NUTRITION

People who are diabetic find their bodies cannot make or properly use insulin. There are many causes for diabetes, but it can often be controlled through diet. The Diabetes Diet is great for diabetics, but it is also good for anyone trying to lose weight or just concentrating on healthier eating.

The Diabetes Diet concentrates on limiting sweets, eating often, but being careful about when and how many carbs you eat, eating plenty of whole-grain food, fruits, and vegetables, eating less fat, and limiting your use of alcohol.

This might sound a bit harder than taking a diet pill, but there are easy ways to stick to the rules of the Diabetes Diet. While buying fresh fruit and vegetables can sometimes be draining on your budget, stick to seasonal fruits and vegetables. Those are often cheaper and being in season, they will be very tasty. But, be sure to buy only as much as you think you will eat before it goes bad to cut down on waste. You can also try frozen fruits and vegetables. Or, if you want to be a really active participant in your diet, grow your own garden of vegetables!

You don’t necessarily have to give up foods you love, just make some changes in the way they are prepared. If you have a recipe you love that needs to be fried, experiment by baking or broiling it instead. If your recipe calls for cheddar cheese or nuts, put the Diabetes Diet spin on it, by only using half the recommended amount. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, did you know you can use a half cup of butter and a half cup of unsweetened applesauce? You can also making frosting for a cake with a sugar substitute!

Changing your eating habits to conform to the Diabetes Diet may take a little bit of work, but once you get used to it, you will be healthier!