When eating a food that you are not very familiar with, how often do you look up the nutritional information for the food you are about to eat?
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Sarah Howard has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.
I belong to several lunch groups. I always look up menu and nutrition facts before I go. Have been shocked at carb content of innocent sounding side dishes.
I always check the nutritional information before I eat. I try to avoid fats, especially saturated fats and cholesterol. I don’t worry too much about carbs. I just adjust my insulin, if needed, or adjust the amount of carbs that I’m eating.
What I’ve consumed for years is so absolutely the same that I really don’t even think about looking the nutritional information up. Consistency makes life so easy —but then again, I’m someone who “eats to live rather than lives to eat”…LOL!! From the vast variety of food programs on TV I am not the type of person who would try what is presented….but I still watch some of them.
I’m pretty familiar by now with how my body handles most basic foods. I’m not sure how to look up the kind of complicated, unfamiliar dishes that I might find in a restaurant or a friend’s home. I usually make my best guess and then track my BGs closely to make adjustments as needed.
Lots of times, the different food is when traveling overseas and it is hard to get the nutrition info then, so I just guesstimate in those cases and then watch my CGM if I need to adjust.
After reading the nutrition information, sometimes, I decide not to eat the food or the nutrition information definitely impacts how much of the food I eat.
I eat less than 40 grams of carbs per day, no grain, and no seed oils. If I eat out, it is usually salad with meat or fish and I carry my own salad dressing made with real olive oil.
I basically figure out what I believe the CHO is going to be and cover for that. Then monitor BG on CGM after and adjust as necessary. I always carry glucose backup with me should I go low.
Always. While I know that I can “cover with insulin” since I am constantly scolded about my weight, I want to eat as low carb as I can to avoid insulin weight-gain. I also look at the calories – again to get the staff at my Endo clinic to stop making me feel bad. Thank goodness I am not a “foodie”
Always. I read labels before putting the food in my grocery cart. I research a restaurant menu before going/ordering. I love to try new foods and make an honest attempt to get reliable nutrition information before making the recipe or ordering the dish. If I need to guess, I do my best to make it an educated one.
If it is totally unfamiliar I investigate what it is, how is it prepared, nutritional content, and then decide whether I want to eat it or not. I pretty much stick with wholesome, fresh, and simply prepared foods – vegetables, whole grains, fruits, lean protein, legumes, dairy, nuts, nut, seed or vegetable oils, fresh herbs and spices.
I always look up carb counts for what I am about to eat. If I can’t find the exact item, I look at similar items and estimate the carbs based on portion size and the variations (IE: Is this sweeter than that? Is there more pasta here? More veggies? etc.).
When eating a food that you are not very familiar with, how often do you look up the nutritional information for the food you are about to eat? Cancel reply
For new packages foods, I refer to food labels. If eating out, I sometimes Google for the carb count, but mostly wing it.
I belong to several lunch groups. I always look up menu and nutrition facts before I go. Have been shocked at carb content of innocent sounding side dishes.
You and me both.
You mean like the cole slaw with 35g of sugars?
I always check the nutritional information before I eat. I try to avoid fats, especially saturated fats and cholesterol. I don’t worry too much about carbs. I just adjust my insulin, if needed, or adjust the amount of carbs that I’m eating.
Generally unfamiliar foods are mixed foods that do not easily fit in the categories of the nutritional guides.
What I’ve consumed for years is so absolutely the same that I really don’t even think about looking the nutritional information up. Consistency makes life so easy —but then again, I’m someone who “eats to live rather than lives to eat”…LOL!! From the vast variety of food programs on TV I am not the type of person who would try what is presented….but I still watch some of them.
Well put !! Me also !!!!
If it’s a well known chain restaurant, usually. Otherwise, I have to make an educated guess if I even choose to eat it.
I’m pretty familiar by now with how my body handles most basic foods. I’m not sure how to look up the kind of complicated, unfamiliar dishes that I might find in a restaurant or a friend’s home. I usually make my best guess and then track my BGs closely to make adjustments as needed.
Lots of times, the different food is when traveling overseas and it is hard to get the nutrition info then, so I just guesstimate in those cases and then watch my CGM if I need to adjust.
After reading the nutrition information, sometimes, I decide not to eat the food or the nutrition information definitely impacts how much of the food I eat.
I do when the information is reasonably easy to access. Smartphone certainly helps!
I eat less than 40 grams of carbs per day, no grain, and no seed oils. If I eat out, it is usually salad with meat or fish and I carry my own salad dressing made with real olive oil.
I basically figure out what I believe the CHO is going to be and cover for that. Then monitor BG on CGM after and adjust as necessary. I always carry glucose backup with me should I go low.
Always. While I know that I can “cover with insulin” since I am constantly scolded about my weight, I want to eat as low carb as I can to avoid insulin weight-gain. I also look at the calories – again to get the staff at my Endo clinic to stop making me feel bad. Thank goodness I am not a “foodie”
Always. I read labels before putting the food in my grocery cart. I research a restaurant menu before going/ordering. I love to try new foods and make an honest attempt to get reliable nutrition information before making the recipe or ordering the dish. If I need to guess, I do my best to make it an educated one.
If it is totally unfamiliar I investigate what it is, how is it prepared, nutritional content, and then decide whether I want to eat it or not. I pretty much stick with wholesome, fresh, and simply prepared foods – vegetables, whole grains, fruits, lean protein, legumes, dairy, nuts, nut, seed or vegetable oils, fresh herbs and spices.
I look up nutritional and carb content on Calorie King but I find that it is not very accurate. I most always have to take a correction bolus.
I always look up carb counts for what I am about to eat. If I can’t find the exact item, I look at similar items and estimate the carbs based on portion size and the variations (IE: Is this sweeter than that? Is there more pasta here? More veggies? etc.).
I guess the values of the ingredients of the food item to be eaten.
I like accuracy, so I always or almost always look up the carb content