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Life free from autoimmune captivity

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You are here: Home / Food & Nutrition / The Best Easy Paleo Lunches for Batch Cooking

The Best Easy Paleo Lunches for Batch Cooking

August 7, 2019 by Emily Leave a Comment

Welcome to Flawed yet Functional where we talk about how to create and live the best life through healthy food, habits, and hobbies. I’ve been on a journey to find my best health after being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as a 33 year old. Today, let’s chat about lunch. This meal is often neglected or relegated to a protein bar in the car between appointments. Lunch can be amazing and nutritious! Check out these easy Paleo lunches for batch cooking so you can eat a healthy lunch every day!

Inside: Grab a pre-made grocery list to make your lunches a breeze this week!

Easy Paleo Lunches for Batch Cooking

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links which just means if you purchase from the links provided, I may get a small commission at no additional cost to you! At Flawed yet Functional, I only reference products that have real value that I actually use.

Lunches need to be quick whether you work at an office, drive in the car all day, or stay home with the kiddos. Rarely does anyone have time to cook lunch. So why do I have 5 recipes below that require cooking?!

Think of this list as intentional leftovers, 5 ideas for batch cooking lunch for a week. Whip up a batch (or two depending on how many people will be eating this for lunch) of one of these recipes on Sunday afternoon. Once it has cooled, separate it into 5 single serving dishes and pop them in the fridge.

Making your lunch Monday morning will be so much easier with the main course packaged and ready to go. Toss a piece of fruit and some raw veggies in your lunch bag, and you’re ready to go!

What should you make this week? Let’s take a look at some winners!

Make sure to read to the end to grab a pre-made grocery list to help you get started!

Dairy Free Paleo Chicken Salad

A Paleo spin on the quintessential chicken salad! This cold salad can be eaten on crackers, scooped up with carrot or celery sticks, or just eaten plain with a spoon! It’s light and creamy making it the perfect lunch that won’t leave you in a food coma for the afternoon.

Lunch packing tip: Pack Dairy Free Paleo Chicken Salad in a separate container (these are great!) so it doesn’t get other items soggy. Serve with grain-free crackers, fresh veggies (cucumbers, carrots, or celery are my favs), and some berries for a light yet filling meal.

Dairy Free Paleo Chicken Salad

Ham and Parsnip Soup

Hearty, warm, and comforting this soup is the perfect chilly weather lunch! It reheats beautifully, so don’t worry about the microwave ruining it. Just warm for 20-30 seconds at a time then stir. Repeat until your level of warmth is reached. While maybe not the best summer recipe, if you work in an air conditioned office, it will be fine!

Lunch packing tip: Don’t have access to a microwave at work? No worries! Fill a thermos (I recommend this one. I’ve had it for over 8 years and it still works great!) with very hot water for 3-5 minutes. Pour the water out and pour in already hot soup. Screw the lid on right away, and your soup will stay hot for hours!

AIP Ham and Parsnip Soup

Balsamic Mushroom Burgers

Ok, hear me out on this one. There are two ways to enjoy burgers for lunch. First, cook them fresh if you are home for lunch. Use a cast iron pan and very high heat to sear a perfect burger on the stove in 6 minutes. The balsamic mushroom take about 10 minutes in another pan on the stove. Start the mushrooms then shape and cook your burgers and they should finish about the same time.

Need to pack this one to-go? Here’s the key: cook the burger only to 125° internal temperature (it will rise to 130°-135° while resting which is medium-rare), then only reheat in the microwave until the chill is gone. As long as you don’t overheat the burger, it will still taste good reheated!

Lunch packing tip: Place burger in a separate dish from the rest of your lunch topped with the mushrooms. Warm the burger and mushrooms together in the microwave, be careful not to overdo the heat!

balsamic mushroom burgers

Wilted Bacon Summer Salad

This quick summer salad is usually eaten warm, but if you aren’t home for lunch, it is delicious cold or warmed in the microwave. If I plan to eat reheated, I use a firmer lettuce like Romaine and decrease the wilt time as it will wilt more when reheated. Wilted bacon salad is a light yet filling salad for any day!

Lunch packing tip: This salad can let off a bit of liquid, so pack it separate from other food items. Toss in an apple or a cup of berries for a complete lunch. If you like more protein in your lunch, pair this salad with a burger from above!

Wilted Bacon Summer Salad

Chicken Broccoli Salad

I had to throw in this other variation on chicken salad so you see the versatility in chicken salad. Throw in any vegetable you’ve got lying around: broccoli, carrots, celery, even cucumbers or bell peppers! Mix it up with onions, seasoning, and dairy-free yogurt and you’ve got a tasty, veggie-filled lunch!

Lunch packing tip: Use a separate container for the chicken salad so the liquid doesn’t ruin anything then pair the salad with your favorite way to scoop: grain-free crackers, fresh veggie sticks, or just a spoon!

Paleo Dairy Free Chicken Broccoli Salad

What’s the next step? Buying the groceries and making these delicious meals! Sign up below to have a grocery list for these 5 Paleo lunches sent to your inbox!

A Paleo lunch might take a bit more planning and effort, but it is doable and eating a healthy, nutritious lunch will help you meet your health goals! Next time you are looking for a healthy option for lunch, give one of these easy ideas a try!

Want to remember this? Pin The Best Easy Paleo Lunches for Batch Cooking to your favorite Pinterest board!

Easy Paleo Lunches for Batch Cooking

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Filed Under: Food & Nutrition, Paleo, Paleo Recipes, Recipe

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Welcome!

I'm Emily, and I am passionate about using food and healthy habits to transform lives with autoimmune disease. Here you will find healthy recipes that follow the Paleo or Autoimmune Protocol diets, strategies to create a life free from autoimmune symptoms, and encouragement to press on!

Do you want to live your best life? Then you are in the right place! Read More…




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Maximize health through food🍴
Type 1 Diabetic in Grand Rapids 🇺🇸
❤ Lover of Jesus, my home, cooking, warm drinks, and my family 🥑 Lead a healthy l

Instagram post 2197230251778723532_177481688 A common question I get in regards to my diet is what about my kids???
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Since I believe there is a good chance they could develop an autoimmune disease, since I have more than one, I keep them on the same diet as me to prevent further health problems.
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This means that my kids eat lots of vegetables. How do I do it?
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1) Involve them in the preparation of vegetables. Yes, it's hard sometimes but let them help!
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2) Let them taste and sample. Frozen green beans and raw carrots coated in oil and salt and pepper are my kids' favorite!
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3) Start slowly. Don't heap their plate with vegetables the first time you begin to eat them more regularly. Give them one or two and work your way up.
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4) Model enjoyment of vegetables. If your kids see you eating them and enjoying them regularly, then they will know that it is what they should eventually be like.
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5) Eliminate processed and/or sugary food. It will take some time, but you need to change their palate. If they are regularly snacking on sweetened or processed food then it will be more difficult for them to detect the sweetness in vegetables.
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6) Mercy sauce. There are going to be certain vegetables that are just plain difficult. Give them some mercy in the form of a dip like ketchup or mustard. Find a sauce that fits into your diet and allow your child to smother their vegetables if need be!
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What are your tips to get your kids to eat vegetables?
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#vegetables #getyourkidstoeatveggies #eatmorevegetables #kidsinthekitchen #kidchef @opinelofficiel
Instagram post 2196954893592512213_177481688 What healthy lifestyle habit are you working on lately?⁣
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Creating healthy habits is an ongoing process for me, and sleep is one I'm constantly working to keep at the top of my list.⁣
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Why?⁣
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Because good, quality, sufficient sleep helps keep my blood sugar stable. ⁣
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If you are a diabetic, have you noticed that if you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, your blood sugar is more stable?⁣
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I have! If you have a hard time getting good sleep, check out FlawedyetFunctional.com today for a few strategies to help you get better sleep!⁣
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Photo: @diimejii
Instagram post 2196545632397921432_177481688 Up before the kids...reading my Bible and journaling by the light of the tree...also drinking hot cinnamon spice tea!
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What's your happy place this morning??
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#flawedyetfunctional #morningroutine #journaling #readyourbible #hotcinnamonspice #harneyandsons @harneyteas #quiettime #mommytime #refresh
Instagram post 2195433352831773490_177481688 What is the single biggest thing that has improved your health?⁣
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That's a difficult question, especially if you've seen huge changes in your health.⁣
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I'd have to say that ONE of the biggest changes has been eating vegetables at every meal. Yes, every meal, including breakfast.⁣
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Do you think eliminating gluten and grains will be too restrictive on you? It won't be if you replace those items with vegetables. ⁣
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Vegetables will fill you up WAY faster than grains and keep you full longer AND give your body so many more nutrients!⁣
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It's a win win! Try my latest recipe, root vegetable hash browns, to get more vegetables into your breakfast!⁣
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How do you get your veggies in each day??
Instagram post 2191563882953243345_177481688 Do you fear your kids developing the same autoimmune disease you have?⁣
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Are you discouraged because your children have more health concerns than you EVER had?⁣
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Hope is not lost! While diet and lifestyle changes don't cure all diseases, they go a LONG way in minimizing or completely eliminating symptoms!⁣
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One of my goals in publishing Flawed yet Functional, it to help you live in freedom. Freedom from the symptoms associated with autoimmune disease, and FREE to live your best life.⁣
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Part of that freedom, is creating it in our children. Some autoimmune diseases are hereditary, and there are steps to take to prevent or eliminate an autoimmune reaction from triggering.⁣
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Want to learn more? Click through to FlawedyetFunctional.com, #linkinbio, to learn 5 strategies to prevent autoimmune diseases in your kids!⁣
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Photo: @ibrnphotography
Instagram post 2190931330521385039_177481688 10 years ago today this lady was in part 2 of a two-part procedure to remove an AVM.
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Not to be too graphic, but they drilled a hole through my skull! That fact never ceases to amaze me, that they went into my skull, fixed my brain, and put me back together. Isn't God and modern medicine amazing!
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Here's a random tidbit from that time in my life: I was in the middle of orthodontic work, and my braces were interrupting the MRI imaging. My neurosurgeon had to call my orthodontist and cryptically, with no extra information (HIPPA!) Ask them to send someone to the Intensive Care Unit to remove the braces from one of their patients.
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So a very confused orthodontia tech arrived in my hospital room with a few tools and saying she was here to remove my braces.
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Once I explained to the severity of the situation, she not only removed my braces as best she could with manual tools. She took impressions for temporary braces, went back to the office to make them, and returned them to my hospital room... All on her day off!
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She and my orthodontist office or just another example of God's great provision through this time. I was tenderly cared for in so many ways by so many people!
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#avm #avmsurvivor #brainsurgery #frontallobe #godisgood #peoplelovingpeople
#caringpeople
Instagram post 2190090088388638753_177481688 Wow, that picture is OLD and grainy!⁣
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That's the image quality of a film camera scanned into a computer, and at the time, I'm sure we thought it was great.⁣
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Enough about old photography.⁣
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There's a huge victory in that picture. A living, walking miracle is being celebrated that Christmas of 2009.⁣
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You see I (in the black circle) had just survived an AVM resection from the right frontal lobe of my brain.⁣
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Brain surgery. As in opening my skull, removing what was wrong, and putting me back together.⁣
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In this picture, I am STANDING...something I had to relearn to do after surgery.⁣
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In this picture, I am HOME...after an almost 40 day stay in the hospital.⁣
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In this picture, I am THANKFUL...my husband (who never left my side) and family rallied around me and supported me every day through my recovery.⁣
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Flawed yet Functional means so much more than autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes, or gestational diabetes...it means my brain was malfunctioning and it was FIXED. ⁣
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My AVM is not a primary focus of my blog anymore, but writing out my story was the beginning of FyF. If you'd like encouragement in the face of dire health diagnosis, check of my AVM story through the link in my bio.⁣
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Be encouraged today, my friend!
Instagram post 2184956825441573133_177481688 Thanksgiving week is here, and with it, the largest meal of the year!⁣
I don't like wasting food any time of the year, but especially around the holidays. Why?⁣
-Throwing away food shows disrespect for the blessing of food God has given us.⁣
-There ARE starving people in other parts of the world (and in your hometown!) so drive down food costs by avoiding over-consumption and eating everything you buy.⁣
-Nothing saves a grocery budget like eating all the leftovers. You will be AMAZED how many more meals you can get from leftovers! Stretch your budget by not throwing food away.⁣
In light of "no waste" this holiday season, make this leftover heavy Paleo shepherd's pie! ⁣
Shepherd's pie is the quintessential catch-all dish that will fill you up for 2-4 more meals, and it's completely made from leftovers! Plan on it this upcoming weekend!⁣
What is your best tip to minimize waste this holiday week??
Instagram post 2180135016124981869_177481688 As soon as fall hits, the pumpkin spice craze is in full glory, but there's another fall flavor that I love just as much because it is sweet AND savory.⁣
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That flavor combo is sausage with acorn squash.⁣
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Acorn squash is sweet, just like pumpkin, and when combined with the rich flavors of sausage and sage, it's a meal to die for!⁣
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Check out the recipe at FlawedYetFunctional.com, #linkinbio! ⁣
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I think you'll find another fall favorite! ⁣
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What is your favorite fall dinner??
Instagram post 2177911072252673718_177481688 It's a pot roast sort of day here!
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A lovely friend gave me some grass-fed roasts. Yes, I do have the best friends!
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See the fat on the side of the back roast?
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It's yellow!
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Did you know yellow fat is a sign of grass-fed beef?
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Also, it tastes delicious! It is nothing like the grisly fat of traditionally raised cows. It literally melts in your mouth!
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Can't wait for dinner!
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What's on your plate tonight??
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#flawedyetfunctional #grassfed #grassfedbeef #potroast #redwineroast #beefitswhatsfordinner
Instagram post 2176366620811892851_177481688 Day 13 Medical ID
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I bought a medical ID bracelet when I was first diagnosed. I thought it was more chic to get the printing that's just etched in. However, it's quite hard to read.
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Since I manage my diabetes so differently, lows are uncommon for me. So I have gotten out of the habit of wearing my ID bracelet regularly.
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Mostly, I just wear it when I travel. Perhaps I should wear it more. What do you do?
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Do you wear your medical ID every day?
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#happydiabeticchallenge #type1diabetes #t1d #t1dlookslikeme #medicalid #medicalidbracelet #flawedyetfunctional
Instagram post 2176364131802794115_177481688 Day 12...maybe? I'm not good at staying on track with these 30 day challenges!
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My two favorite diabetic friendly snacks are almond butter, straight from the jar, and pork rinds. The pork rinds are definitely low carb and easy on my blood sugar, but I do have to rein myself in with the almond butter. Haha!
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What is your go-to easy snack?
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#happydiabeticchallenge #type1diabetes #t1d #diabetes #diabeticsnacks #lowcarb #lowcarbsnack #flawedyetfunctional #ndam
Instagram post 2176332025244616010_177481688 Don't throw the turkey carcass away after your Thanksgiving meal!⁣
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There are a whole bunch of uses for the bones, drippings, organs, and leftover meat.⁣
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Check out today's post to learn how to eliminate waste and use ALL the parts of a turkey! Just click on the link in my profile to get to FlawedYetFunctional.com to check it out!⁣
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Do you have any more tips? What do you do with your turkey leftovers??
Instagram post 2174945426209602908_177481688 What is your favorite part of a Thanksgiving meal?⁣
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The turkey? The mashed vegetables? The pie?⁣
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All of those are lovely, and I like them too. But  nothing holds a candle to traditional, homemade gravy. ⁣
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Give me a plate of all the Thanksgiving trimmings then drown the whole plate in gravy. ⁣
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Heaven⁣
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Do you want to wow your guests this year? Learn how to make gravy from scratch with the drippings from the turkey AND the organ meat. ⁣
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Don't run and hide because I said "organ meat!" It really is the key to rich, robust gravy!⁣
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Click through to FlawedYetFunctional.com to try it!
Instagram post 2172838668161685481_177481688 Day 8 | Diabetes & Work
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Blood sugar waits for no man. That's a phrase, right?.
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As a blogger and stay at home mom, diabetes management happens anywhere and everywhere.
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In the grocery store parking lot
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Interrupting my kids bedtime routine because I'm going low
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Making lunch late, much to my children's dismay, because I need to check my blood sugar and dose insulin
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Diabetes is all day, everyday. Even though one could dwell on the overwhelm of that responsibility, it teaches many good lessons: patience, empathy, and self-control.
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I have become a more patient and understanding mother and my kids have become more patient kids as we all deal with the ramifications of me managing my blood sugar all day everyday.
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What is your best lesson learned from managing diabetes (or any health condition)?
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@the.insulin.type #happydiabeticchallenge #type1diabetes #t1d #bloodsugarmanagement #glucosemonitor @onedroptoday #diabetes #patience #selfcontrol #empathy
Instagram post 2172030473369539293_177481688 Day 6 & 7 | Diabetes Hero &  #throwbackthursday Diabetes Style
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I've only had type 1 diabetes for 2 and 1/2 years. My repertoire of old diabetes stuff is limited in regards to my experience.
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However, my brother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was nine and I was six. Diabetes management has come a long way. This is what it looked like from my perspective almost 30 years ago.
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So many syringes
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Humalog 70/30 or NPH insulin in vials
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Low blood sugar in the middle of the night
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Blood glucose test with huge drops of blood
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Family guessing games to guess his blood sugar while the machine calculated
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Often painful injections
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Unstable insulin
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No knowledge of counting carbs or what exactly is driving high blood sugar
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My brother is not a brittle diabetic, thankfully! It is amazing to me that he made it through all those years with far inferior tools than we have today.
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He is alive and a thriving type 1 diabetic today, but his road was so much more difficult than mine.
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Love you, @lukerumley!
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#happydiabeticchallenge #type1diabetes #t1d #ndam #diabetes
Instagram post 2171409524145507753_177481688 The holidays are almost here! Black Friday sales are already ramping up. Are you gathering ideas for loved ones on your list?⁣
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If you've got a cook or foodie that you'll be buying for this year, you've got to check out my top 10 kitchen gifts list!⁣
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In this list, I share my experience with the tool (I only recommend items I use regularly that have stood up well over time) AND how to save or splurge on the item.⁣
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Want fool-proof kitchen gifts that fit any budget? Click through my profile to FlawedYetFunctional.com to check out the Top 10 Gifts for a Cook!
Instagram post 2170845204481853939_177481688 Just a random selfie with a cool tree I found this summer. The picture has nothing to do with the post. Ha!
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Day 5 of the #happydiabeticchallenge is about my diaversary or the day I was diagnosed.
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I don't recall the exact day, but it was early April 2017.
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The only reason I know it that specifically (I generally do not hold on to dates. I forget things like that quickly.) is I constantly measure my insulin-free days to my insulin-dependent days.
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You see I've been experimenting with the whole "food is medicine" concept since my diagnosis. About 2-4 weeks after my diagnosis, I experimented with going gluten-free. It changed my perspective on food and health forever.
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When I stopped eating gluten (and eventually discovering other sensitivities of dairy and eggs), I could stop taking insulin. .
Yes, that's right. I was an insulin-free type 1 diabetic for 19 months after diagnosis!
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In December 2018, my pancreas kicked the bucket a bit more and I had to return to daily insulin injections. I am still on the same diet and following the AIP reintroductions because I know my body now. This is how I can maintain it best.
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So instead of a diaversary, I think 19 months insulin-free and 11 months insulin-dependent.
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Eventually, I will stop thinking about not taking insulin. Maybe. It was an amazing discovery and if I could go back and do it again, I most defintely would.
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#type1diabetes #t1d #diabetes #insulinfree #insulindependent #aip #autoimmunedisease #autoimmuneprotocol #glutenfree #dairyfree #eggfree #foodISmedicine #healyourgut #healthygut #leakygut
Instagram post 2169987699163054238_177481688 What is the hardest part of hosting a holiday dinner?⁣
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For me, it's getting everything on the table HOT...not lukewarm or cold...HOT.⁣
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Here's my best tip: free up oven space by cooking your turkey on the grill. Yep, the grill!⁣
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Follow the link in my profile to check out this super easy, super tasty charcoal grilled turkey. You'll never cook the turkey in the oven again!
Instagram post 2169968829072138622_177481688 Late this summer I was emotionally and mentally drained documenting and analyzing my diet and glucose numbers.
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I just needed a break. .
So I took one, and almost immediately my numbers rose. Drat it all! It's been about 2 months since I took a break in food journaling, and as of two days ago, I'm back at it again.
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I feel refreshed and ready to think about the food/diabetes connection (I follow the Autoimmune Protocol plus many reintroductions which has done amazing things for my blood sugar control!). I don't like waking up high (170+) or not knowing why my numbers are out of range throughout the day.
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The not knowing ends now!
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#motivationmonday #happydiabeticchallenge #t1d #type1diabetes #foodjournal #takecontrolofyourhealth #trytryagain #nevergiveup #takeabrake #mentalhealth
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Type 1 diabetic, AVM survivor, Autoimmune Protocol dieter, DIY-er, Mom, Wife, and Lover of Jesus. So glad you are here today, and I hope you leave encouraged! Learn more about me →

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