Living with diabetes is hard! But the hardest thing is giving up on your favourite comfort foods. Hey there viewers and welcome back to another bestie video!
Diabetes is a major problem in America with just about 1 in every 10 Americans dealing with it. Managing it is a whole different ball game. Not only will you have to stop eating sweet stuff, you have to include healthy food with lots of physical activities.
You know how diabetic friendly food seems to taste bland and is usually boring? Well, not anymore! Eating smart doesn’t always mean giving up on your favorite food.
Do you have to give up tacos, meatloaf and brownies? Not on our watch! From cheeseburgers and tacos to pizza and spaghetti in today’s video we will be talking about diabetic friendly versions of your all time favorite comfort foods!
Mac and cheese Starting off with the ultimate American comfort food, macaroni and cheese doesn’t just fill your heart but also your soul. Diabetics are recommended to avoid this because of the high salt content which makes the heart race at unhealthy levels. However, the healthier version of mac and cheese uses somewhat different ingredients without compromising taste.
Swap flour pasta with a whole wheat and add veggies like sweet corn, cooked mushrooms and broccoli. Cook it the way you normally cook mac and cheese with some cheddar and enjoy! Do you have a healthier version of mac and cheese?
Share it with us in the comments section! Meatloaf Meatloaf might have dipped in popularity but we can’t deny the fact this delicious dish is a comfort food for many Americans! With the world turning to healthier versions of literally everything, why should meatloaf be left behind?
Made using 90% lean ground beef, wholewheat bread, worcestershire sauce and 2% milk, this meatloaf is a much healthier twist. A regular large meatloaf contains over 4 grams of carbs whereas this version has just 2 grams making it perfect for keto as well! Veggie chili Nothing beats a steaming hot bowl of veggie chili.
Not only is it soul food, it’s loaded with vegetables which offer fiber and deliciousness that makes a hearty meal for the whole family. It is also a great weight loss meal because of all the protein and good fat. For making a diabetic friendly version you can use all the veggies and beans that are low in the glycemic index.
These include bulgur, olive oil, corn kernels, chickpeas and kidney beans. Go ahead and season it as per your liking and enjoy warmth in a bowl. Tacos Wait.
. . I don’t have to give up on tacos?
Sweet! This healthy, low carb taco will come as a good news for every diabetic taco lover. Tacos have been called the worst food imaginable for diabetics.
The saturated fat in meat raises cholesterol and promotes inflammation which puts diabetics at a risk of heart disease. Don’t worry we have the perfect solution for your taco cravings without the sugar spike! Step up your taco game with a low carb taco shell.
Reason being most of the taco fillings like avocado, taco meat and sour cream are already low in carbs. Pizza If you’ve stopped ordering from dominos then good for you! The pizza you get at these outlets and fast food joints are packed with unhealthy ingredients.
They won’t just spike your blood sugar they also mess up your blood pressure and cause weight gain. If you have those weekend pizza cravings then go ahead and have a low carb version. Be sure to choose the thinnest crust available and top it with fresh vegetables rather than high fat processed meats and cheese.
Consider pairing this with a side salad for a more balanced meal. Burgers Burgers have nothing going for them when it comes to being healthy. They’re deep fried, breaded and contain harmful red meat like beef, pork and lamb.
It is not recommended for people with diabetes because it raises the bad cholesterol levels and leads to weight gain. A diabetic friendly burger sounds like a fantasy, but you can opt for a healthier version. When ordering, go for a single patty burger and replace beef patties with chicken, turkey or veggie options.
If you need an even better version then get rid of the top bun altogether and make an open faced burger. Honestly, diabetic or not, an open face burger should be the next culinary trend! If you wanna go one step further, drop the bun completely and wrap your burger in lettuce.
Spaghetti and meatballs Nothing spells comfort better than a bowl of silky spaghetti with meatballs. There are many delicious ways to make a healthier, diabetic friendly version of this classic italian meal which we all love. You just have to think outside the box.
While shopping for spaghetti pick the wholewheat version which tastes like al dente white spaghetti. The secret lies in the higher protein and fiber content, great for diabetes control. Spaghetti squash and vegetable spirals could be other substitutes.
Also make the meatballs using lean protein, this should be your rule of thumb. Fried chicken Fried food in general is heavily breaded, contains saturated fats and is considered to be one of the unhealthiest foods. They also have lots of carbs and calories.
While living with diabetes your heart is already at risk and pairing it up with fried chicken is worsening the situation. However, making some small tweaks will make it a diabetic friendly dish! First off, season and marinate your chicken properly and only use 1/4th the amount of flour.
The best way to coat it would be to put it all in a ziploc bag. Want to further cut carbs? Swap regular flour with flaxseed or almond flour.
Pot roast Pot roast can be referred to as a meat curry with vegetables. Sound healthy? Not really!
A typical pot roast contains meat, carrots, potatoes and any vegetables you like. Unknowingly you may add a hoard of calorie and blood sugar raising elements like beef or any other red meat. To make it edible for diabetics, consider swapping beef with boneless lean chuck roast with the fat trimmed off.
Don’t forget to add your favorite veggies and seasoning into this healthier version of the humble old pot roast. Tomato soup Masquerading as a healthy food, tomato soup can be rather unhealthy, especially for diabetics. When made correctly tomato soup can be your best friend due to its high antioxidants, vitamins and flavonoids content.
However things can south pretty quickly if you use canned tomato soup. Being non starchy in nature, tomatoes are the perfect choice for a healthy diet. What makes this soup diabetic friendly is the use of plain tomatoes rather than tomato based products like tomato juice or sauce which is the reason behind raised blood glucose levels.
Before moving forward, are you on a quest to detoxify? Check out these 10 great foods that naturally cleanse your body. Now back to making your all time favorite comfort food more diabetic friendly.
Brownies You heard that right! Your beloved brownies are here to stay. Brownies have too much sugar which is the only marker for developing diabetes.
Sure, making sugar free brownies sounds like the obvious thing to do, but is sugar free the answer? Go for sweet potato or black bean brownies that don’t use any flour or artificial flavorings or sweeteners. You’ll get a boost of nutrition like good fats, dietary fiber and a variety of vitamins and minerals.
To uncomplicate things you can even swap flour with almond flour which will serve the purpose without compromising with taste. Fish sticks This fast food is an American favorite especially as a side dish. Every aspect of fish sticks is unwelcome news for diabetics.
Breaded in high trans fats, deep fried and equally high in salt and sugar, from the outside, fish sticks may not seem like the best idea. Why not make your own? Ditch the frozen kind and choose whole grain bread crumbs and cereal for a kick of fiber.
Make sure to use good quality oil to fry it in as this will yield next to zero saturated fats, carbs and a whole lot of protein. Rolled buttermilk biscuits Biscuits seem like a far fetched dream for many diabetics. However, rolled buttermilk biscuits are here to save the day!
While regular buttermilk biscuits are doused with flour and other sugar spiking ingredients, diabetic friendly versions are made using unbleached white flour, whole wheat pastry flour and buttermilk with the other ingredients remaining the same. It has very little fat, some calories and little carbs. These tiny golden brown baked goodies can be paired with anything to make a wholesome meal.
Relying on medication for diabetes is not the only thing that will keep your blood glucose levels in check. These comfort foods are hearty, delicious and diabetic friendly. They not only pack a good amount of vitamins and minerals but are very low in sodium and taste delicious!
Getting your hands on a tasty low sugar recipe is rare but you can also think a little outside the box and create your own favorite meals that won’t spike your blood sugar. For more diabetic friendly ideas check out… These 9 fruits you should and 8 fruits you shouldn't be eating if you are diabetic. Don’t forget to watch these 13 foods diabetics should be eating.
Make sure to watch both these videos and don’t let diabetes stop you from eating anything! What are some tweaks you had to make in your life because of diabetes? Tell us how you did it in the comments section!
