Question: I’m really trying to work on keeping my Type 2 diabetes under control by exercising, taking my medications and counting carbohydrates, but some days my blood sugar will run high no matter what I do. What could be causing this? 

Question: “I have Type 2 diabetes. What are some good ideas for breakfasts and snacks that will help me keep my blood sugar under control?”

Answer:

First, it’s important to know how many carbohydrates or servings of food with carbohydrates you can have at a meal/snack. 

Milk is definitely in the news these days, specifically whole milk.  At your local Ingles Market, you can find a variety of cow’s milk options as well as non-dairy alternatives.   All of the milk sold at Ingles Markets is pasteurized.  Pasteurizing milk is a food safety measure.  Pasteurized milk is still a good source of protein, vitamin D, and other vitamins and minerals.  Our store brand of milk is Laura Lynn milk which is primarily sourced from local dairy farmers within about 150 miles of Asheville, NC. 

I got a question this week on LinkedIn (yes, you can find me there!) about chia seeds so let’s take a look:

What are they?: They are small black seeds from the chia plant which is native to Mexico and Guatemala.   They look a little like poppy seeds but are larger.

What’s the benefit of eating/using or cooking with them?
Chia seeds are a source of fiber, omega 3-fatty acids, and protein.  

The one micronutrient that most all would do well to increase is fiber.

“Fibermaxxing” has had a moment on TikTok with people conducting fiber challenges to see how much they could consume.

Most Americans don’t come close to getting sufficient fiber in their daily diet.

Two of the trends/fads that you can expect to see reflected in products on the shelves at your local Ingles Markets are callouts for protein amounts and callouts for fiber amounts.  

Both protein and fiber are macronutrients. 

Most people think about protein coming from meat, chicken, fish, eggs and dairy products and fiber coming from fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains.  

One thing I’ve been noticing lately on social media is a reference to “struggle meals”. These are easy, economical meals to make when money (and time) is tight. Often these meals start out with staple foods with protein like beans, cheese, canned tuna, peanut butter and eggs and then add in or have with starches and vegetables.

Here are some ideas of typical “struggle meals:” 

Be on the lookout for these local brands at your Ingles store!

Firewalker Hot Sauce — Asheville, NC — The “secret” in this sauce may be the locally grown hot peppers. firewalkerhotsauce.com 

Protein is a satisfying macronutrient and can be found in both animal-based and plant-based foods. Included in this list are some that are plant-based that are also a good source of fiber. 

Question: I do a lot of driving for my job and am trying to avoid eating fast food or having to brown bag it. What are some ideas of food that I could buy at Ingles Markets if I stop by?