Shopping tours aim to empower diabetics

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9: Shopping for healthy, well-balanced foods can seem a daunting task at times but the Bermuda Diabetes Association is about to make the process a whole lot easier.

Dietician and Diabetes Educator at the association Sara McKittrick has organized a series of free, guided shopping tours that aim to empower consumers by teaching them how to read nutritional labels in a simple way.

The hour-long tours, which take place over the next three months at Lindo’s, Devonshire, are specifically aimed at people with diabetes, pre-diabetics or those who have diabetes in the family.

They aim to help people with diabetes manage their condition and to choose foods that keep blood sugar levels under control. They also aim to act as a prevention strategy for those at risk of becoming diabetic and to give those who cook for diabetics some meal ideas.

The tours will teach participants about labelling in a clear and simple way.

McKittrick told the Bermuda Sun: “My most important objective is to teach people how to read a label and to obtain the valuable information from it.

“A lot of people will pick up a label and think they know what they are reading from it but often they are not getting it right.

“I want to hit people with the target of exactly what to look for.

“I am giving a huge overview of how to fill your cart with the best choices for diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure as well as making the right choices.”

McKittrick said she aims to make the tours as easy to follow as possible and will guide the tour aisle by aisle starting at the perimeter of the supermarket where the fresh foods are found and working her way to the centre where there are more processed foods.

The areas covered include choosing healthier fats, limiting sodium and sugar, and making better carbohydrate choices. There will also be extra titbits of information such as controlling portion sizes and even a special section on one of Bermuda’s most guilty pleasures — mayonnaise.

“I will explain that for diabetes you need to look for wholegrain or complex carbohydrates — so how much fibre are you looking for in a serving of your cereal or bread? We will be highlighting healthy carbohydrate choices — so avoiding bagels and avoiding the cornflakes and those kind of foods.

“Using more couscous and barley and different types of starches and grains — those foods with slowly absorbed carbohydrates instead of white rice.

“We will look at how much sodium is in the food because most people with diabetes have blood pressure issues.

“A lot of people read labels for cholesterol but cholesterol is inappropriate — you need to read the saturated fat in it.

“We will go through the dairy aisle and talk about the differences between soy milk and real milk and the different yoghurts.

“Then we will look at the benefits of fresh and frozen vegetables versus processed vegetables out of a can. Canned meats and vegetables mostly have high sodium levels which is not good for people who are prone to hypertension and heart disease.”

The tour will include additional information on healthy snacks, some information on the glycemic index and organic foods.

McKittrick added: “I will also make people aware that that is a healthy approach for the whole family as well. Any advice I give out for people managing their diabetes, is general common sense, healthy nutritional advise that anyone could follow in their diet.”

To Book a tour call the on 297-8427 or visit www.diabetes.bm.