We just returned from a two-week European vacation and thoroughly enjoyed it! We visited London for the first time and were very impressed by this amazing city that has the energy and culture of New York along with the history and architecture of other European cities. We also spend a few days in Zurich visiting my relatives, as we do whenever we're on the other side of the Atlantic. In England, my husband and I met up with a UK-based dietitian named Annette Henry who is currently working on her PhD conducting research on carbohydrate restriction, appetite regulation, and weight loss. We also spent an afternoon with Eddie and Jan Mitchell from The Low Carb Diabetic website. Eddie has Type 2 diabetes and eats a low-carb diet in order to maintain healthy blood glucose levels, weight, and lipids. Jan follows the same way of eating. We had a fantastic time with each of these fellow low-carb advocates and shared a real sense of camaraderie and purpose. ![]() In terms of carb-friendly dining options, the airlines apparently don't have much of an understanding. Here's a photo of the dinner I was served on the plane. I ordered a "diabetic meal," and this is what it consisted of (carb content approximated): 5 oz grilled chicken breast 1 large roll (30 grams carb) 1 cup white rice (45 grams carb) 1 cup mixed fruit (15 grams carb) 1/2 cup cooked vegetables (5 grams carb) Mixed salad with fat-free vinaigrette (8 grams carb) I ask you: Is this meal containing around 100 grams of carbohydrates appropriate for someone with diabetes? I don't even want to think of what my blood sugars levels would have risen to had I eaten the high-carb foods. My husband didn't make a special request for a diabetic meal and was served a nearly identical tray. The difference? He was given regular salad dressing, while I received the fat-free vinaigrette that was higher in carbs! Overall, the food in Europe was very good, and it was quite easy to stay very low carb no matter where we ate. I had eggs and/or bacon with spinach or mushrooms for breakfast, and meat, poultry, fish, or cheese with vegetables at lunch and dinner. This kept me well under my usual 30-40 grams of carbs for the day, and I often had raw hazelnuts, almonds, and chocolate made with 100% cacao for dessert, as well as tea with cream or half-and-half at or between meals. ![]() One of my favorite meals in Switzerland was Wuerst und Kaese Salat (sausage and cheese salad), which I've loved since childhood. I had this three times in Zurich. It's simply sliced sausage, cheese, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, and carrots topped with a cream-based dressing. Delicious, nutrient-dense, filling, and less than 5 grams of digestible carbs! I've been following a very-low-carb diet for over a year now, and I truly love this way of eating. I can tell you with 100% honesty that I didn't feel at all deprived throughout our entire vacation because I ate nourishing high fat, moderate protein foods to satiety, along with liberal amounts of delicious fresh vegetables. How could I feel anything but satisfied on such luxurious fare?
Bottom line: Stay on plan during vacation by choosing low-carb foods unique to the area you're visiting, and enjoy! Off topic, I posted another article on Answers.com, and this one is a recipe for chili. Not really European, I know. Chili is typically served in the colder months, but I find that it tastes good year-round, and cooking on the range keeps the kitchen from getting too hot. Easy Low Carb Chili
15 Comments
8/25/2013 01:45:55 am
I'm glad you mention your Answers.com posts here because I can't figure out how to get automated notification from Answers.com.
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8/25/2013 01:59:27 am
Thanks so much for reading my Answers.com posts, Steve! I'll continue to link to them on this site because I don't think they have an automated notification program for new posts.
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8/25/2013 07:33:02 am
The airline's "diabetic-friendly" meal = Epic, epic fail.
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8/25/2013 08:41:45 am
Ridiculous, isn't it? Unfortunately, it's a similar story in most hospitals
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Lisa
8/25/2013 11:57:27 am
I flicked through a Diabetic Living cooking magazine today. All meals contained massive amounts of carbohydrates: bread, rolls, pasta, rice, flour.....So this is how diabetics are being taught to eat??? Think I will stick to my own recipes.
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8/25/2013 09:12:39 pm
Don't get me started on Diabetic Living! Lots of high-carb foods -- the carb counts are high even for the meager portions. You're best off sticking to what you know works :)
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Great post Franziska. Currently in Belgium caring for my terminally ill mother, I am encountering huge opposition as far as my low carb real food lifestyle is concerned. Am ignoring all the negativity, but can assure you: in Belgium LowCarbing = mental instability !! No like-minded people around
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8/25/2013 09:16:02 pm
Thanks so much, Nadia! So sorry to hear about your mother, and also empathize with not finding any support for LCHF in Belgium. Probably even harder for you given that in your homeland of Sweden it's so widely accepted. Great that you're ignoring the naysayers and continuing to do what works for you If I hear of any low-carb supporters in Belgium, I'll definitely let you know!
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Air meals... when we travel we never ask for either gluten free or diabetic for the reasons you just mentioned. We simply get a normal meal, leave the bun, juice and starch.
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8/26/2013 10:07:14 pm
Hi Lynda,
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Thanks Franziska - I don't promote my blog or try to get loads of readers... the ones I have I try to show that there is another way and that you can stick with it. Too many blogs start well and then go quiet when the writer returns to the previous way of eating. My aim is to be consistent as an example of what you can achieve.
Hi Franziska
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9/1/2013 11:36:31 am
Hi Jan,
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9/12/2013 04:29:51 pm
Great post, Franziska, (and great blog!). I think a lot of low carbers really struggle with the idea of eating low-carb while travelling OS. On the contrary, I find the middle east and the mediterranean much more accommodating for low carb vegetable dishes, sea food, and lamb; Europe (Germany, Poland, Switzerland) delightfully liberal with their fatty meats and cream based dishes and cheeses.
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9/12/2013 09:12:22 pm
Thanks so much, Anna! I'm very flattered to receive nice feedback from someone whose work and writing are so impressive. And I'm in complete agreement about all the delicious fatty foods and vegetables that are such a staple in European cuisines.
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