How a woman living with type 1 diabetes shops to stay healthy and satisfy her sweet tooth | Canada Voices

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The diabetes landscape has changed dramatically for Jennifer Buccino since she was diagnosed in the late 1980s. The 50-year-old has Type 1 diabetes and now wears an insulin pump, but says the standard treatment she received after her diagnosis involved a combination of different insulins, multiple self-administered injections and a prick with a needle to check her blood sugar a few times a day.

“And then, of course, you couple that with managing when and what you ate, and your blood sugar,” she says.

Since then, the wife and mother of two has expanded her own comprehension of the disease. She became an executive director at Diabetes Canada, and now shares what she knows with others living with the condition.

“As a person living with diabetes, I’m constantly thinking about what I need to eat to keep my body healthy,” she says.

In her own life, Buccino uses “the plate method,” similar to Canada’s Food Guide, which promotes a plate comprising one-half of vegetables, a quarter of protein and a quarter of carbohydrates for every meal. It’s a method that she has also promoted in her previous roles as a dietitian at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and a dietitian project manager at Dairy Farmers of Canada.

When grocery shopping, she says she prioritizes fresh and frozen produce, meats and dairy over the packaged foods and sugary treats in the aisles.

Here is how Buccino shops for groceries.

How I save money on groceries: I save money by shopping at discount grocery stores like Food Basics. I buy my staples like rice, pasta and frozen fruits and veggies there. I also shop what’s on sale.

How I splurge on groceries: The price of milk has gone up quite a bit, but my family and I are big milk drinkers, so I buy it. I also splurge on local strawberries when they’re in season, the taste is worth it.

The hardest shopping habit to keep up: I try to meal prep, but it’s really difficult, considering how busy we all are. Even when I try to plan out our meals ahead of time, I end up swapping on-sale items with what’s on my list.

How I’ve changed my eating habits recently: I’ve been switching meat for more plant-based protein. I make enchiladas at home with whole-wheat tortillas, and lately, I’ve been adding an extra serving of black beans and reducing the chicken. It’s an easy way to get more fibre in my diet. I tried cooking tempeh and tofu recently, but my family is still not on board.

Five items always in my cart:

• Whole-grain spaghetti, or any other shape of pasta – Catelli – $4.99: When I find it on sale, I usually buy four boxes for $5. Whole grain is good because it’s high in fibre.
• Cappuccino-flavoured yogurt – Astro – $4.99: I’ve been buying this for years. The flavour is really yummy, and it sort of satisfies my sweet tooth.
• Pork back ribs – Costco – $26.23: My mom had a signature rib and rice dish. The ribs are tossed with apple sauce, ketchup, garlic and slow-cooked, and the rice is mixed with bacon and corn. Whenever I make it, my family thinks of my mom.
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – $1.78: As someone who’s diabetic, you don’t want to eliminate everything from your diet, just eat in moderation. These are my guilty pleasures.
• Fresh garlic – $3.99: My mom was of Italian heritage, so I tend to cook a lot of Italian food. Garlic is really a staple of so many of our dishes.

This interview has been edited and condensed.