Posted on June 5, 2009 in Latest News
In the U.S. diabetes has steadily tripled from 5.6 million in 1980 to whopping 16.8 millions in 2006. In the same year (2006), nearly 47% of the U.S. adults between 45 and 59 years of age were diagnosed with diabetes. To control diabetes (increased blood sugar level), a healthy diet plan – rich in nutrients, low in calories and fat, play an important role. Disciplined and stress-free lifestyle can further check the spread of the disease.
How do Diabetes Meal Plans Help?
A good meal plan focuses on your lifestyle and eating habits. It gives you a guidance regarding the amount and type of food you can select from a wide range of food to control diabetes. The right plan can help you to restore normal blood glucose level, cholesterol level and blood pressure and bring your health right on track.
Diabetes Meal Recipes
Being a diabetic does not mean you have to avoid all your favorite foods and stick to bland eating. The right meal plan allows you to be creative and enjoy your food as always.
Listed below are some of the interesting diabetes meal recipes:
- Apple Dip: Allow to soften about 8 ounces of cream cheese (fat free) for nearly 5 minutes. To prepare the dip, blend two tablespoons of brown sugar, one-and-half teaspoons of vanilla and the cream cheese into a smooth paste. Mix two tablespoons of chopped peanuts in it. Place four cored and sliced apples in a bowel. Then drizzle half cup of orange juice in it. While serving the sliced apples, garnish it with the dip.
- Fruit Smoothies: You can prepare this beverage in a jiffy. Blend together a cup of fat-free frozen yogurt (vanilla), three-fourth cup of fat-free milk and one-fourth cup of frozen orange juice concentrate. Serve the mixture in tall frost-chilled glasses.
- Buckwheat Pancakes: Whisk together two egg whites, a tablespoon of canola oil and half cup of fat-free milk in a small bowel. In another bowel, blend half cup of buckwheat floor, a tablespoon of baking powder and a tablespoon of sugar. In it, add egg white mixture and half cup of water and batter the mixture. In a pre-medium-heated nonstick frying pan, add half cup of pancake batter. Cook until the pancakes for two minutes, until they are light brown. Before serving, top each pancake with sliced strawberries.
Gestational Diabetes Meal Plan
When you develop gestational diabetes, your attention needs to be focused on what you eat and in what amounts you eat. This is important to control your blood sugar and also to ensure that you and your baby are getting enough nutrition. In all probability, the personalized meal plan provided by your doctor can contain the following basic elements:
- Emphasis on complex carbohydrates such as whole grain cereals, peas, beans, etc
- Emphasis on mini meals and 2-3 small snacks to control blood sugar
- Restrict fatty food intake particularly if you are supposed to watch your weight
- Restriction on alcohol intake
- Focus on high-fiber foods
- Select food high in vitamin and mineral contents. You may want to have a minimum of four servings of vegetables every day
- Importance on bed time snacks containing complex carbohydrates and proteins such as fish, poultry, peanut butter, soy protein (tofu)
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June 5th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
It is so true that folks with diabetes can enjoy their favorite foods. It really is about moderation and common sense. In my new book, “How To Eat Fried Chicken and Be Thin Too” I discuss healthy lifestyle changes for those with diabetes and provide great traditional recipes that have been modified to be more healthy! If anyone is interested, the book can be found at Amazon.com or as Strategic Book Publishing!