Tips to Celebrate Diabetes-Friendly Christmas

-    Lower The Sugar Not The Flavor

The holiday season can be the most enjoyable time of the year with extra goodies, sweets and huge scrumptious meals with food temptations. But for people with Type 2 diabetes, it’s a time of deprivation rather than celebration.

Fortunately, with a little planning and perseverance, diabetics can also enjoy a holiday dinner without missing a taste of good food, but they may consider some issues such as low-sugar food, limiting the alcohol and fat, etc. Here is an excellent recipe guide you can keep with you for this season and many more to come.

* Turkey and Potato Salad:

Ingredients:

One Cooked Turkey

1 tbsp. pepper, mayonnaise, chopped pimento

Lettuce leaves

1 boiled potato,

1/2 tbsp. dehydrated parsley flakes

1/2 tbsp. nutmeg, 1/4 tbsp. salt.

Method: Smash all ingredients except lettuce leaves and mix well. Then finally add to the lettuce leaves on the top for extra flavor.

* Christmas fruit cake:

Ingredients:

1 lb. chopped dates, raisins

2 c. chopped nuts and 3 c. self-rising flour

1 c. margarine

3 big ripe bananas

1 tsp. nutmeg

6 eggs

1 c. (16 oz.) pineapple juice

Method: Mix dates, raisins and chopped nuts with 1 c. flour and then mix with cream bananas, nutmeg and margarine. Next, blend one egg at a time. Now add 2 cups flour and pineapple juice and stir well. Put in cold oven at 300 degrees for 2 1/2 hours or less.  After baking, cut into slices and serve.

* Sugar-Free Cookies:

Ingredients:

¾ c. unsalted butter and ¼ c. light butter

1 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener

1 tablespoon vanilla

¼ c. egg substitute

3/4 tsp. vinegar (white or cider)

½ c. cake flour

Method: Blend unsalted butter, vanilla, and Splenda sweetener in a bowl using an electric mixer or by hand until butter gets softened. Add egg, water and vinegar. Stir well and refrigerate approx. 1 hour. Then, place cookies on prepared sheet and bake in 350 degrees F oven 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned on the back.

When and What to Eat

For Breakfast: On Christmas morning, you can eat just a bit of low-GI fruit salad together with 2 - 3 tablespoons of low-fat yoghurt and just a sprinkle of breakfast cereal. At tea time, you can have one piece of Christmas fruit cake with lower GI.

For Lunch: ¼ low-GI starch with Turkey and Potato Salad. Sprinkle nuts or seeds on top, add a few dried cranberries, and garnish with some avocado chunks to give it energy. Always choose low-fat or fat-free salad dressings or, for a change, flavored vinegars.

For Dessert: Strawberries and sugar free cookies are the best choice for dessert. But if you want to have Christmas pudding, have a piece of fruit cake again, with a little bit of low-fat ice cream or low-fat custard.

For Supper: Toast a slice of sweet bread with a sprinkle of breakfast cereal for dinner, together with Turkey and potato salad.

Finally, remember the holidays are not only about eating. So focus not so much on food and eating, but enjoy the time together with family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah!