We've done the Zone. We've done the variations.
Tried all sorts of things.
Simple carbs, alone, on an empty stomach... can mean trouble now... or trouble later, when the "high" crashes down.
Complex carbs, along with healthy fat and a bit of protein... safe. Example: apple and a few nuts. Or veggies and a yogurt dip.
If there is no other option than to grab "something", it's going to be skewed toward "simple", which means things like commercial granola bars (VERY "simple" carbs, no matter what they say on the label!)... in which case we add a dried pepperoni stick or equivalent - i.e. a heavy hit of protein with some fat, to go with the carb load.
I'm not convinced that every meal and every snack needs the right "balance" between carbs, protein and fat... but I do believe that it helps to have "some" of each. Even the old-fashioned after-school snack that granny used to serve was... oatmeal cookies and a glass of milk (milk having both protein and fat... )
If you're like difficult child, though, and because of medications you really can't let blood sugar drop... then the protein factor becomes WAY more important.
