There's lots of low carb stuff in my grocery store. Well,
actually, it's in the green-grocery section:-)

Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia.
d&e, metformin 2x500mg

I have similar trouble, as I too live in a rural area.

I've found that by reading labels, I often find low-carb stuff where I
least expect it. For example, Kellogs special K still makes a low carb
version, but now it's labeled "protein plus". Same stuff, different
label.

Bread is the hardest thing IMHO to find a substitute for, and low carb
bread is an essential for me. I often have to get it at outrageous
prices at a health food store, where it's just about the only low carb
stuff they carry.

I've had the exact same conversation with grocery managers, including
being told "the fad is over, everyone has moved on". My reply is "Gee,
really? Then they forgot to take away my diabetes before they moved
on!". That usually gets the brain cells moving, and if not I prod a
little and explain that as a diabetic, it's no good for me to eat
carbohydrates as those turn to sugar when digested.  

Yep. I've had good luck at some of mine, such as getting them to
restock low carb tortillas. I pointed out that I depended on them as
I'm diabetic and they were the only place in town carrying them, and
that other stores in their chain did still carry them. They now carry
them again. I also note that they sell out often, so it was hardly
lack of sales that was the problem.  

I'm in a larger town, but I still have problems in the grocery store.
For two weeks in a row mine has been sold out of Wasa fiber rye, which
I depend on.  It seems to have become some kind of fad here, or maybe
it was talked about on some tv show, because I've not had trouble
finding it before.  I tried a different store - same problem.  I
complained to the store manager; we will see what happens tomorrow when
I shop.

I think it helps if you can suggest specific items, and specific
brands.  I'm going to try to get LAtortillas carried in town.  You
might try suggesting that your store get Sara Lee Delightful breads.
They seem to sell well here; the store runs out of the multigrain kind
from time to time.  I sometimes mention diabetes, sometimes not.  In a
smaller store you may well need to let the manager know; otherwise, as
you discovered, they tend to think of low-carb foods as a fad.
Pointing out that other people appear to buy the stuff you want can
help.

If I remember correctly you are in southern Illinois.  I'm in central
Illinois, in a college town.  If you are in Carbondale from time to
time try browsing a bigger store and noting, or buying, low-carb foods
to try and then tell your store manager about.  Letting him know you
saw it in the bigger place may trigger a need to keep his customers
happy so they don't shop elsewhere.

I think there are so many new versions of packaged foods that store
buyers can't carry them all, and may choose what to stock on sales
statistics or just a random whim.  If you let the manager know that you
need and appreciate certain low-carb items he may well keep you in mind
when salesmen push various things.   That's probably most important in
a smaller store like yours.  Of course, if you find something you like
you need to buy it regularly, and maybe let the manager know.

Susan Adair

Sounds like you're doing quite well : )

In England, the big supermarket chains allow local managers only a very
small amount of local leeway - but once the local manager finds out what you
need, I've found them quite helpful. They prefer letters rather than verbal
communication, so they can wave them up the tree.

I've also taken to buying on line quite extensively - there are a few
low-carb suppliers who do things I find very convenient, like low-carb
tortillas. I wouldn't touch the Atkins stuff, sugar alcohols and me
generally don't mix well! I've also found specialist suppliers so I can make
my own low-carb bread. I suspect that's a trend that will continue - I have
a recipe saved for home-made tortillas, when that becomes necessary! After
all, people did fine on low-carb before the marketing hype : )

Nicky.

I would suggest avoiding processed foods as much as possible.....
surely fresh veggies are available, along with beans, vinegars, olive
oil, etc. Don't know what to suggest re the bread, though... Are you
sure there is no pumpernickel or dark rye? You might be able to eat
very small amounts of that.

Maybe it would be worth a trip to a larger community about once a
week, or so to get some healthier bread....

Will, T2

I recently had the identical experience in Trader Joe's when I went
looking for a low carb cereal they have always carried.

But the good news is that 80% of the "low carb" products they were
selling during the fad were NOT truly low carb and had ugly effects on
blood sugar. Many were full of "modified corn starch" and maltitol which
they claimed didn't raise blood sugar but, for many people, do.

Not so coincidentally, years ago, before the "low carb" products
appeared on the shelves, those of us who used a low carb diet used to
lose weight within weeks on those diets. The low carb diet newsgroup was
one of the busiest on usenet. After the "low carb" products hit the
market, many fewer people were successful with "low carb" diets because
the products raised their blood sugars and stalled their weight loss.
The reason the "fad" is over, is because "low carb" diets full of "low
carb" products won't work.

So now you can go back to eating the truly low carb way that controls
blood sugar and weight. Search on alt.support.diet.low-carb for messages
that start with "REC" to find hundreds of recipes, many of which are
very good.

The classic advice for low carbing is to "Shop the Edges" in the
supermarket.  Veggies, berries, dairy, and meat are the basis for your diet.

Get yourself some whey protein powder to bake with and you can make your
own pancakes and muffins etc. You can also make excellent cookies with
almond meal. Invest in some DaVinci sugarfree syrups and use them
instead of the powdered splenda in your cooking. Less carbs and better
flavor.

--Jenny

http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes  Diabetes Info

http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/newlydiagnosed.htm Get Your Blood
Sugar Under Control

<snip>

The latest "fad" seems to be  high fiber. We buy a "double fiber" bread
that is actually lower in carbs and calories than the "low-carb" bread.
Rather than reading the names of the products, try reading the labels.
There are some pleasant surprises.

I would agree that the fad seems to be over.  Low carb stuff has been marked
down and phased out here, and I live in a suburb of Seattle.  Hardly a small
area.  Most stores are happy to take special orders.  But if it's a product
that is no longer being made or from a vendor they no longer stock, you'll
probably be out of luck.  You might have better luck with the drink.  People
tend to see drinks not as fad items but "diet" items.

Have you checked nutrition labels on the bread?  When I lived in NY, I could
get some very thin sliced bread.  The carb count was doable.  I think Roman
Meal is another bread that is fairly low in carbs.

This may not help much.  www.foodnetwork.com   Low Carb and Lovin' it.

If you can't get the show you can get the recipes off the web.  May
require real cooking but you may find some things to help.

Good luck.

RB