Eating a Diabetic Diet

Just because you’re a diabetic does not mean you have to give up great tasting, delicious food; or feel restricted by what you can put in your mouth. You can live with diabetes AND eat (mostly) what you want.

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Be Balanced

The key to indulging every once in awhile – for everyone, though diabetics have to be a touch more careful, is to ensure you’re eating a healthy, balanced diet and making the right food choices. Portions are important, so make sure you’re eating appropriately sized meals. And of course, ensure you’re getting your fruits, non-starchy veggies (think carrots, broccoli, and spinach), whole grains (instead of processed grains), lean meats, and non-fat dairy products.

Watch your carbs

There’s three main types of carbohydrates – starches, sugars, and fiber. You can help keep your blood sugar levels in your target range by watching how many carbs you’re consuming. Any grains made from wheat flour (rice, pasta, bread), potatoes, peas, and corn are all examples of high in starch foods, and should be avoided when possible. Fiber, on the other hand, can be your BFF. It helps keep your digestive system in tip-top shape, and – surprise – you CAN still eat things like cereal, bread, and pasta – just look for whole grain cereals that are low in artificial and added sugars.

It’s okay to indulge

Yup, it’s true – as long as you’re generally a healthy, balanced eater it’s okay to have that small slice of chocolate cake on your birthday. And being diabetic doesn’t mean never eating chocolate or a cookie ever again – it simply means checking ingredients, and being aware of what you’re eating when. Look for treats with less than 10 carbs per serving – things like sugar free jello, no sugar added cookies, dark cocoa chocolate, and low carb ice creams (literally – some of them say this on the package!) can be great choices when you’re craving something sweet. And, if you’ve been day dreaming about a chocolate chip cookie all day – another trick is to “trade” that dessert for another high-carb food you had been planning on eating. Maybe skip the lunchtime chicken sandwich and have a salad instead (or one of our fab prepared diabetic meals!) to make room for that ooey, gooey, cookie.

And remember – as with anything in life, moderation (and in some cases, a lot of moderation) is key to being healthy and happy while still tantalizing your taste buds – yes, even for us diabetics.

Lauren- MagicKitchen.com Blogger