The holiday season is upon us! Unfortunately, it is also the time when people eat more high-fat, high-calorie foods than they normally would.
And if you have diabetes, it is sometimes difficult to maintain your blood glucose within the target range set by your doctor.
With careful thought and planning you can manage your blood glucose and still enjoy good foods around the holidays.
Some healthy eating habits to follow include:
— Starting your day with breakfast. Be sure to include whole grains, fruit, low-fat dairy and protein;
— choosing vegetables and fruits throughout the day that have a variety of color;
— eating whole grains;
— choosing a variety of proteins like seafood, chicken, turkey and beans; and
— watching your portion sizes.
Don’t skip meals during the day in order to “save” calories and carbs. When you do eat, use small plates and fill them with healthy foods like fruits and vegetables.
What about the desserts? There are lots of sweets served throughout the holidays and they contain carbs and fats.
Try substituting fruit as dessert. Fruit is sweet and has fewer calories than most desserts. If using fruits as a dessert, keep it within the serving size for that particular fruit.
When cooking, use vanilla or cinnamon to act as a sweetener. This flavoring will add sweetness without a lot of carbs.
You can also split a dessert with a friend too!
For more information of eating healthy during the holidays, contact us at the Clark County Extension Office at 744-4682.
Jennifer Howard is the Clark County Extension Service agent for family and consumer sciences.
