Even though I eat a huge variety of fruits and veggies already, I’m constantly amazed by the vast amount of different types of produce I have yet to try.

As a lower carb eater, fruits and veggies make up the majority of my food intake. So, one of my goals for the summer is to try a new fruit or veg every week.

Yesterday my husband and I went to T&T in Vancouver and as usual were overwhelmed by the astounding selection of produce. We bought a few items we have never tasted before:

1) Korean melon - yellow and white striped and about the size of a Nerf football.

2) Jicama - kinda looks like a turnip. Supposed to taste like a green apple and is good grated or in matchstix for a refreshing salad. I was able to find several recipes in my collection, most calling for a citrusy vinaigrette.

I’m eager to start experimenting and will let you know how it all turns out!

You know how sometimes the stars align and you order a restaurant meal that somehow works out just right? My hubby and I had that experience today when we had lunch at the Red Door at Granville and 14th.

We ordered off the tasting menu which gives each diner two selections plus rice for $14 a person. This is a great idea as often in Chinese restaurants two people can only order a few dishes as each portion is so large.
We had a Vietnamese green papaya salad with prawns and grape tomatoes - not as fiery as the Thai version thank goodness, so we could still taste the rest of our meal. A delightful combination of fresh, crisp, salty, spicy and crunchy. Check back for a recipe.
We also had a prawn, water chestnut and sugar snap pea stirfry with tangy slivers of orange peel. I’ve been combing through my cookbooks for a recipe for this one but I may have to makeup my own version from memory. A hint of sweetness, a lot of tangy orange rind and crunchy sugar snap peas. Yummy.

Another delicious, yet more familiar dish was the Thai curry with tofu and veggies. Not too hot with the richness of coconut milk and a nice assortment of seasonal veggies.

The last dish was a deep-fried boneless chicken breast dish that was spicy and sweet. This is one of my favourite combinations of flavours - I’ll have to work on a lower carb version of it. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

I passed on the Jasmine rice and my blood sugars were just fine before dinner (not always the case when ordering Asian restaurant food with lots of hidden sugar and starch).

I’m motivated to do some cooking now so I’ll do my best to post some recipes soon …

Diabetes sucks. Not in the teenage malaise “this sucks - let’s get outta here” kind of way. I mean more like a day to day to-do list of not-so-pleasant chores staring back at you from your refrigerator door:

test blood sugar

cook healthy food

eat healthy food

take medication

exercise

test blood sugar

repeat forever

But don’t let my whining fool you. I also have so much to thank diabetes for.

Diabetes gave me the opportunity to take back my life (which was mired in toddlers at the time).

It gave me permission to put myself first and to tackle all my health issues head on.

It opened the door to alternative health and overall wellness.

It gave me the kick in the pants to lose 30 pounds and drop 4 sizes.

It gave me the impetus to experiment with lower carb cooking.

Diabetes gave me back me, for which I am eternally grateful.

Today is my last day of freedom.  I am a condemned mom.

Today I enjoyed my last walk with the school moms, my last chatty cup of coffee and my last solitary (blissful) trip to the library.

I revelled in my aloneness in the car listening to a CD of my own choosing. I strolled through the chocolate shop to buy some last minute gifts and to get myself some comforting nsa Belgian chocolates to buoy my spirits during the eternal summer.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the maltitol seconds (the firsts are outrageously expensive).

I even bought myself an nsa dark chocolate plaque that says “thank you” so I can thank myself when no one else will.

Yes, today is my last day of freedom. Summer holidays begin tomorrow.