Ways A Dairy-Free, Hypoglycemic Stays Cool in the Summer

Welcome to Rhode Island summer. Down pouring, switching between raining and hardcore raining, day in and day out. Next week? Down to the 60’s, cloudy, some sun, a few showers now and again. The weekend? Hot. Hot and humid.

Gotta love summer.

One of my favorite parts of summer as a kid?

Ice cream.

(Okay, well it was one of my favorite parts of the other four seasons as well…But it’s a staple for summer.)

Not being able to eat ice cream is kind of a downer. I don’t just avoid it for the dairy (it’s a big reason though); I also stay away from it because of the sugar. In my opinion I don’t need to eat something that high in calories and fat and then 15 minutes later need to eat MORE to keep my blood sugar up. The sugar is the reason I don’t eat many substitutes, like almond milk or coconut milk ice cream. They’re really good if you get the right brands, but I run into the same issue because of the sugar.

So the Peanut Butter Queen (as I’ve been dubbed around here) went to work finding other ways to cool down. Frozen steak on the back works pretty well too, but it’s not as filling. (The Boy thought he’d try being funny at a Memorial Day cookout.)

1. Sorbet.

Preferably homemade sorbet or a decent store bought brand so you’re not taking in more ingredients than you need. But even with this, I have to deal with the sugar issues. Silly hypoglycemia.

Mango and peanut butter is my favorite.

2. Veggie Salads.

Cold vegetable salads are a great way to keep cool. They tend to have the exact opposite of sugary foods. Being full of fiber they keep you pretty full. Also, since you’re not cooking it at all, the veggies retain all of their nutrients. I usually dress it with just it with peanut butter, but I’m sure there are many other acceptable alternatives.

3. Fruit.

Fresh fruit and peanut butter are a match to be rivaled. My favorites are strawberries and raspberries. For anyone who loves chocolate and berries, try these with Dark Chocolate Dreams stuffed inside. SO GOOD. For strawberries, just core them, and fill them with whatever peanut butter you want.

4. Frozen Peas.

People think this particular dish is especially weird. I’m so sure why though. Frozen peas and peanut butter. (Or just frozen peas). I have yet to do it, but frozen grapes (as I’ve heard) are also quite tasty. I used to chow down on frozen peas when I was a baby, so I figured why not.

5. Cucumber.

There are two ways you can cool off with cucumber. A classic way and a Hannah way. The classic way is to slice it (peeled or not, your choice) and then soak it in vinegar with salt and pepper. The Hannah way, slice it and top it each slice with peanut butter. Either is acceptable and quite yummy.

These are pretty much my five favorite ways of staying cool (and healthy) during the summer time. I could probably think up more, but in all honesty, I just don’t want to. Plus, if it’s five it makes a nice alliteration with favorite.

Thank God for Peanut Butter

The other night I was at Pyro’s. Him, his mother, a couple friends, and myself were sitting around and making conversation. One of them mentioned how remarkable it was that with all my food allergies (intolerances, whatever you want to call it - I can’t eat a lot of stuff) that I could still eat peanut butter. She had a point by saying that peanuts are one of most prevalent food allergies. 

It got me thinking. 

A lot of rough times have hit around here lately. But I sure am thankful I have peanut butter.

It sounds silly; it may sound a little vain. 

But first off, of all the things I can eat, peanut butter is one darn tasty food. 

Second, peanuts and peanut butter are quite nutritious. 

Third, throughout all my issues with food (physically and mentally) peanut butter got to stay. 

It helped me a lot physically. Brought me vital nutrients, it helped keep my weight up when there wasn’t much I could or wanted to eat. 

Peanut butter is a small pleasure (okay, that I may have exploded a bit) in the grand scheme of things.

I take my food very seriously, and sometimes people around me don’t understand why. My mom would sometimes ask me why I wondered so much about what I was going to eat, or if I’d be able to eat what I wanted. Why I thought so much and planned out every meal, to make every meal count. 

Some of that might have been the mental struggle I faced towards food (and still do now and then). However, besides that, I think what it came down to is actually quite simple. There was a time where each food seemed like an enemy in the way my body reacted to it. Until my body began to get on a more healthy level, the foods that I could eat, that weren’t trouble for my system to digest, were things to celebrate. Each meal that I could eat without either my brain or my stomach bothering me afterwards was a reward. I still get that thrill now when I find new foods (good tasting new foods) that I can eat without issues from my body. 

What I went through (and still go through) with food seems major in my life and to my close circle of friends. I guess, in a way it is. But then I have to remember the fact that I do still have food to be thankful for. Also, there are foods I can eat. I have a friend, I haven’t actually seen her in a while, but we talk over Facebook or Twitter now and then. She’s often in and out of the hospital for stomach problems; her diet is much more restricted than mine, and her reactions much more severe. But she finds strength in God and her family and friends, she continues on. My friend is someone for those with food issues to look up to. 

I cherish my food. I am lucky to live in a part of the world where I can find food to fit my diet, and I am grateful. 

Especially for peanut butter.

God, Heat, Pain, and Turtles.

It’s Friday night.

It’s hot.

I’m sick.

I’m in pain.

My eating hasn’t been the best lately.

First time climbing in two weeks, didn’t go too well.

I haven’t been keeping up with Tumblr.

I’ve been doing an awful lot of complaining lately.

I need to boost up my time with God.

Illness seemed to invade the people around me (Dad went into the hospital, drove The Boy to the hospital for a mild concussion; a few other instances as well. All are doing much better now).

I’m tired.

And now I’m trying to write a blog post. My brain apparently hit summer and thought “Why do anything anymore?” That’s not how it’s supposed to go. I mean I’ve been doing things, hanging with The Boy and Pyro like every day. But my climbing has been lacking. My morning devotions haven’t happened in a while (though I am determined to change that soon). And although one of my favorite foods is a peanut butter sandwich, even I will admit I have been reaching my limit per week.

I will say that I have been eating a decent amount of veggie salads. So there’s a plus. Also, all those I know who got sick, are healing rather quickly. Tumblr will go on another day without knowing what I ate for lunch and dinner. I will keep going back to the rock gym. I have proven time and time again that I can control and change my eating. Pain is weakness leaving the body (though I’m not sure a possible actual injured shoulder counts in that rule). My nose will clear out.

On top of all of these good points, God will always love me. He will never leave me, or forsake me, no matter how many peanut butter sandwiches I eat or how many days of climbing I miss. He’ll always be there, waiting, hoping, for the next morning I wake up and take some time to be with Him.

Eventually, I will learn to complain a little less and enjoy life a little more.

Oh, and how can it be a bad two weeks when you’ve seen and pictured two different turtles? I love turtles.