressing. Beer swapped for a G&T (low sugar tonic but not full of sweeteners). There are really good alternatives for the usual high fat sugary stuff that you are seeing piled high in peoples trolleys.

Stop playing the victim and imagining problems. You can have a treat once in a while, and bbqs do not have to be unhealthy. Isn’t a bit too hot to be dreaming up dramas?

You can eat amazing delicious food AND stick to a healthy diet.

You could have the most lovely BBQ on your diet. It feels like you eat too plainly, which is not a requirement of eating healthily.

FWIW, I eat almost no processed food, don't drink or eat out much - but my diet is really enjoyable.

@FinallyHere MOST alcohol might lower blood sugar- things like perries, ciders and the sweeter white wines do actually contain a lot of fructose and that WILL raise blood sugars if you are diabetic.

@Megapops Do you use fresh/dried herbs, fresh/dried spices? Have you tried a 'low salt' alternative? Do you use pepper, make your own rubs for meat/fish/grilled veg? 🍋Do you zest citrus fruits to add tang? Have you tried vinegars and tiny amounts of oils to make dressings? All of these things liven anything up. There is a world of gorgeous flavours out there- try some!!!😃

I have bmi 21 and I think I eat reasonably healthily....but to me that still includes some chocolate every day!
I don't feel deprived and I don't really take much notice of what other people put in their trollies but I would have done when I had an eating disorder

I actually think this thread is the most unhealthy thing for you in your current mindset. I feel for you as your diet sounds overly restricted. As pp mentioned you do need salt in your diet, especially when it is hot, just not too much.

Not all of us do that!

I've today harvested onions, courgettes, purple, green and runner beans, chilli pepper, a tomatillo, some achocha and tomatoes and a cucumber, and we've had them for lunch and tea. It's glut right now and I either have to get it cooked and eaten or preserved. I've only added feta and the EVOO to the above that I didn't grow myself.

With a BMI of 21 why are you concerned? Genuine question.

Saying this kindly, but it sounds like you have food issues, possibly disordered eating. Maybe talk to someone professional about this?