Not a captain’s clarion call to arms at the start of the cricket season…*
…but a policy statement from Chef Shep in Chicago.
We met him when visiting Dixie, a spritely 88-year-old family friend of Meredith’s mother, in her elegant retirement home in Glenview on Chicago’s North Shore.
Our clocks were out of kilter from time differences (a lame excuse) and Chef Shepherd had kept the kitchen open for us.
He himself has type 2 diabetes–and was interested to meet me, said Dixie, and see my book.
He took our simple orders–it was late–and my book back to the kitchen as we made our peace and caught up with Dixie.
When he returned a few minutes later with salads for us and a hamburger and chips for Dixie (it’s breaking the rules that keeps her young, it would seem!), he reduced–chef’s lingo– part of the introduction to the book into the simple and memorable phrase “OUT WITH THE WHITES”.
In other words his approach when cooking for the folks with diabetes in the retirement community–and as a principle he follows when cooking for himself–is to avoid refined carbohydrates and potatoes (foods that metabolize too quickly into sugar for those with type 2 diabetics).
So the whites–rice, flour, pasta, bread, are replaced by the browns–wholewheat pasta, bread made with whole grains (rye or wheat), brown rice (basmati, if possible) etc.—whole/unrefined alternatives.
I was impressed.
Here is a chef cooking in a corporate context (Hyatt, no less), personally invested in doing the right thing for his clientele of “seniors“.
After her hamburger the ever insouciant Dixie tucked into the chef’s special dessert!
* Not everyone knows that cricket is played in white togs, which makes for a pretty sight on village greens in summer.
Robin Ellis 
Like the simplicity–I can remember to avoid the whites. Any suggestions on what to increase? Thanks for all the encouragements.
That makes it easy–get rid of the whites. Any suggestions on what to increase for better heath (other than whole wheat. . .) ? Thanks for all your encouraging comments.
Exercise would be the least welcome suggestion!!
True! Diet without movement doesn’t go far.
I just got your book, and you had me salivating. I have to find some of the special herbs at my local organic food store, but I’m don’t eat anything white anymore. I will have to watch the olive oil though 🙂 I’m sure you get this a lot but I loved Poldark. Many hours of pleasure you have given, sir.
Thanks, Lil–how can I tire of hearing people enjoyed Poldark!?
That is much easier to remember at the store when shopping and planning the weekly menu.
That’s how I remembered what to avoid during my 3 bouts with gestational diabetes – no white bread, white noodles, white rice, white potatoes,etc. I thought perhaps the Chef was referring to his professional attire – just like in tennis – perhaps it is time to add some bright hues into the mix. No more white chef’s jacket, aprons or toques – Viva la couleur!
In doing my job, I see every day the devastating effects of diabetes on the body. There is still altogether too much emphasis on pills instead of wholesome eating habits in the treatment of Type II diabetes in Western medicine. Robin, it’s hard to overstate the importance of what you are doing with your book and blog to educate and improve the health of diabetics, pre-diabetics and people in general. I know you’ve already helped change my health for the better. Dr Enys would be so proud! 😉
Thanks for that, Nancy.
Robin I have been successful in converting Jimmy to most of the browns from white, but,I can not get him to eat brown rice,just plain does not like it, – HELP any suggestions?
A very happy Easter to Meredith and yourself.
You could try quinoa or basmati brown rice. The latter is nutty and we find delicious.
Thanks Robin – will give it a try.
Per your suggestion of brown basmati rice, Robin, I bought a packet of it at the greatest spice shop in Manhattan – Kalustyans – right up there on “Curry Hill” (known to some as Murray Hill but because of the amount of Indian restaurants, the neighborhood has been nicknamed that). I soaked the rice for two hours and then put it in the rice cooker. A half hour later, I fluffed it up with a fork and it was ABSOLUTELY delicious. We had it with your Charlotte Chicken.
Tonight: fresh whole wheat fettucine from Whole Foods. Another wonderful brown thing!