The Low Carb Solution For Diabetics
Vickie de Beer and Kath Megaw
(Quivertree)
When I first noticed that this book had won one of the most prestigious prizes for best cookbook in the country last year, I was intrigued.
A diabetic cookbook as the winner? That's an unusual choice, which meant that this was special and had managed to be creative as well as informative, a rare combination.
When Vickie de Beer's eight-year-old son was admitted to intensive care and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, she knew she would have to take charge. “Nothing prepares you for this emotional, life-changing roller-coaster,” she says.
She teamed up with a leading paediatric dietitian and they developed this cookbook, which is packed with information for anyone who needs to make this lifestyle change. The book is described as a day-to-day strategic document for families who need to deal with diabetes.
It starts with Vickie's story. The second part shares delicious and easy low-carb recipes for the whole family, divided seasonally starting with a summer meal plan and going through all the seasons, ending with treats, sauces and drinks.
The third part is Kath's information and everything you need to know - from insulin to complications.
The book feels inviting, embracing and not scary. Colours, typography, sketches and pictures all add to the drama of the book in a unique way.
It's clear that Vickie had a specific mission. She knew exactly what she went through when it first crossed her path, and this book contains all the information to help those who bump into this obstacle to navigate a much smoother route.
The book gives you everything from the reason for choosing this type of diet to the way of selling this new lifestyle to your family. Nothing seems unimportant to report on, from finding support groups and networks to zip lock bags to keep the food fresh, as well as correctly calculated for school lunches.Once you have got all the information, it's time to start cooking and a page-through of the recipes will soon have you excited. This doesn't look like diet food. It offers you anything from wraps to coconut cookies, steak tortillas to a chocolate mug cake, easy fishcakes to cottage pies and bolognaise.
So if your family is in this fix, there are solutions and in rhese two authors have tried to simplify a life that has to be ruled by the fluctuations of sugar levels.
It also means that finally there will be a better control of glucose, more freedom to live a normal life, improved concentration and performance at school for the diabetic child. This means increased long-term health, which is what everyone is looking for, reduced risk of heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure and it helps manage extreme activity strategies for everyday life.
It is in fact an emergency kit for families dealing with diabetes, but one to include as your life coach.
Cape Argus