These days kitchen space can be limited, so it pays to invest in a few good buys to make cooking and prepping food more fun and enjoyable. Here is a list of kitchen items that I can’t live without. 

1. Good Quality Wok. While the BBQ is my preferred weapon, the wok is a close second. The wok's unique shape distributes heat evenly and is the best for high-heat cooking of meats and vegetables. Use coconut oil or a splash of sesame oil with fresh garlic for a restaurant-quality stir-fry.
   
   
   
2. Digital Food Scale. To manage anything you must measure. If blood sugar control, fat loss, or muscle building is one of your goals you must track your intake of calories and macros. Be sure to use a scale that has the option to change from grams to ounces, and kilograms.
    
   
   
3. Knife Sharpener. A sharp knife is a safe knife and makes the process of prepping and cooking easier and more enjoyable.
   
   
   
4. Mini Electric Whisk. I literally use this bad boy three or four times a day to froth my...

Well, it's official: spring has sprung! Personally, I find this to be the perfect time of year to do a little health and wellness audit and spruce up your nutrition and exercise routine.

With that in mind, I've compiled 6 of my top tips to help you feel your best as we head into this new season.

1.           Add something new to your exercise routine. Add a new piece of equipment to your home gym. Incorporate resistance bands, dumbbells, or TRX into your living room workout. Take your bodyweight exercises outside. Signing up for a free trial at a local boxing gym or fitness class is also a great way to connect and make your workouts more enjoyable.
   
   
2.           Level up your self-care. It’s quite common for our needs to end up at the bottom of the list. The reality is, if you’re not at your best, nothing you put your energy into will be at its best. Spring is a great time to pick up some new workout clothes, spend some time...

After following Shawn Wicks (@thediabeticfighter) on Instagram for about one year, I finally reached out to him for help with blood sugar control. I developed gestational diabetes with both pregnancies and then one year after my second was born I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I struggled for years trying to maintain good blood sugar control and the more insulin I took the more weight I gained. Over the last few years, I've had a lot of body pain, and low energy, and  medicated for diabetic neuropathy in my feet and hands.

I finally contacted Shawn in April this year (2022) and started working with him. My plan was to work with him for 3 weeks but I continued for several more. This was not easy but the best decision I have ever made with respect to my health.

After working with Shawn I now have an HbA1c of 6.8. I am off all diabetic neuropathy medication because I no longer have neuropathy. Nothing hurts, I have a lot of energy, and the bonus, I've lost 41 pounds.

I...

A delicious festive treat that won't impact your blood sugar. Try adding some chopped 85% dark chocolate for a little extra deliciousness. 

Makes 36 Cookies

Ingredients
1/3 cup almond flour
1 cup almond butter
1 1/2 tsp Stevia
1 egg
2 egg whites
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp coconut flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup almond slices

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. 
2. In a large bowl, combine almond butter, egg, egg whites, and vanilla and beat well. 
3. In a small bowl, combine almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt and mix. Add almond butter and mix well. Add sliced almonds. 
4. Drop tablespoon-sized amounts onto baking sheets and bake for 9 to 11 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes on pans and then set on racks to cool completely. 


Nutritional Info per Serving
Calories: 210
Fat: 20g
Net Carbs: 1.6g
Protein: 5g

Enjoy!

Here's to your success,

Shawn Wicks
"The Diabetic Fighter"
Nutrition Coach...

It’s about to be the most wonderful time of the year which means there's no better time to dust off my tiny elf hat and serve up some health-related gift ideas (that you may want to add to your own wish list!).

So, here we go;

1. Digital Food Scale: I always say “to manage, we must measure”, and that is most certainly the case when concerned with blood sugar control and weight management. Having a digital food scale to calculate carbs, protein, fats, and total calories is an absolute must. Be sure to use it in combination with a daily food-tracking app such as MyFitnessPal for better tracking.

2. High-Quality Protein Powder: Most people rarely get enough protein daily. Protein is an extremely important aspect of blood sugar control and ensures a fast and flexible metabolism. Aiming for 1 gram of protein per body pound per day is a great place to start. When purchasing a protein, look for a product with 25 grams or more of protein and less than 1g of sugar and...

November is Diabetes Awareness Month and I thought I’d share some less commonly known information from a recent Instagram reel to help spread awareness.

First, the basics:

Type 1: This is an autoimmune condition. The pancreas does not produce enough insulin and requires insulin injections to live. 

Type 2: Insulin resistant. The body produces insulin but does not utilize it properly. Can be reversed with diet and cardiovascular exercise over time.

1. Type 1 was historically known as “juvenile diabetes”. Over the past few decades more and more young adults are being diagnosed – Like me – I was 29. This is known as Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults or LADA.
2. Insulin is responsible for shuttling energy and nutrients from food out of our bloodstream and into our cells, without it, we essentially starve to death. This was the fate of type 1’s before the discovery of insulin.
3. High blood sugar not only is detrimental to our physical...

Need a warm hug on a cold day? A piping hot bowl of my sugar-free low-carb chili should do the trick! 

Ingredients (Serves 8)

1 tbsp EVOO
1 medium onion diced
2 garlic cloves minced
2 jalapeno peppers diced
2 tbsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
1/8 tsp cinnamon 
2 lbs. ground beef
2 cans diced tomato

Directions 

1. Heat EVOO in a deep pot or skillet over medium heat.
2. Add chopped onion, jalapenos, and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes. 
3. Stir in chili powder, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and cayenne to coat the veggies. Add ground beef and cook until brown, approximately 6-9 minutes. Drain excess liquid.
4. Add tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 20-30 minutes.


Nutritional Info per Serving (approx. 1 cup)
Calories: 412
Fat: 31g
Net Carbs: 4.5g
Protein: 26g 

Enjoy! 

I always say “being prepared isn’t just for the Boy Scouts”. Anyone who has spent any time traveling knows that buying food on the road or in airports can break the bank and blow your blood sugar to the moon.

Here are a few of my go-to options to save cash and keep my numbers in range when I’m traveling:

1. Boiled Eggs, Mixed Nuts, and Turkey Bites. Loaded full of fats, a moderate amount of protein, and calorie dense, this combo is my number one choice for long flights. It keeps me feeling full and satisfied all the while serving as an excellent movie-watching snack on board. You just need to get over the fact that you’re the person peeling boiled eggs on the plane!
   
   
   
   
2. Egg Bites. Needing nothing more than eggs, a muffin pan, and whatever else you have in the fridge, these little bad boys are both tasty and satisfying. Don’t be fooled by imposters sold at a big coffee chain (that shall remain nameless), those are full of cornstarch and other...

These oven-baked meatballs are quick and easy to prepare. Try them with fresh greens or salads!

Ingredients (Serves 4)

28 oz ground turkey
4 large free-range eggs
1 tsp pink Himalayan or sea salt
Fresh ground black pepper
8 tbsp fresh parsley
400g small mozzarella balls
8-pieces chopped sun-dried tomatoes
4 tbsp fresh basil
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Directions 

1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Drain Mozza balls, pat dry with a paper towel, and put them in a large mixing bowl.
2. Finely slice dried tomatoes and chop basil. Place into the bowl and lightly coat and toss with olive oil. 
3. In a separate bowl, mix turkey with eggs and add fresh parsley. Then salt and pepper those bad boys. 
4. Create hand-sized burgers. 
5. Place a Mozza ball with tomatoes and basil in the center of the burger and wrap the meat around to create a ball.
6. Arrange meatballs in a baking dish greased with olive oil. 
7. Bake for approximately 25 minutes.

Nutritional Info per...

For this post, I’m turning over the blog to my awesome client Marc to share this really amazing testimonial he provided. Thank you, Marc! I’m so proud of your hard work and dedication to your health.

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I heard about Shawn through another referral and heard nothing but great things.  I have to admit,  I was skeptical about getting a “Coach” and the importance of nutrition.  My health and well-being were decent, but I was looking for improvements in my quality of life, no matter how small.  I did not believe my well-being would improve much but would have been ok with a minor improvement, like losing a couple of pounds, or a slightly better A1C.

Immediately after meeting with Shawn, I put all my trust in his hands and followed his direction.  Within the first week, I experienced significant improvements in my weight, blood sugars, and most importantly, my wellbeing.  My expectations were blown...