Thanksgiving Tips for Diabetics

Diabetes is a time full of sugar, carbohydrates in the pumpkin pie, stuffing and turkey! It can be an upsetting time for Diabetics, needing to monitor and control their sugar intake. Here are some tips for those living with diabetes to ensure that the holiday is healthy, despite the plethora of forbidden foods.

Luckily, the staple of thanksgiving, turkey is on the acceptable foods list. Turkey is not only beneficial for diabetics, but others too as it, as well as other poultry products contain high levels of the amino acid, tryptophan. Tryptophan increases levels of serotonin in the brain, leading to general feelings of well beings.

As an alternative to sweetened and high carbohydrates fixings that come with turkey and other holiday's feasts - there are many cookbooks and recipes that cater to the population who prefer to eat foods low in carbohydrates.

Consider using soy flour to create the gravy. Chances are - guests will not know the difference and the diabetic in the crowd will thank you. Soy flour contains lower levels of carbohydrates and is therefore on the safe foods list.

As an alternative to the appetizers that come with thanksgiving a green salad is a great start to the meal. Not only will this help to offset the bloating that can come with the feast, it can introduce a healthy tradition into the holiday. Green salads can be customized using spinach, baby greens or field greens with a variety of salad dressings can be created with low carbohydrate ingredients such as vinegar, light oils and natural sweeteners, lime, lemon and other flavorings.

A low carbohydrate favorite alternative to mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes is mashed cauliflower. This alternative to the high carbohydrate starch yields half of the calories, and loads of taste. When the mashed cauliflower is flavored with the traditional butter and sour cream means that diabetics can enjoy the favorite along with the rest of the family. I made the decision to serve this concoction of mashed cauliflower a few weeks ago, and only one person realized the difference. It was a great way to introduce a healthy alternative to the family, Thanksgiving Day - or just a regular night of the week. Preparation is similar to potatoes; the cauliflower is boiled, than mashed and seasoned.

Using these tips, diabetics can enjoy a healthy thanksgiving dinner that will keep their glucose in check - and their taste buds!