I used to wake up to my local AM station playing Adult Contemporary hits as a kid. The radio was in my parents’ room, but we had it loud enough to provide background music to get ready. One song the morning DJ loved to play back in the 70’s was The Archies’ “Sugar, Sugar” which suited me fine since I also enjoyed the Saturday morning cartoon.

But now I am on a hunt for sugar. Or rather, on a hunt to find food without sugar. And carbs. Gestational diabetes is back in the picture for me on baby two, so I’m upping protein, lowering carbs, and AVOIDING sugar. It’s not that its hard exactly. Read the labels, make smart choices, use Splenda. Follow the special diet — the hardest part is eating all the snacks I’m supposed to eat, while checking my blood sugar at the right times at work. Which always happens to be during a meeting with a client or in the middle of a conference call.

Things I snuck into my diet: Low Carb Breyers Ice Cream Bars. These things are pretty yummy for just 9g of carbs! Sugar Free fruit bars from Edy’s — tasty! Things I have to add to my diet: more protein!

A snack before bedtime is supposed to be something like ice cream, right? My nutritionist suggested I eat protein at this time. “You could have a little rolled up piece of ham or roast beef, some string cheese, too. And have some carbs, like 4 Triscuits.” I like party food as much as the next guy, but I’m not sure I’m ready to eat some ham and Triscuits at 10:00pm. It’s surely a smart snack for someone in my condition, but the thought of nibbling on some ham before bed just doesn’t do much for me.

Which brings me back to the song that’s stuck in my head:

“Oh, honey!
Oh, Sugar, Sugar
You are my candy, girl
And you got me wanting you …”

I’m at the point where the Tums I’ve been ordered to eat for extra calcium to avoid leg cramps are a true delicacy because they have 2g of carbs from sugar! Do try the Cocoa N Creme Smoothies if you get the chance!