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.Â
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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.
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 will be ...
AÂ delicious festive treat that won't impact your blood sugar. Try adding some chopped 85% dark chocolate for a little extra deliciousness.Â
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.Â
2. In a large bowl, combine almond butter, egg, egg whites, and vanilla and beat well.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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 & Blood Sugar Control Specialist
Type 1 Diabeti...
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 carbs per serving t...
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.Â
Type 2: Insulin resistant. The body produces insulin but does not utilize it properly. Can be reversed with diet and cardiovascular exercise over time.
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Need a warm hug on a cold day? A piping hot bowl of my sugar-free low-carb chili should do the trick!Â
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 cinnamonÂ
2 lbs. ground beef
2 cans diced tomato
DirectionsÂ
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.Â
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:Â 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:
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
1Â 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
DirectionsÂ
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.Â
3. In a separate bowl, mix turkey with eggs and add fresh parsley. Then salt and pepper those bad boys.Â
4. Create hand-sized burgers.Â
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.Â
7. Bake for approximately 25 minutes.
Nutritional Info per Serving
Calories: 857
Fat: 62g
Net Carbs: 5g
Protei...
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 away…Â
After 13 weeks with Shawn, I get multiple compliments from friends and family on how...