Holiday tips and carb counts

[Becky Stevens mom]

After talking with a newbie in Facebook I wanted to post a thread with carb counts of typical holiday foods and some tips for not just surviving the holiday but enjoying it with your CWD. I know for some of you this may be your first holiday season taking diabetes along to grandmothers house(or wherever you will be spending your time).

My son has always been the type that prefers opening gifts on Christmas and playing with new things and his cousins to paying much attention to eating. Therefore its not been too difficult to manage keeping diabetes in line. I try to get an idea of whats on the menu when we go visiting so I can do some figuring before we get there. When Steven was young I would ask people to not offer him food without asking me first and for them to put bowls of candy, cookies, etc up out of his reach. He is much better at not grabbing handfuls of candy now thankfully

The following are some common foods enjoyed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah (Although I need lots of help for the Chanukah foods please)

Turkey, ham, beef, other meats -- 0 carbs
Mashed potatoes----1/2 cup,4oz---18
Au gratin potatoes---1/2 cup---14 carbs
Yams-------------1/2 cup,2 1/2 oz --19
Sweet potatoes---1/2 up, 5 1/2 oz--29
Acorn squash-----1/2 up 3 1/2 oz--9
Stuffing---1/2 cup--most have 20-25 carbs per serving
carrots--1/2 cup, sliced, cooked---8 carbs
peas-------------1/4 cup------5 carbs
corn----1/2 cup-----19 carbs
dinner rolls, white---1 oz--- 17 c.
gravy---2 TBLs----9 carbs
pickles, olives.----5 small olives----1 carb---1 large pickle---3 carbs
Cranberry sauce---1/4 cup---27
Apple, blueberry, cherry pies----1/8 pie, 4 3/4 oz----46 carbs
pumpkin pie---1/6 of 8 inch pie---42 carbs
chocolate cream pie---1/6 of 8 inch pie----38
chocolate fudge---1 oz----20 carbs, Candy kiss---1 kiss---3 carbs
candy cane---medium 5 1/2 oz--10 carbs.
Ferrero Rocher candy---1----5 carbs
sugar cookie----2 1/2 oz----22 carbs.
Biscotti dipped in chocolate---0.9 oz---15 carbs
caramel popcorn---2/3 cup---23 carbs
Cinnamon roll---2 oz---34carbs
Coffee cake---2 oz---30 carbs
eggnogg---1/2 cup---17 carbs
Fruitcake---2.9 oz----54
Hot cocoa----3TBLs, 1 oz-----24. Swiss Miss makes a diet cocoa that is very chocolatey with only 4 carbs per 6 oz serving.

If you can think of anything that is a regular food on many holiday tables please put it down. We are probably pretty boring in my families as far as what we eat

[HanksMom]

Thanks so much! This is great information!!

[hipmama]

Thank you!!!

This is fantastic information. I'm going to print this and put it up on the fridge.

Thanks so much for sharing!

[DsMom]

So nice of you to take the time to post this! Boy, I really could have used this when Daniel was diagnosed. We had to deal with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas in quick succession--and I was lost unless my sister (who has 2 D girls) was around!! I'm still often at a loss and my Calorie King book is always with me!!

[Daniel's Mom 1993]

I have a question..what is the difference between yams and sweet potatoes? I did not realize the carb difference would be as much as it is.

[Becky Stevens mom]

Originally Posted by Daniel's Mom 1993

I have a question..what is the difference between yams and sweet potatoes? I did not realize the carb difference would be as much as it is.

Im not sure but I think the one that has more carbs are mashed and the other is still in chunks. I was wondering the same thing, if they are actually a different vegetable or if people just call them different things

[mommylovestosing]

Originally Posted by Becky Stevens mom

Im not sure but I think the one that has more carbs are mashed and the other is still in chunks. I was wondering the same thing, if they are actually a different vegetable or if people just call them different things

They are very different!
http://homecooking.about.com/od/howt...potatodiff.htm

I've heard that true yams are hard to find here in the states and even stores that advertise "yams" are really selling sweet potatoes...

[Teacups]

Thanks, Becky. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated (and I'm printing your list as a quick cheat sheet)!

[Lucky 868]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post this and help us going through our first holiday season. Not only will it be handy on the fridge for our use, but having it posted 'in plain sight' will help guests understand all that we have to count when eating and may cut down on some of those questions we don't want to be asked...so we can answer them...so we can get into a discussion...and have to explain why "well, its just a little bit, what difference does it make overall?"...

Thanks again!
Cyndy
Mom to N, 17, dx last April

[shekov]

This is so thoughtful, Becky. Anything that makes life with D easier is a blessing!