Diabetic Meals for Visiting Relative

The best sugar subsitute I have found is Xylitol. look it up.
It's very tasty- like sugar! (but it can't be used in things that need to be browned by the sugar).

Hi W.-
There is no reason to fret on this one. My husband is diabetic, so I can give you some first hand advice. The idea is to keep your food low carb. It means instead of ruffles and dip keep out a tray of fresh veggies and some low fat fip. FOr dinners, instead of meat, potatoes, and bread, serve soup, salad, and fresh foods.
Here is what we like to do. THe basic idea is to keep the diabetics meals at 30 - 35 carbohydrates, and as low in sugar as possible. Sugar substitutes are not great for the body, so we try to stay clear of those.Instead we use stevia. HOwever, if you must have soda in your house, keep diet for the diabetic. NO JUICE. YOu wouldn't eat 20 oranges in one sitting, therefore drinking 8-12 oz of juice is not feasable.
Ok= breakfast we either do a low sugar or homemade oatmeal, a protein bar or shake, or eggs with ham and green chives and some cheese with and a side of toast. Keep in mind one slice of bread is one serving and can be anywhere from 12-24 carbs per slice.
Lunch- sanwiches are fine- keep lots of veggies out- they have very little carbs, like baby carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, snap peas, soy beans, etc. You can do some chips and salsa (salsa is a GREAT topper, plus it's all veggie!).
Dinner- nothing like a good BBQ! Burgers are fine, but make sure there are other options besides chips as sides. Serve tea and water instead of soda and juice/lemonade. For a fresher idea, you can do soups, salads (taco, ceasar, garden, cobb).
Snacks: carrots with real peanut butter (trader joes makes a great one, salted or unsalted, creamy or crunchy), or a snack bag of mixed nuts and cranberries. One snack bag is one serving and gets 12-20 grams of carbs plus is super filling. Veggie straws from trader joes are great, too. ALso, yo baby yogurt, etc.
The biggest thing is to NOT make it a big deal, but have these options as your only food options. NOt only does the diabetic not feel singled out, but everyone is eating the same things and they are healthy. Try to steer clear of sugary snacks and desserts.
If you would like, I have a couple of my favorite recipes that are low in carbs and high in flavor. I can send them to you.
They are sweet potato or chicken tacos, veggie skillet, asparagus with chicken, some yummy breakfast ones, and our snack list.
Let me know!
-E. M.

Hi W..

Basically, we diabetics need protien, but we also need some carbs. Any time you serve a carb, you should serve a protien with it. Veggies are great anytime, but be careful on the fat put on them also. Fruit is also a carb, so a protien should accompany it. Meals should be small, but frequent and evenly spaced. So here are some suggestions:

Breakfast:
egg and toast
oatmeal and peanut butter on toast
Yogurt and fruit

Lunch:
Sandwiches are fine as long as they are lean meats and lots of veggies on whole grains.

Dinner:
Chicken, 1/2 c rice, veggies
Fish, veggies, whole grain bread
Turkey, pasta, and veggies

Snacks:
yogurt and almonds
Fruit and cheese, or peanut butter
protien shake
veggies and dip with turkey slices
cheese and crackers (just a few)

milk and juice are high in sugar - best to have with protien or just drink water or diet drinks if he doesn't mind the chemicals.

Hope that helps.

BAsically the issue for diabetics is Carbohydratess. Those are sugars and starches so it's not just sweets that need to be paid attention to. Meals that are predominantly protein and plant material are the easiest to manage. It also depends on the type of diabetes and the medication regimen. If you're out and about travelling around it is good to carry some sort of carbohydrate source (candy, juice) just in case the blood sugar goes low and there's no place to stop to eat. I'm sure your uncle doesn't expect you to be an expert so ask him if he needs or prefers certain foods that help him keep his blood sugars in control and also if he needs to eat on a predictable schedule to avoid any problems.
as the daughter of a Type 2 diabetic and the mother of 2 type 1 diabetics that's my take on it.

I have a diabetic student in my kinder classroom and what I am learning is that she can eat as many vegetables as she wishes because they are a free choice for her. She is also able to eat proteins like meat and eggs. The things she is limited to is the number of carbohydrates in things like crackers, breads, fruit, juice etc. She is able to eat those items but they are counted out whereas the other choices are unlimited for her. I know this is not a menu idea, but maybe the information will make your shopping a little easier.

The negatives for diabetics I have found are things like breads, cakes, potatoes, and the like. Meat is good.

You could probably google diabetic menus or recipes or something like that.

Maybe ask him what he enjoys eating.

It would be good to know if they are controling their diabetes through diet alone and or with pills/medication or if they have juvenile diabetes, which requires insulin shots. If controled by diet and their sugar intake is monitored they have to watch alot of starches, sugars, juices, sodas, alchohol and anything that is high in sugar content. So they should eat alot of fresh vegtables, and proteins more than anything else. Salads, meats, beans, nuts, cheeses stuff like that. If they take insulin shots and monitor their sugar to know how much insulin to take, dont be suprised if they crave sweets and will grab a candy or a orange juice to make sure the insulin is compensated for. If they act spacey, irrittated, shakey they could have to eat something sweet. If they are very tired and grumpy it can mean their sugar is high and they need more insulin. That will determine their diet. Just keep plenty of Fruits and juices around. And protein snacks are great. Like protein bars, nuts and milk.

My mother-in-law is diabetic, and is very careful in how many carbs she takes in each meal (and carbs are in everything!!). Here are some things I know she likes to have:

-Plain oatmeal made with water & a touch of "brown sugar" made by Splenda
-Cheese and crackers (just a few)
-Diet soda
-BBQ chicken
-Roast beef
-Steamed broccoli
-Roasted peppers, asparagus, or other veggies (just drizzle with olive oil and spinkle on a bit of S & P)
-Sauteed veggies
-Salad made with spinach, arugala, and romaine, cucumbers, mushrooms, tomatoes, and shredded carrot (or create your own, and leave croutons and dressing on the side, since dressings often contain sugar, which is a carb)
-Sugar-free and fat-free pudding with a dollop of Cool Whip Lite on top and a strawberry on the side

I also have a couple of recipes for diet desserts--Crustless Diabetic Pumpkin Pie (made with Splenda) and Diet Strawberry Cream Cake (made with diet strawberry soda, which is sometimes hard to find!). Just send me a message if you'd like either or both of those recipes.

Hope this helps! It looks like other moms had some great ideas too. Good luck!

W.,
Talk to your Uncle and see what his preferences are. He may have a very specific list of foods you need to have on hand and this will give you the information you need to do your grocery shopping prior to his arrival.

A.

Hi W. just look it up on the computer about meals for diabetic and you'll find plenty.

Hi there. I am a fairly new diabetic at 46. Here is the website I use: https://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/...

Please call anytime for little tips. ###-###-#### It's all about portion control. He will know what to eat, just cook healthy things with whole wheat items and I also use sugar free syrup and jam which even Winco carries. And lots of fruits and veggies.

We just finished our little league opening day in Folsom and I'm just hanging around waiting for our first game at 2:30. Good Luck!

M. Hacker Shipp

My husband, mother and other relatives are diabetic, and I'm considered "borderline." My family are type 2 diabetics and are all taking medication and exercising to control it. We pretty much eat anything, but in moderation. I don't have any website info for you, but from experience, we try to avoid things that are high in sugar and salt. We also try to eat a balanced diet. Things we look out for or limit are white rice, potatoes, sauces with lots of sugar in them, and some vegetables because they can spike our sugar levels. Checking food labels for fiber, sugar, fat content are a good start.

But, I think my best piece of advice for you would be to ask your uncle (or even your aunt) if there are any limitations to what he can or cannot eat. He is going to know better than anyone what his food limitations are. I think you are a good niece and a good "hostess" for trying to plan ahead and think of his needs. Also, don't be offended if he doesn't eat huge portions of things. As diabetics, we're supposed to eat 3 small meals and then a few small snacks throughout the day. Let your uncle be your guide. I hope this helps!!

Hi W.! I love the www.allrecipes.com website! You can do a search there for diabetic recipes and check others for nutritional value (aim for low carb!) also try www.diabeticcooking.com . Breyers makes a yummy low carb ice cream that is out of this world! Good luck and enjoy your visit!!!

A great book that I get recipes from is "Low-Glycemic Meals in Minute"s by Kalina & Christian. I am not diabetic however I follow low-glycemeic food planning and have lost 30 pounds after giving birth to my second child! For more information on Diabetes check out Naturalenergy.usana.com. Click on the Reset icon on the left of the screen. This is a must for diabetics! Following the Reset plan changed my Father-in-laws life. He had type two diabetes and on a hand full of medication. After completing Reset, changing eating habits and doing moderate exercise he is no longer considered diabetic and no longer on a hand full of pills! Have fun with your family visit and good eating!

P. Ferguson

I got a Diabetic Recipe book at the grocery store put out by Better Homes and Gardens because my brother in law is diabetic. We have tried and liked a few recipes, here are two of them (though not necessarily together):

Saucy Apple Pork Roast (very tender!) 325 deg. oven 2- 2 1/2 hours

Ingredients:
3 1/2 - 4 pound bnlss pork top loin roast (double loin, tied)
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp. dried rosemary, crushed
1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper [I used regular pepper]
3 med apples, cored and cut into wedges [Braeburn, Jonathan, or Winesap reccomended]
1/4 C brown sugar
1/4 C apple cider or apple juice
2 T lemon juice
2 tsp. dry mustard

Directions: Trim fat from meat. cut small slits in meat and place garlic one garlic slice in each slit. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, and Rosemary. Sprinkle evenly over meat, then rub in with fingers. Roast in a shallow roasting pan on a rack for 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 hours, until meat thermometer in center of roast registers 140 degrees. Spoon off any fat in roasting pan.

Meanwhile, combine apples, brown sugar, apple juice, lemon juice, and dry mustard in a large bowl. Mix well. Spoon the apple mixture around meat and roast for an additional 30 to 45 minutes, or until thermometer reaches 155 degrees.

Transfer meat to serving platter and cover with foil. Let sit 5 minutes before slicing (temp should reach 160 degrees after standing).

Mix apples with pan juices and serve with the meat. 10-12 servings

Nutrition facts per serving: 237 calories, 11 g total fat (4 g saturated), 72 mg chol, 271 mg sodium, 12 g. carbs, 1 g fiber, 23 g protein.
Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1/2 fruit.

The other one is Apple Cheddar Muffins:

1 1/4 unprocessed Wheat Bran (millers bran)
1 C all purpose flour
1/2 C sharp cheddar (shredded, reduced fat)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 C unsweetened applesauce
1/2 C fat free milk
1/4 C. refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed [I used 1 egg white]
1/3 C. honey
1 T cooking oil
1/2 C finely snipped dried apples or raisins

Theses are pretty sticky, so don't use muffin papers! Spray the pan for 12 muffins.
Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl (except raisins/apple bits). Make a well in the center. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients (including cheese). Pour all at once into dry mixture. Mi until just moistened (it'll be lumpy); fold in raisin/apple bits.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until golden. Cool for about 5 minutes in pan, then remove. Serve warm.

126 Calories, 3 g fat (1 g sat), 4 mg chol. 184 mg sodium, 24 g carb, 2 g fiber, 4 gr. protein
Exchange: 1 1/2 starch

Enjoy!

My husband is diabetic (since 8 yr old.) and we simply think low carb and no added sugar.

He comes home from work and has a glass of wine, cheese, and cracker.

Thankfully he's a meat eater, so a typical dinner will look like meat, broccoli, 1 starch (potato, rice, or pasta), salad, wine, and berries for dessert. We do make pasta, but he eats less of it. Well, he should eat less of it. I try to make a whole grain pasta to at least get some fiber benefit when he eats it.

He loves chili. He often puts it on his baked potato. (He has to have some carbs to deal with the insulin he's taken.)

Just think healthy and don't add more sugar.

Be sure to have juice on hand in case he needs a quick sugar boost from taking too much insulin or not getting food soon enough.

We try to eat on a schedule, so check in on the meal times or let him know why your meals happen so he can plan appropriately.

My husband has physical signs when his blood sugar is too low from insulin (dinner being late)- he puts his drinking glass down a little too hard repeatedly and becomes a little loud, very very assertive, with nearly slamming the glass. When that happens, I ask him to drink some juice. I even lift up the glass for him to sip and keep doing that until he's back to normal and he takes control. THAT IS RARE!

www.allrecipes.com have diabetic recipes also.
K. =)

Fresh strawberries and watermelon are great naturally low-in-sugar summertime desserts!
Hope that helps!
K.

K. Koitzsch
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