All I can think about right now is the things I like that I can't have...
Yea, yea, I know, it's "portion control". So I'm going to be hungry ALL. THE. TIME. That's probably not accurate, but that's where my brain is. I'm feeling sorry for myself right now. I don't have confidence I'm going to stick to anything for much more than a week, if that long. A nutritionist is supposed to call me at some point. Maybe they'll give me some hope. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the encouragement and suggestions everyone has posted. As many have said "it's mental" and I've got a mental block against this. I feel like I'm not going to enjoy eating. That's it's going to be a "chore"...
Those feelings are completely normal! DH went through them too, but they
did pass. (They also come up again, briefly, once in while. - That's normal too!)
It takes time to find new foods you like, but they
are out there!! And you don't have to completely give up all the foods on your list. DH's doc gave him a list of how much of various things he could have that would count as "1 carb choice" (or 15grams of carbs.) Here are the fruits from your list:
* Grapes - 17
* Watermelon - 1 1/4 cup
* Fresh Pineapple - 3/4 cup
For carbs and sweets, keep the catchphrase "limit, not eliminate" in mind. They are not gone for good, they are just add-ons to healthier meals instead of the star now.
DH says he likes the sugar-free coffee creamer just as well, and has tried some sugar-free candies, puddings, etc. (He especially likes the puddings - eats them so often that I secretly worry he's now getting too many chemicals instead of sugar...but one thing at a time!)
I'm not sure why cheese is on your list? - As far as I know, it's not considered a carb choice, and DH still has it pretty often. There are some made of almonds, though, that I've used in order to reduce the fat in recipes. - I like the mozzarella style better than the cheddar, and the Lisanatti brand,
not the Daiya.
For chips, there are low-carb ones out there. I don't particularly like the Quest protein chips, but some flavors are better than others, if you want to give them a try. I do
love Lays Poppables, though - which still taste like chips, but have a bunch of air between the layers, so the serving looks and feels way bigger than it is. - Like you said, a lot of it is mental!
Do you have good family support in all this? It's much easier if those around you are trying new foods
with you than if you're doing it on your own. I do still keep a few of "my" things out of sight of DH, but for the most part, I'm enjoying piggybacking on his diet. I've lost a couple of pounds, my clothes fit better, and I have a renewed motivation to find new recipes. (I'm way too prone to getting bored and in a rut with cooking.)