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I have been walking from Montserrat and I am still on the way.
This was today rather typical:
- toasted bread 3 peaces (useless white bread)
- 2 cups of marmelade - sugar (I have diabetis)
- 2 cakes (sugar, white flour)
-2 cups of coffee
My fellow pilgrims, I believe that I am not the only one loosing weight for the wrong reasons. Pilgrims need energy! Now I often have to buy cafe con leche and tortillas after eating at the aubergue.
Could someone please suggest that the hospitaleros investigate the alternatives? Scandinavian or German rye bread, eggs, peanutbutter w/o extra sugar etc. I would pay for a more substantial breakfast.
Bananas are appearing more often now. Excellent!
However, insist that they are well-cooked. Revuelta is a good way to have them prepared. I have seen two cases first hand of food poisoning from the very tasty looking sunnyside up eggs. Local production, which is almost universal except for chain food stores, can lead to salmonella.I had mostly local eggs, very fresh.
Yes. We are more or less forced to that strategy. More to carry and sometimes extra time lost. Pauses are of course necessary. Still, so much sugar as is on offer is downright poisenous for anyone.I didn't eat the alberque breakfasts very often - even they were offered. I carried nuts and dried fruit, so I would snack on that first thing and drink a bunch of water to hydrate - sometimes I'd eat fresh fruit, cheese, or cured meats too if I had it. Then an hour or two into my walk, I would stop for 2nd breakfast at a bar or cafe along the way.
True, but the aubergues are missing a chance. It hardly is an industrial business secret anymore how bad sugar is for all of us. Not only for diabetics. Time for a statement!I regard Albergues very much as a bed, not a bed and breakfast. That they provide any food at all given the prices is impressive to me. In two CFs I've maybe had albergue breakfast three times. Like others above I like to get a good bit of walking, an hour, maybe two in first before I stop for breakfast.
Thanks! It depends on the sweeteners used whether that is actually just as bad (or worse) than sugar. I steer away from sweeteners. Good tip!I recently discovered that SOME pharmacies in Spain now offer protein powder and protein bar dietary supplements. It may be worth investigating.
The brand I saw was called "biManan Subsitutive." They had flavored powder and at least chocolate protein bars. Typically non-sugar sweeteners are used to produce these products.
I have a bariatric lap-band and have to supplement my diet with additional protein each day. Presently, I carry extra packets of powder with me, adding water to reconstitute it. If I can establish a reliable supply this way, I can reduce my pack weight by nearly 2 kg. Since returning from Santiago three weeks ago, I have been looking into where in Spain these products are sold.
FYI, here is the home page for the company I mentioned:
https://www.bimanan.com/productos/sustitutive/
Logically, there may be others. But this is the one I saw featured in several Santiago pharmacies.
Hope this helps.
True, but the aubergues are missing a chance. It hardly is an industrial business secret anymore how bad sugar is for all of us. Not only for diabetics. Time for a statement!
Thanks. Good thoughts. Still, much better products have similar shell lives (peanut butter, Scandinavian-type knäkebröd, etc.)Sorry to hear you do not seem to find the right food for your dietary needs on this Camino.
I can understand though that hospitaleros don't want to invest in more breakfast products especially not on a lesser travelled Camino.
And of course prepacked cakes have a longer shelf life than fresh bread.
And stopping in a cafe or small tienda for a coffee or buying fresh produce helps the local economy.
Don't forget the local markets either.
Say that again so every pilgrim hears it! Also those, who are ”only” on the way to diabetis 2!Sorry but it is still we ourselves that choose to eat sugary stuff.
Of course the big companies try to influence us but as a consumer we have a choice!
There are healthy alternatives and they are available.Now we just have to say no to the sugar advertisements.
Thanks. Good thoughts. Still, much better products have similar shell lives (peanut butter, Scandinavian-type knäkebröd, etc.)
I have to disagree: e.g., oatmeal with some berries cannot be much more expensive. Many would love to pay a little more. The great thing is that an effort is made, but we need to think together, suggest alternatives and not let the hospitaleros’ efforts go to waste (or worse in case of sugar). Thanks for all the good efforts, but we need constructive criticism.Again...more costly for those albergues on lesser travelled Caminos.
And if you want healthy and balanced breakfast on a Camino you will have to buy it from a shop beforehand. Or go to a posh hotel with breakfast buffet.
I would say good luck with that .True, but the aubergues are missing a chance. It hardly is an industrial business secret anymore how bad sugar is for all of us. Not only for diabetics. Time for a statement!
Sorry that you disagree , but in my opinion is breakfast not a thing for the albergue . As already stated before they provide a bed and some times breakfast asswell . When not we have to provide breakfast ourselfs .I have to disagree: e.g., oatmeal with some berries cannot be much more expensive. Many would love to pay a little more. The great thing is that an effort is made, but we need to think together, suggest alternatives and not let the hospitaleros’ efforts go to waste (or worse in case of sugar). Thanks for all the good efforts, but we need constructive criticism.
Breakfast habits are changing in Spain, but you wouldn't know it in the albergues. Frequently if you ask for tostada in a café, the default is with tomato, not with jam and butter/margarine. That would have been unheard of outside of Catalunya as recently as 10 years ago, I think. True, it's still white bread, but I had some tostadas on the Mozárabe this year that were amazing -- fresh tomato with garlic and oil, and cheese or jamón serrano draped on top.
If you stay in private accommodations that offer breakfast, you are much more likely to get something more nutritious, but If I stay in an albergue I make sure to have fruit, yoghurt, and nuts in my pack for the morning meal. I think the cost of an albergue just doesn't have much wiggle room for increasing the cost of breakfast. And to think pilgrims would willingly pay more is probably more wishful thinking than reality -- just ask the people who run donativo places!
The weight of the things I mentioned is well worth it
.Sorry that you disagree , but in my opinion is breakfast not a thing for the albergue . As already stated before they provide a bed and some times breakfast asswell . When not we have to provide breakfast ourselfs .
I have to disagree: e.g., oatmeal with some berries cannot be much more expensive. Many would love to pay a little more. The great thing is that an effort is made, but we need to think together, suggest alternatives and not let the hospitaleros’ efforts go to waste (or worse in case of sugar). Thanks for all the good efforts, but we need constructive criticism.
I have been walking from Montserrat and I am still on the way.
Hi! I have (otherwise) thoroughly enjoyed my camino. I went via Huesca. Generally speaking, I had much luck with the weather. Nature is gorgeous. I’ll break off my camino in Sahagun. I’ll be back to finish it.Hi, Jakke, don't mean to hijack your thread, but I for one would love to hear about the Camino Catalán and how it is going for you, at least after breakfast.
Did you go through Lérida or Huesca? Are you going to join the Aragonés? LT and I met in Montserrat and walked via San Juan de la Paña. It was in June, and the fields were already brown, and I kept thinking it would be SO nice to walk it in spring. Are you enjoying it? Any other peregrinos on the route?
Come to think of it, LT and I stayed in a lot of albergues but I don't remember breakfast ever being included! Buen camino, Laurie
I think you're forgetting that hospitaleros/as are often volunteers working very long hours for nothing and to then expect them to go to wherever the nearest supplier of rye bread and fresh fruit is to provide you with your perfect breakfast is just unreasonable.
Sorry, I don't mean to be rude but I just don't think you're considering that albergues are supposed to be just the most basic of accomodation, I'm overjoyed when they're more than that but I don't expect it. Also while you might have the money to pay extra, for many, maybe six weeks or more on camino is a major investment and even a Euro or two added to accomodation prices each night might prove prohibative.[/QUOTE
While it is true that the breakfast I got was at a „better” aubergue, I see no need to be on the wrong side of history on the sugar issue. I appreciate what hospitaleros and volunteers do. I understand the money issue. I have many caminos ago learned to prepare. All of that does in my eyes not address the issue. Also Scandinavia learned and has improved the offerings. Nobody here should be afraid of upsetting the status quo. There are alternatives. Much appreciated efforts can be used better. I leave this discussion here with the warning that serious diabetics better come prepared.
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