A Diabetes-Friendly Guide to a Happy & Healthy Thanksgiving Meal
With the right game plan, however, diabetics can enjoy holiday food and festivities without feeling deprived. Here’s your Thanksgiving Holiday Diabetes Do’s & Don’ts from the experts at the MOLLY Diabetes Education and Management Center for Adults and Children.
- Plan ahead: Have a healthy breakfast such as a frittata with lots of vegetables or a Greek yogurt with nuts to minimize your hunger later in the day. Don’t try to “save” your calories and carbohydrates for later in the day. You may be so hungry at meal time that you overeat. This makes it harder to control your blood sugar and adds extra calories.
- Try to think ahead of which foods you really want to have and those that are not as important. Then scan the entire table before you choose what to eat.
- Use a smaller plate. Filling a smaller plate will contain much less calories than that same larger plate.
- Choose protein, turkey
which will get you fuller faster, lower your craving for carbohydrates and have less impact on your blood sugar. Avoid fried turkey or adding butter which will add extra calories and fat to this healthy choice.
Eat lots of non-starchy vegetables: asparagus, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery. Try not to dip them in creams, gravy or ranch dressing.
Be aware of the calories and carbohydrates hidden in sweetened beverages. Try drinking water, tea, seltzer or diet sodas.
Don’t forget dessert have a small portion, eat slowly and enjoy the taste.
Most of all enjoy the holiday and give thanks for your health, happiness and the love of family and friends. (SK/Newswise)