Eight Crazy Nights!

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah.  As with many Jewish holidays there is debate over the original story (not to mention the spelling in English of the holiday itself) but generally speaking, Hanukkah commemorates the triumph of the Macabees in about 164 BCE over the Greeks, and the liberation and rededication of the second Temple in Jerusalem after Judaism had been outlawed there. When the Jews reentered the Temple, they found that their foes had left only enough oil to light the Temple for one day. But miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days until they had time to make more pure oil to light the temple.  

Of course, all Jewish holidays have some food ritual associated with them.  Because Hanukkah celebrates an oil-based miracle, we eat foods cooked in oil on Hanukkah.  The star attractions are fried potato pancakes, aka latkes, and donuts of all kinds as long as they are fried.  As you can imagine these ritual carbs-fried-in-oil make Hanukkah a bit of a landmine-filled holiday for those of us watching our carbs and sugar.  Not only that, we tend to pair our fried carbs with things like applesauce, sour cream, and heavy meats, and we sometimes fill the donuts with jelly or cream. Then we shower everything with “Gelt,” little chocolate coins that I have never ever found in a sugar-free variety. 

So how does a diabetic, much less one with lactose issues, navigate all eight nights of Hanukkah? Other than praying for more miracles, choices must be made and substitutes must be found. Personally, I believe strongly that potato latkes are cheatworthy, especially since I only eat them a few times a year. Lactose free sour cream can be used, and no sugar added applesauce is easy to make or buy.  I just try not to eat too many latkes at one sitting and not to have latkes too many nights during the holiday. I generally skip the donuts. I may have one piece of Gelt (dark chocolate if I can find it).  

What I don’t try to do is mess with the ritual.  Latkes are made with white potatoes and onions. I remember my Grandmother once trying to make “string bean latkes.”  I have also heard tales of “zucchini latkes.”  There may be some use for these things as side dishes in other contexts, but they are not foods to eat on Hanukkah. I bet sweet potato pancakes would be good too, but they have nothing to do with the Macabees and should be left off your holiday table except if you want to get creative at Thanksgiving. In my family, we used to have my mother’s cheesecake for dessert at Hannukah (and other holidays). It was when I tried to make a sugar-free, dairy-free version of my mother’s cheesecake that I learned that my family really does love me no matter what. Thankfully, my niece has since picked up the effort to try to replicate the cheesecake with much better results.  

The bottom line is, in my view, Hanukkah food is one of those areas where “navigating” means eating less, maybe utilizing some hacks to lower your blood sugar (like taking a walk after dinner), or choosing between the ritual foods (like skipping the donuts).  Or maybe, if you can do this and not blow your A1C, you can cheat just one or two days (not all eight!).  I just don’t think – other than perhaps using sugar-free or dairy-free condiments, that changing the ritual is going to be a satisfying solution.  

However, all is not lost.  Your other senses may help you out.  While anyone watching their carbs knows they can’t eat latkes for all eight nights of Hanukkah, anyone who has ever made latkes knows that afterwards their kitchen will smell like latkes for at least eight nights.  So, your nose at least (and probably the clothes you were wearing when you were cooking) will be enjoying those latkes all week!  It’s a miracle I tell you!!! A miracle!!!

A joyous and happy holiday to all my friends and family.  May your light shine brightly throughout the year.