Cold Cuts

[chad]

I scared me when they said cold cuts can have some kind of sugar in it.

I actually saw my stomach not digest lebanon baloney. It must be full of sugar.

How do cold cuts work. If you get say sliced beef what are the chances it has sugar as long as it is not choped and formed like turkey or soemthing.

[charlie]

I have read that it may be in the curing process or what they bulk it out with that may contain sugar especially hams. They may use glucose or dextrose to counteract the excess salt they tend to add to these things that may be the problem as it may not be a pure form. Unless you know the source it is best to steer clear and cook your own.

I have found a fantastic butcher close to us who was really interested in this and likes a challenge so he is sourcing proper stuff for us and hopefully we will then have some ham and bacon options for megs to add a bit of variety. Gluten free sausages are a good bet too as no rusk or breadcrumbs added. Got some to try, fingers crossed as Megs does like her sausages.

[Josi]

Check out Hillshire Farms - they have several products that use corn syrup (which I am told is safe). They have a couple kinds of sliced turkey, ham, chicken, salami, etc. I know it's not the fresh sliced kind, but it gets the job done, and provide variety.

[Tammy]

Watch the labels that say corn syrup. Pure corn syrup is ok, but the problem is that most companies use High Fructose Corn Syrup. They are only required to list it as Corn Syrup. So unless you actually check with the company, it's best to avoid anything that has corn syrup listed as an ingredient.

Hillshire does make some meats without sugar or corn syrup. One of the ham variety is ok, although I can't remember which one without checking them again. Some of the oddball brands of ham luncheon meat at Wal-Mart is also fine. Plumrose is ok. Just check the labels in your area.

Hebrew National makes several items that are safe. They have Beef Bologna lunch meat and salami (which we eat as Bologna) that can either be sliced or cubed for pizza, etc.

[julienc]

I eat roast beef like a crazy person. Usually the deli (in grocery stores) has a couple brands/varieties to choose from that do not have sugar, and they slice it up for me.

I always trend towards roast beef over ham, turkey, etc. It's usually the safest bet.

[colormist]

I was not aware of Hebrew National bologna. I think you just made my summer 20x happier. Bologna & potato chip sandwiches: here I come!

[Tammy]

Most all Hebrew National things are ok. Regina's favorite is little cocktail weiners, wrapped in a "blanket". They come frozen and I just pop them in the oven. They are beef franks. She thinks they are funny because they are baby hotdogs with their own bun. She dips hers in mustard.

[charlie]

I think I'm moving to America, you guys seem to have much more choice

[CK]

Trader Joes has a safe cold cut Turkey. I believe it is their brand. I don't even recall a brand name on it, just the clear package with the ingredients and price. I'm going to look into the Hebrew National Bologna. I didn't know about that.

[Tammy]

I've not been to England, but I have been to several European countries. I've found it to be MUCH easier to feed Regina on our side of the pond. Of course I've had much longer to look around and find things here. I really just don't know where to look when I'm out of the country.

Speaking of which....................Regina and I and my Mom are leaving in the morning for Amsterdam. My son lives there and we are visiting for 2 weeks. The only part of the trip I dread is eating out. They never seem to be overly co-operative. We have to really push it. We usually tell them if they "cheat" on us, she'll instantly puke it back up on their table and floor. (She wouldn't but they don't know that). This usually gets us what we need.

But this trip, we may drive into Paris for a couple of days. Since none of us speak French, it may prove interesting............

We did well in Germany and Italy without speaking the language, but my son tells me the french aren't quite as willing to help him out when he's there.

Oh well, worse case scenario, she'll eat lots of cheese and peanuts............... lol.

[charlie]

Nice one Tammy, I must try the puking line!!!
My instincts tell me that france may be easier for food as they don't tend to mix foods as much from what I know having hosted french students, you'll have to let us know how you get on. It is so hard these days as you can't carry your own food about to different countries. Go armed with the word "sucre" and "pas de" ie no sugar, I suppose you ought to add a s'il vous plais to be polite. French bread is supposed to be the best for no sugar in the recipe, I make it alot for megs.

[julienc]

Tammy, I hope you have a fantastic trip!!!

I wish I could hide in your suitcase!

[sarahk]

Mike here: We've been absent from this board for a long time--this year has just been REALLY busy for us, with one event after the other.

Including--sarah's pregnant---let's hope this one is HFI free too

Cold Cuts: Almost all pork products are cured with sugar-there are a few brands of hard salami which we can find w/o sugar, but not many. Prochuoto usually doesn't have sugar-but you get so little of it.... Like Julie, sarah sticks to mostly roast beef, with only a few chicken or turkey choices.

We were in Amsterdamn a few year ago-the food was tricky, but the waiters were helpful (not so much in france) Sarah ate a lot of cheese and french bread and pasta. You can always resort to Quick (European's mcdonalds) for fries and burger meat-but I think their nuggets have sugar.

In Paris, the restaurants weren't as friendly/helpful, but if you travel to the country side or the south of france--they are more helpful. The coffee shop at Monet's Garden added whipped cream to sarah's latte, and even after our tour guide explained (in french) she can't have whipped cream-they yelled us at and made us buy it--it was like $6--I'm still upset about that 5 years later--especially since we didn't tell them to put whipped cream on it--our tour guide seemed to enjoy his free cup.