As the cool people say, 'I'm in the groove'. I have settled in to a good routine, taking care of my diabetes, the food, some exercise, and lots of adaptation as I go along. Okay, well, the exercise could get better but until life settles down so that I'm not busy 20 hours out of 24, it's likely to be on and off. At least it's on more than it was...a step ahead.
The food, diet, eating plan is so much better than I was eating before my diagnosis. I'm very pleased with that. I owe a lot to my diabetic educator. So a BIG thanks to she who helps me see the light and not the guilt. Anyone, of any age, who read the title to this blog instantly thought of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups because that was their advertising campaign when I was a wee girl...yeah, the candy love of my life, those are. And this time of year...oh my, they have them in egg shapes, for Easter, which for some reason is the PERFECT way to eat their peanut butter and chocolate! I had some mini ones this week...and now they are gone, which is a good thing. When a craving hits, I find it's best to have a little of what I want, over a day or two, then be done with it. It's working, so I'm going with it, until it doesn't work anymore.
But words, actions, deeds, can be misleading and alas, I'm not here to discuss the perfectness of Reeses's Peanut Butter Cups, though they are perfect in every way. Rather, as a person venturing deeper into the myriad ways to get foods I enjoy on my plate in ways that are better for my sweet self, I am looking at odd and strange combinations that provide that same satisfaction ,only with less risk.
This weekend I found myself returning to a snack that I hadn't had in years. Radishes and peanut butter! Yeah, I know what you're thinking...'Bless her heart, she's so deprived, she's losing her mind AND her taste buds!' Well, before you go writing off my buds, let me tell you what a tasty treat this is! Sounds strange, kind of like Pop-Tarts and Velveeta cheese, another taste sensation...albeit trailer trashy, but it works. I discovered how well these two little foods went together back when my now 21 year old son was about 3. My former husband and I, worked in Huntsville, Alabama with abused children. In a group home setting, we took care of 8 boys who, for many reasons, could not live with their own parents, and tried to help finish raising them to be able to go out into the world. One of the things we did with them, was to grow a garden. The land behind the house was some of the most fertile I have ever planted in and whatever we planted grew like crazy! We had over 100 watermelons from two little rows...the boys sold watermelons at the church we took them to, for spending money. We planted two rows of radishes...so do the math, 100 watermelons in two rows, radishes are smaller...my estimate today is that there were approximately 136,292 radishes in that garden to be eaten by 10 people. Needless to say, radishes, trimmed prettily and sliced in every conceivable fashion, were on the table at every meal, including breakfast. I hate wasting anything, and I'm a tightwad deluxe, so the radishes were on the menu, 24/7. It came to pass that radishes landed with lunch on a day when lunch was peanut butter sandwiches. Hmmm...let me just say, a delicious little treat was discovered! I love the peppery flavor of the radishes with the salty peanut butter taste.
Fast forward to 2011, and my low carb, low cal, high fiber, sugarless life...my brain reminded me when I looked at the peanut butter jar that the peanut butter tasted real good with radishes. So, I created myself a little light snack, sliced radishes dipped in peanut butter! I still love it, 20 years later...and that's about how long it's been since I ate that food combo. It's a great low carb source of protein that provides that satisfied full feeling with the crunchy fresh peppery radish texture in the background. I have a feeling it will be my 'go to' snack this summer. And I'll be looking for more funky, fun, tasty snack combos that I can slide into my menu. I was reading a review of a book written by a woman about the saga of her husband's diabetes, it's toll on his life and how it ultimately took his life. I'm good with not leaving anyone to write a book about my saga. I'm really great with controlling my sugar and living to tell my own sweet tales of woe and joy. I understand that it could easily be what causes my death....eventually. But I plan on eventually being when I'm so old that it won't matter...it'll be my time.
So, run on down to the grocery now, I can just hear you scrambling for car keys, and get some radishes and get snacking...cause two great tastes taste great together...feel free to think of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups while you eat!
