Not sure what your precise targets are, sj, but based on knowing that for the diabetics in my life a single carb portion is roughly 15 grams of carbs - here are some things I have currently on hand that are 15 (+/- 3) grams:

• Lite bread (45 calories per slice, Sarah Lee's Lite Wheat is a nice one), a little butter or low-sugar peanut butter might be good with it.
• 100 cal Greek style yogurt cups, if you like chocolate with strawberries, a little drizzle of chocolate syrup would bring that right up to 15.
• Caramel corn flavored rice cakes;
• Trisket Sun Roasted Tomato & Olive Oil.

If you wish, I will do my best to be of use in brainstorming more ideas.

Fat free plain greek yogurt is, depending on brand 2 very lean protein and 0 carb or 2 very lean protein and one carb (depends on whether 5 or 10 carbs - you can do fractional carbs too - cause a carb exchange is as was said above 15 grams - but I don't bother just round up or down) plain non-fat greek yogurt flavored with garlic powder, black pepper, dill, oregano, parsley and thyme is delicious. If I was not allergeic might add red pepper (Note for this avoid sweet spices like marjoram or basil - savory and sour combined make this things flavor). You could add cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes if you felt like it. If you are out of some of the herbs and spices it still comes out fine as long as you have the garlic, some kind of pepper and parsley.

Caramel corn flavored rice cakes

My coworker bought me some of these the other day and they were pretty tasty.

I really need to do some cleaning today. I really don't want to.

Everything I have to eat is a multiple of 15 grams of carbs. My greek yogurt actually contains 16, jusot to make things more difficult. Plus, I have to add non-starchy vegetables to some meals and a specific amount of protein to others. I have a fairly lengthy list of what my 15 grams of carbs options are, so that isn't the problem. I just don't really have any interest in assembling 3 meals and three snacks to make up the right amount of everything every day. I'm lazy and would love it if I could just pull something out of the fridge or freezer once a day. Plus, I feel like I can't go anywhere. I'm used to being able to be out all day doing errands and grabbing a bagel or something quick if I'm hungry. I'm supposed to go to a friend's house on Tuesday in RI, and what am I supposed to say, "Are you going to have a 45 gram of carb lunch waiting for me when I get there?" Or do I just bring my own food with me? Both options seem rude.

Both options seem rude.

Temporary serious medical conditions are an exception to the rules of etiquette. Anyone who is offended at your care of yourself and your baby would receive Miss Manner's most cutting courteous sarcasm.

"Are you going to have a 45 gram of carb lunch waiting for me when I get there?" Or do I just bring my own food with me? Both options seem rude.

I'd say bring your own food, and let your friend know so that she doesn't prepare something special. It's not rude -- people will understand that you've got to be eating specific stuff right now.

I'd say bring your own food, and let your friend know so that she doesn't prepare something special. It's not rude -- people will understand that you've got to be eating specific stuff right now.

Other people are going to be there, so there is probably going to be food of some kind regardless. I guess I will bring my own, and if there is something they have there that I can actually eat, I'll have that instead and just bring my own food back home with me. It's still going to be tricky to keep the timing right with all the driving.

Even with dieticians and nurses looking over my shoulder on the job, I wouldn't sweat the 16 grams - close enough for government work. I would be comfortable going +/-3. Other people with diabetes here can give you a better idea of what kind of slop factor there is. That might actually be kind of individual.

A can of Progresso Traditional Chicken Noodle soup has 11 in a one-cup serving. I like to microwave some frozen veggies, such as green beans, broccoli, or a stir fry blend, in a large bowl, then dump a can of that soup in (2 servings, so 22 grams), stir it up, and heat for 2 more minutes. Adding garlic and a few drops of lemon juice add some dimension to the flavor. So this plus some crackers (figuring the right amount to bring it up to 45 takes a little math) would make your meal.

As for going visiting, I think the only real way to be rude is to not talk to your friend. If this person is adept at reading labels, s/he might be pleased to meet the challenge of providing you with a meal that works for you. If not, then s/he would be able to adjust ideas of hospitality to cover you bringing something for yourself.

ETA: I guess it is a sad legacy of a lifetime of dieting that measuring things and reading the label of ALL THE THINGS doesn't ping me as fuss and bother. So maybe I'm not really coming to the heart of what is challenging for you in this, sj. I'm sorry if I'm being the opposite of helpful.

Even with dieticians and nurses looking over my shoulder on the job, I wouldn't sweat the 16 grams - close enough for government work. I would be comfortable going +/-3. Other people with diabetes here can give you a better idea of what kind of slop factor there is. That might actually be kind of individual.

I didn't think 1 gram was a big deal, but the nurse kind of flipped out on me when I asked if I could go over or under by 1 gram. I guess I'll ask the diabetic counselor when I see her.

As for going visiting, I think the only real way to be rude is to not talk to your friend. If this person is adept at reading labels, s/he might be pleased to meet the challenge of providing you with a meal that works for you. If not, then s/he would be able to adjust ideas of hospitality to cover you bringing something for yourself.

She has a toddler and twin newborns. I'm guessing whatever food is there is not going to be food she has made.