low carb/ No sugar diet

Question
My 11 yr. old niece has been put on a low carb / no sugar diet. This does not include any sugar subs. She may have lukemia, but the tests are not all in.We are beside ourselves trying to find things she can eat. She has to eat 3 small meals a day. The dr. said she can have diet sodas, but he had also said no sugar subs. Ihope you can give me some information or a web-site to go to. Thank You, Patty Isbell

Answer
Dear Patty,
It sounds like you are going through some worrying times; the last thing your niece needs is conflicting advice from the doctors. I can imagine why it is a no to sugar subs. since they dramatically lower energy levels (pollute) and may even cause cancer or other troublesome complaints in rare cases of excessive abuse - according to some medical reports.
I find it hard to answer your question because it is not clear what kind of food you are looking for. (sodas of any type should not be part of any healthy diet - just a rare treat at most). Also, I can only assume the low carb/no sugar means you need to keep her glycemic levels low (but do they mean to say no to both single (sucrose,fructose, glucose/dextrose) and complex carbs?).
If it's a typical modern low-carb diet you are after then you have to think of Atkins and take all the negatives on the slide. This will mean eggs, dairy, meat and fish. Watch out for salt and don't buy anything tinned or processed (added sugar). Salads (lettuce, cucumber, celery - but not root veg or fruits) are also okay. Watermelon is sweet but has not much carb. in it (but high on fructose). I would not like to steer too wide around carbs, though, if possible. Just use high fibre stuff (slow digesting and half undigestible sugars): wholemeal bread (or better wheatabix or oatmeal), brown rice and quinoa especially. Bulgur (cracked wheat) is better than brown pasta, barley grits and millet is better still; and only one serving a day. Nuts and beans/pulses/lentils are okay, too. (Watch out for sugar in baked beans and other tinned products!).
I strongly advise you check with your doctor about what levels you are supposed to stick to or go to a nutritionalist/dietician. Once you have been diagnosed and the news is life-changeing the hospital should assign one to you or refer you. At the very least they should supply you with technical information which I or some more specific expert might be able to help you decipher and translate into practical meals.
Please get back to me if you feel like it and you can be more specific. Otherwise I wish you lots of strength and healing light.
Love Evelyn.

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