Party on a Diabetic Feast

Having a party and cooking up a feast in itself can be very stressful. It entails lots of careful planning, organized grocery shopping and finally sweating it out in your kitchen. Indeed it is hard work more so if family members and friends are diabetic.


Then again it need not be that hard. Catering to a diabetic crowd and partying on a diabetic feast simply means careful food selection and preparation. It means ingenuous ingredient substitution and calorie arithmetic. With all these, there will be no stopping diabetics from having their dose of favorite desserts! Here are some tips on choosing ingredients for scrumptious diabetic recipes and sample diabetic desserts you can easily concoct.


Snub the carb and go low-calorie. Substitute sugar for artificial sweeteners that can make your dishes, especially your holiday desserts satisfy your sweet tooth. Several diabetic recipes for dessert such as cakes or puddings opt not to put sugar but rely solely on the fruits that may be included in the recipe. You can also opt to use cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and other sweet-tasting spices and flavorings while cutting out the sugar in the recipe.


Don't forget your veggies. Vegetable dishes provide the much needed fiber in your healthy diet. Properly and tastefully prepared, vegetable dishes will even give your taste buds that occasional break from the taste of meats and sweets.


Cut on the fat and use lean meat or white meat on your recipes. Prepare scrumptious fish and poultry dishes (careful on the high-calorie chicken skin) roasted or steamed. Stay away from fried food and cooking oil when preparing your holiday diabetic recipes. If using oil is inevitable, a healthier option would be the low-calorie extra virgin olive oil instead of your regular vegetable oil.


Watch your alcohol intake. Since most diabetics have to maintain their normal recommended weights, alcohol which may add excess calories to your diet may be avoided. Moderate alcohol intake for diabetics who have successfully maintained their weights is recommended as alcohol has been proven to reduce the risks of cardiac disease. However, overweight diabetics should try to altogether avoid alcohol during the holidays as this can also stimulate the appetite thus making the diabetic consume more. Substitute grape juice for wine in your holiday menu.


Now, here's an example of an easy to prepare diabetic-friendly holiday pudding. Once you have the necessary ingredients, all you have to do is mix them thoroughly, pour the batter in a lightly greased pan and steam for two hours before serving. Take note that its ingredients do not include even a pinch of sugar: 1 cup of soft bread crumbs, 1 cup of mashed ripe bananas, 1 cup of dried fruit of your choice, 1 teaspoon of mixed cinnamon and nutmeg, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon of baking soda.


Lastly, in preparing your holiday feast, find enjoyment in the trimmings. Get the candles out and have fresh flowers ready. Take time to decorate your recipes with parsley and cherry, carefully trimmed onions, cabbages and carrots or even cherries and raisins to make your table not just a feast for the palate but for the eyes as well.

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