Getting control of our food environment seems to be the
number one challenge for all of us. It is the cornerstone for managing our
health. It is not only how much we eat but also what we eat. Most of us know
what we need to do. The challenge is doing it in a world that is super-sized,
focused on all things food and with no frame of reference for what is
right-sized and healthier for us.
For those living with diabetes or diagnosed with being pre-diabetic,
which combined are now one-third
of the population in the US , it is also all about blood glucose levels.
When asked in a recent online exchange what the biggest
daily challenge was as a person who lives with diabetes, one person answered:
Most
people would say that the biggest challenge is keeping blood glucose
levels in range. Why is it
important? Because it's the high blood glucose levels over time that lead to
complications of diabetes.
Why
is it a challenge? Because *everything* affects blood glucose levels! Food
obviously impacts blood glucose levels, but in addition, the GI of food and
nutrient composition will affect the rate of impact.
It comes back to knowing what you are eating
and the amount of what you are eating. Foods have to be measured in order to
calculate the impact the food you will be eating will have on your insulin levels.
This never goes away. It is a constant reality for everyone living with
diabetes.
As someone else stated about the daily
challenges of living with diabetes:
Diet. Oh my gosh I am not a diet type of person. Diabetics are
supposed to have low sugar, low salt, low fat diet. Well, I can't. I love food
too much (well, I love GOOD food too much), and salt is definitely my best
friend. So, I slip up with my diet fairly often, which results in potentially
dangerous situations. Not so fun :)
The answer to eating well
and living well with diabetes is all about controlling our food
environment. We have to make it
manageable and doable to eat good food and in right-sized amounts. Preparing
our own food at home is a great way to control what foods we eat and what
ingredients go into those foods. This is true whether we need foods for
on-the-go meals or for sit down meals at home for ourselves, with family and
with friends.
In order to succeed long term we have to create a food
environment that is healthy for us to live in. Livliga is a tableware company created
for just this purpose—to right-size our food environment. Every piece of
tableware has subtle measurement
built in. This way no matter what we consume we’ll know what amount it is.
Every thing has been designed to be beautiful and yet subtle so we will want to
use it at every meal and with our family and friends. There is no need to
prepare and measure our food separately because it is built in to the
dinnerware. Best of all the dishware is designed to make right-sized amounts of
food look plentiful so we can feel satisfied with right sized amounts of
food. We never have to feel deprived or denied. How wonderful to have tableware
designed for our needs that is artist-designed and science-based! There are
even different
patterns to choose from so we have colors and designs that suit us and our
décor!
Just because you live with diabetes doesn’t mean you
shouldn’t surround yourself with beautiful and helpful tools. In fact you
deserve it! Finally there is a whole suite of products designed to help you
live in a healthy, appealing food environment just for you!
The world around us may still be super-sized and focused on
decadent foods but we can control our own home and create a healthy food
environment to support our eating well and living well…one healthy, right-sized
bite at a time.
#LiveHealthy
#HealthyLifestyle
#HealthyLiving
#Diabetes
#LiveVibrant
#PortionControl
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