Diabetic Cooking -- Hidden Treasures

Diabetic Friendly Hidden Treasures Recipes

It's been my experience through cards, letters, and emails from newly diagnosed diabetics or their caregivers, that the recurrent theme goes something like this: "What can I eat now that I can't eat anything anymore?" Or, "What can I cook for my spouse, child, grandchild, or friend, now that I have to consider diabetes? And, "What is a diabetic diet?"

News Flash: There is no such thing as a diabetic diet!

Many cookbooks without "diabetes" in the title are great resources for those who have the disease, as well as those who cook for them. As you continue to read this column, you may find diabetic recipes and recommendations from a variety of cookbook sources: lowfat, vegetarian, regional and ethnic foods, and even healthy eating for kids.

With the relationship of your diet so closely related to so many chronic illnesses and diseases, I call these cookbooks my "hidden treasures." Two new and very exciting resources for diabetics and their caregivers are Eating Well Through Cancer -- Easy Recommendations During and After Treatment, by Holly Clegg and Gerald Miletello, M.D., and Meals on the Move: Rush Hour Recipes, the newest volume in Holly Clegg's Trim & Terrific series.

Eating Well Through Cancer is a complete cookbook for everyone. Each recipe has a thorough nutritional analysis (including carbohydrates), along with diabetic exchanges. Serving sizes are reasonable and not manipulated (reduced to the size of a toothpick) in order to make the analysis fit the author's objectives.

Meals on the Move dispels the myth that a diagnosis of diabetes is a culinary death sentence. It contains over 200 quick and easy recipes that reflect two of AICR's guidelines for cancer-prevention -- a diet rich in a variey of plant-based foods, especially vegetables and fruit, and an emphasis on foods low in fat and salt.

These are common objectives in a diabetic meal plan, as well. According to author Holly Clegg, Meals on the Move can be the first step in transforming your family's eating habits so they can live healthier, longer lives."

We observe a number of food-related celebrations in October: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, National Pasta Month, National Pizza Month, National Seafood Month, World Vegetarian Day (October 1st), World Food Day, and of course, Halloween.

In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it's my pleasure to introduce you to some fantastic recipes for diabetic dining from Eating Well Through Cancer and Meals on the Move, two of my new favorite hidden treasures!

Marilyn

IMPORTANT NOTE!!!

We DO use small amounts of refined sugar per serving in our recipes, which is in keeping with the revised guidelines for people with diabetes, issued by the American Diabetes Association Committee On Nutrition in 1994. We strongly urge that you check with your physician, health care team, primary diabetes health care provider, or registered dietitian or nutritionist on how to incorporate our recipes, or any recipes from our cookbook reviews, into your daily meal plan.

Please Note: Recipes with refined sugar may not be suitable for ALL diabetics. Your blood sugars should be under control and your daily meal plan MUST include the carbohydrate allowances per serving for each recipe containing refined sugar.

Marilyn Helton is a regular contributor to Fabulous Foods as well as the Diabetic Gourmet. She firmly believe that a diabetes diagnosis does not have to mean a culinary death sentence. Click here to visit Marilyn's website Cinnamon Hearts for more diabetic recipes and information.