Thanksgiving in Canada is often seen as the unofficial start of autumn, the air has turned crisper, and the evenings have a welcoming chill. Many people look forward to cozy season, donning a favourite sweater and feeling the crunch of the leaves under their boots.
But it’s also the start of the unofficial holiday ‘eating’ season and is known for being a carbohydrate-heavy and rich meal. This can bring with it stress for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), particularly those who are new to living with the disease. But with a little preparation, you can enjoy all the holiday has to offer.
Below are some tips and suggestions to make managing Thanksgiving meals with T1D a little easier, along with a carb count table of some of the more commonly eaten foods, snacks and desserts.
Consider downloading a carb counting app, like Roche’s mySugr app, Diabetes M, Quin, which can be connected to a flash glucose sensor (Quin is free but only available on IOS) or apps from your device manufacturers. Visit the website of the manufacturer of your device to find out more.
Carbs and Cals lets you take a photo of your meal, and the app searches its library of over 19,000 foods to give you the nutritional information you need.
MyFitnessPal app includes a database of over 14 million foods so you can find out nutritional information about what you’re eating, including the amount of carbs. It has a handy barcode scanner for ready-made products, and you can also add your own foods.
There is a free version and a paid version which has more features. The app is compatible with iOS and Android.
If you’re not preparing the meal, speak to the host and ask what they’re planning on making. Being armed with this knowledge ahead of time can help you better prepare, including meals and snacks you’ll eat in advance of the Thanksgiving dinner. Knowing what’s going to be on offer can help you feel better prepared and more in control over your carb consumption. You could also offer to bring a lower carb side dish, or another protein.
Don’t hesitate to use measuring cups if you’re still not confident in eyeballing portion sizes. Having more precise measurements can help with insulin dosage and help you stay in range.
You can still enjoy more carb heavy dishes like mashed potatoes, or candied yams but consider making more of your plate the lowest carb options, like green vegetables and proteins. If you’re going to partake in alcoholic beverages, make sure to factor them into your meal-planning as well.
Why not take a family walk after the Thanksgiving meal? A leisurely walk after a big meal is beneficial to everyone, and it’s a nice time to relax and bond with guests while also working off some of what you’ve eaten.
Thanksgiving is known as the holiday of relaxing – and eating. But T1D doesn’t take the day off for the holiday. However, with some preparation, you can feel comfortable, empowered and enjoy Thanksgiving as it’s meant to be.
Thank you to Beyond Type 1 for these commonly eaten holiday food carb counts.
Beyond Type 1 has a full page of resources to make navigating the holidays a little easier: https://beyondtype1.org/celebrations-holidays/
Managing T1D is a challenge at any time but can be made easier when you’re armed with information to help you plan accordingly.
So, grab your favourite sweater or flannel shirt and enjoy all Thanksgiving has to offer with confidence and excitement.
* Please note that your portion sizes may vary, and your carbohydrate counts will need to be adjusted accordingly.
Mains
| Item | Amount | Carbohydrates |
| Turkey | Any | 0g |
| Ham | Any | 0g |
| Beef | Any | 0g |
| Chicken | Any | 0g |
| Duck | Any | 0g |
| Goose | Any | 0g |
| Lasagna | 1 Cup | 30g |
| Brisket | 1 oz. | 0g |
Sides
| Item | Amount | Carbohydrates |
| Mashed Potatoes | 1 cup | 30g |
| Roasted Potatoes | 1 cup | 28g |
| Sweet Potato | 1 Med. | 28g |
| Candied Yams | 1/2 cup | 45g |
| Sweet Potato Casserole with Mini Marshmallows | 1/3 cup | 30g |
| Green Beans | 1/2 cup | 4g |
| Green Bean Casserole | 1 1/2 cup. | 9g |
| Corn | 1/2 cup | 9g |
| Sauerkraut | 1 cup | 6g |
| Glazed Carrots | 1/2 cup | 25g |
| Brussel Sprouts | 1/2 cup | 4g |
| Cheese | 1 oz. | 0-1g |
| Stuffing | 1/2 cup | 20g |
| Cranberry Sauce | 1/4 cup | 25g |
| Gravy | 1/2 cup | 5g |
| Dinner Roll | 1 | 20g |
| Biscuit | 1 | 25g |
| Cornbread | 1 piece | 28g |
Deserts
| Item | Amount | Carbohydrates |
| Sweet Potato Pie | 1/8th Slice | 35g |
| Minced Meat Pie | 1/8th Slice | 55g |
| Pumpkin Pie | 1/8th Slice | 35g |
| Apple Pie | 1/8th Slice | 45g |
| Pecan Pie | 1/8th Slice | 60g |
| Meringue Pie | 1/8th Slice | 50g |
| Ginger Snap Cookies | 4 (1 oz.) | 23g |
| Shortbread Cookies | 4 (1 oz.) | 21g |
| Chocolate Chip Cookies | 2 | 20g |
| Peanut Butter Cookies | 2 | 20g |
| Sugar Cookies | 2 | 22g |
| Meringue Cookies | 6 | 15g |
| Cheesecake | 1 pc. (1/6) | 20g |
| Vanilla Ice Cream | 1/2 cup | 16g |
| Chocolate Ice Cream | 1/2 cup | 18g |
| Whipped Cream (Unsweetened) | 2 tbsp. | 2g |
Drinks
| Item | Amount | Carbohydrates |
| Hot Cocoa with Water | 1 cup | 15-20g |
| Hot Cocoa with Milk | 1 cup | 30g |
| Spiced Apple Cider (Non-Alcoholic) | 1 cup | 30g |
| Hard Apple Cider | 12 oz. | 15-30g |
| Wine (White or Red) | 5 oz. | 4g |
| Champagne | 5 oz. | 3g |
| Regular Beer | 5 oz. | 12g |
| Light Beer | 12 oz. | 6g |
| Spirits | 1 oz. | 0g |
