Everybody knows it’s much easier to load high-sugar food into your plate such as cakes, cookies, pies and all those sugary temptations that will make your blood glucose rise.
But here’s good news from the American Diabetes Association. Even if you have diabetes, you can still enjoy desserts and make it fit your meal plan.
One of the magic words is “substitute,” which can spell the difference between more calorie intake and maintaining a healthy lifestyle without depriving yourself. This entails substituting small portions of desserts instead of taking huge slices.
“Revising” is another magic word which can be a big help in curbing your calorie intake. By revising, you can exercise creativity by replacing sugar in various recipes with alternatives that can still produce healthy and great-tasting desserts.
You can also explore other sweet-tasting flavorings and spices such as nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon and flavorings so you can substitute sugar in your recipes.
Here are some tricks that will help you lower your intake of calories but still be able to dig your spoon into those delicious holiday delights:
• Don’t say no to desserts, but plan ahead how much you can take and how you can handle social pressure. Learn to say “no thanks…I’m full.”
• Scrape away the extra calories that come in the form of frosting on your cake slices, as well as the high-fat, whipped cream toppings.
• Share a portion of your dessert with somebody else.
•When you are at the buffet table, survey the dessert lines first before you dig in. Use a very small plate if necessary so you will not be tempted to load up and feel guilty afterward.
• Go for low-sugar desserts if they are available such as puddings that are sugar-free, plain cookies, or baked apples.
• If you know anyone in the party who is also trying to cut in calorie intake, join them. That way you won’t be tempted to load up your plate with dessert.
• A short walk away from the dessert table could be helpful when you feel the temptation is too strong to resist.
• Resist the urge to go for a second helping of anything.
• When you prepare your own party, go for desserts that meet you meal plan. Search for recipes on the Internet or from diabetes cookbooks to guide you.
• Plan active parties for the holidays so that the focus will not be on the food.
Records from the CNMI Department of Public Health show a very alarming rate of diabetes in the CNMI, and the feasts prepared over the holidays increase the risk.
Again, the key is moderation, not deprivation because the more you deprive yourself of your favorite desserts, the harder it will be to resist and before you know it, you may be taking in more calories than ever before.
