The Six Great Foods Every Diabetic Needs In Their Diet Plan
Looking to add some new foods to your diet plan? Want to liven up your diet but not sure where to start? There are some foods that are better for diabetics than others, so when you focus your diet around those foods, that’s when the magic happens.
Let’s look at six great foods that diabetics need to be considering for their menu.
1. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is one not to overlook when planning your diet. Most dairy should be avoided due to the high levels of lactose (milk sugars) found in it, however, Greek yogurt is relatively low in it if you purchase the plain variety and flavor it yourself.
What’s great about Greek yogurt is that the protein content is quite high and it also contains a good dose of calcium as well. So this is great for strengthening your bones and optimizing muscle recovery.
If you tire of always eating chicken breast, fish, eggs and other traditional sources of protein, Greek yogurt can be a perfect option.
2. Berries
Berries are another of the great foods that every diabetic should have in their diet. They’re rich in antioxidants, which makes them a great disease-fighting food. They’re also relatively low in calories and high in dietary fiber, which is a diabetic’s dream.
If you’re going to have something sweet to curb your sweet tooth, make it berries. You’ll easily be able to incorporate them into your diet plan.
They’re also highly versatile as you can eat them as is, add them to a protein pancake mix, use them in a smoothie, have them with oatmeal, and so on. There is literally an unlimited number of ways to serve blueberries.
3. Avocados
The avocado is a fruit that doesn’t get enough attention sadly because it is a great one. It’s a perfect source of healthy fats for a diabetic and on top of that, is also going to provide fiber and vitamin E.
Vitamin E is great for keeping your skin, hair, and nails healthy, so if your outward appearance is important to you, it’s one to consider getting in.
Avocados typically aren’t eaten on their own but instead, added to foods and can easily be used in place of butter or mayonnaise in many cases. They’re also great in smoothies if you aren’t so fond of the taste of them and need to disguise them with the other foods you’re eating.
4. Nuts
Nuts are quite calorie-dense so many people naturally shy away from them but for the diabetic looking to improve their health and reduce their risk of heart disease, nuts are a must.
With so many varieties out there, you can be sure you won’t get bored and nut butters also make things quite delicious and interesting.
Do control your portion sizes and as much as possible, aim to have plain nut varieties. This will help you better minimize the amount of added sodium and/or sugar you take in. Do get them into your diet on occasion though because they have too much goodness to get left out of the picture.
5. Sparkling Water
While not a food person, don’t leave out sparkling water. Many diabetics crave soda, but that is clearly not an option. And while you can go for diet soda, it has many additives that aren’t exactly healthy either.
Sparkling water, however, is a much clearer, more pure choice that you can feel good about putting into your body.
6. Cheese
Finally, cheese is also a great option. Cheese is carb-free so will not impact blood glucose levels at all and it has a nice balance between proteins and fats. Cheese is often paired with crackers for the diabetic looking to make a more complete meal, however, it can also be eaten on its own or with other foods as well.
Pick up a reduced-fat version of cheese to keep it light and prevent weight gain.
So there you have a few of the top foods I recommend that every diabetic gets into their diet plan. Are you missing out on any of these?