Hi everyone! Sarah here, back again this week to share what I’ve been thinking about in the times of coronavirus as a young adult with type 1 diabetes (T1D). As a reminder, I’m not a healthcare or fitness professional – I’m just a person with T1D who’s trying to get through this quarantine the best I can. My hope is that my ideas might help some of you, or at least help you see that while we’re apart, we are still in this together.

Last week, I talked a lot about exercise and how I’m trying to maintain some insulin sensitivity while doing a lot of sitting around. This week, I want to focus on food, and what I’ve been eating to try and curb some of the blood sugar spikes I had been having since quarantine.

It’s important to note that I am a bad cook. Not in the way that some people say they’re a “bad cook” because their casserole is just ok, or they tend to make cakes that are too dry. I’m talking “bad cook” as in I wasn’t really sure that I was boiling water correctly until about 6 months ago (sorry, Mom).

Because of this, I usually buy a lot of fresh vegetables and toss them in a pan, put a little seasoning on them and stick some chicken in the oven. However, right now I’m trying to only go to the grocery store once every two weeks, and this means buying fewer fresh veggies because they go bad in a week, and buying a lot more non-perishable and processed foods.

With that in mind, here’s what I’m considering most when going to the grocery store during quarantine:

1. Buy canned goods and pre-packaged meals that are high in fiber.

Fiber is a complex carbohydrate, so the body takes longer to break it down. This typically makes you feel fuller longer and slows down post-meal blood sugar spikes.

For canned goods, I’ve been loving chickpeas and black beans. If I eat half a can of either, I’m getting 10-12g of fiber, and that can be super helpful when I’m eating more grains. Not to mention, both have 20-25g of protein per can, and I’m always trying to get more protein from plant-based sources.

For grains, quinoa is hands down my favorite at the moment. A little bit goes a long way, and it’s also a good source of protein. Brown rice has also been good to have on hand, and a big bag lasts a long time.

2. Buy a few bags of frozen veggies every grocery trip. 

Although I’m still buying fresh veggies to eat the first few days after a grocery trip, as I try to maintain a full two-week lockdown, frozen veggies are my best second bet to get those key needed nutrients. I like to stick to lower carb vegetables, like broccoli or cauliflower, but my favorites are the bags that include lentils or seeds to get that extra protein kick.

3. Stay mindful of cravings.

I am the self-proclaimed “Queen of the Candy Aisle” at my local CVS. There are many days when  I’ve had a bag of Hershey’s milk chocolate nuggets for breakfast. So, it is truly devastating for me  to not be able to parade  through the store, shopping for my Reese’s eggs this spring.

But this inaccessibility of junk food has given me the perfect opportunity to evaluate the emotional reason for my sweet cravings. During quarantine, candy feels like comfort. Now, I try to acknowledge that my cravings are a sign that I am stressed, and to allow myself to process that feeling rather than cover it up with comfort food.

I’ll be writing more on the topic of mindfulness during quarantine next week, so stay tuned for more on this topic!

I hope one of these inspires you to try something new, whether it be adding another high-fiber food to your meals, buying some frozen veggies, or being aware of why your mind and body want what they want, but maybe not what you need! Always be nice to yourself and remember that it’s ok to not be as on your game as you might usually be!

Stay safe and up to date on the latest recommendations from the experts about COVID-19 and T1D. Check out JDRF’s COVID-19 resources page, updated daily with the latest info at jdrf.org/coronavirus.