Fresh New Snack Ideas!

Sometimes I feel like I eat the same foods over and over and over again!

If you have diabetes, and you find the right foods that work for you - sometimes you just hate to "rock the boat". But I have to admit it's so fun to find something new to snack on or that will work as a meal - that tastes great -- and is different from my usual routine!

Case in point...Planet Smoothie!

I drove the through the other day to get a smoothie for my daughter and I decided to ask to ask what they had that was all natural - what fruit they have that is not sitting in a syrup of some kind that a diabetic could eat! The two "safe" fruits they have are Bananas and Blueberries. They also have no sugar added frozen vanilla yogurt and a sugar free protein powder. This was great news - Bananas are so good for you and Blueberries are the perfect food. (I eat some blueberries every day).

So I ordered a smoothie with all of the above (requested only 1/2 of the banana) and it was delicious! I had it for lunch. The protein powder made it so filling, it will be perfect for summer lunches!

If you love almonds like I do .... I discovered some Dark Chocolate Cocoa Roast Almonds by Emerald at Sam's Club. They are so delicious and have only 1 gram of sugar per serving. They really are delicious and satisfy a sweet craving. I eat a handful after dinner and they are fantastic! I have seen them at Target in a smaller quantity but the Sam's price is about $10 for 38 ounces which is a deal.

One last discovery....last week we overslept one morning at my house and I was trying to think of something healthy and quick and portable for breakfast.
Have you tried Peppridge Farm Cinnamon Swirl Bread? It is slightly sweet but not too much sugar. Toast 2 pieces, spread some peanut butter on and add a few slices of banana. It's delicious and stays with you all morning!

Happy Snacking!

Six Ingredients or Less Diabetic Cookbook by Carlean Johnson

One of the best cookbooks I have found is the Six Ingredients or Less Diabetic Cookbook.
We are all busy and if six ingredients can make a delicious meal foundation then I am all about it!

Here is one of my favorite recipes in the cookbook and it's oh so easy!

Apricot Turkey Breast

(Makes 8 servings)

1 2 1/2 lb turkey breast half (I have also used pork tenderloin)
1/2 cup sugar-free apricot preserves
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper


Place turkey breast, skin side up, in slow cooker.
Combine remaining ingredients and spread over turkey.
Cover and cook on low 8-9 hours or until temperature reaches
160'. Remove skin before serving.

Per 4 oz serving:
160 calories
1 gram fat
0 sat. fat
34 grams protein
0 grams sugar
3 grams carbs

Delicious with a salad and vegetables!

I highly recommend this cookbook - it has a lot of slow cooker recipes and they are so easy and you can make substitutions with the ingredients you have on hand. It is easier to eat more healthy if you can vary your menus and try new flavor combinations. This has a lot of flavor without
any added fats and minimal calories! Enjoy!

The "Eyes" Have It! Don't Be Blinded by Diabetes!

Some of you might have thought I fell off the planet - I didn't! Its just been a crazy month at work and with Volleyball and Softball season intermingling, I haven't had any time to write. I was inspired last week when I went for my annual eye exam. I am sure you are all familiar with the complications of diabetes - and one of the most common ones is diabetic blindness. After all of my tests and the eye dialation and pictures, the doc and I were talking and he asked me how old I was - I told him I would be 48 in June. He scratched his head and looked in my file again and said - "well, I am not sure why, but your vision is improving"! He asked me if my blood sugar readings had been better - and I told him yes - we had made a few adjustments in my meds protocol, and that, along with my new more intense workouts (adding weights instead of just cardio), my readings had greatly improved. so that explained it. He then put some photos up on the screen and showed me some pics of the back of my eye -- all the vessels looked normal and there were no contusions or shadows, everything looked great. Then he showed me some pics of the back of an eye in a patient who had uncontrolled diabetes - there were small little shadows everywhere -- and he explained those were strokes in the eye, which will lead to blindness. Then he showed me photos of the same eye after this person's blood sugar was in good control -- all of the shadows were gone. If you get your sugars back in line the damage can be reversed to a degree. Just another good reason to work hard to keep your diabetes in control! Don't let diabetes win - there is too much at risk.