Cinco de Mayo

Ola!   Today is the day you see sombreros in the grocery store and lady check-out clerks bedecked with flower garlands on their heads.  It's a celebration of Mexico's culture.  That, of course, includes food.  We all love Mexican food.

For people with T2D, Mexican food can be a mine field of temptation:  rice; refried beans; tortillas.  They are all dense carbohydrates.   To control our blood sugar, we need to control carb intake.  That means: 1/4-1/2 cup rice; or 1/3 cup refried beans; or 1/3-1/4 of a flour tortilla, depending on the size.  No one eats such tiny quantities of these foods, no one.  Imagine trying to make a burrito out of 1/4 of a tortilla.. not a pretty sight... or a tasty thought.  Think of the little dab of refried beans that is 1/3 of a cup.. pitiful.  A 1/2 cup serving of rice isn't quite as paltry as the other examples of T2D carb control, but a plate at a Mexican restaurant will have much more, as much as 2 cups.

It is possible to celebrate Mexican food.  Making a T2D Mexican meal is easy.  I'll tell you more later.  Most of you will go to a Mexican restaurant to get your Cinco de Mayo meal.  So, I'll start there.

Mexican Restaurant Strategy  A standard Mexican restaurant offering that is great for people with T2D is Fajitas.  It's marinated chicken or beef grilled with vegetable like bell pepper and onions.. tasty and very safe.  Of course there's a down side.  You must skip the tortillas.  Give them to someone.  If you know you can't resist, ask the waiter not to bring them.  Albondigas, Mexican meatballs, are a good choice, too.  A salad is always a good choice when you go light on the dressing.. And, don't eat the tortilla bowl. 

Resisting temptation is hard to do.  I know.  It's important to do your best to let the high carb goodies pass you by.