Cooking Tips for a Diabetic Smart Holiday Meal

I have found that the holidays does not have to be a tasteless, bland time for diabetics. Many of the traditional recipes can be modified to fit a diabetic diet and there are many new and interesting recipes to try. I will share recipes that you can make for the holidays that are healthy and will fit with whatever diet you may be on. To help you prepare your feast here are some helpful tips that you can use to plan a diabetic smart Holiday dinner that your whole family will enjoy.

1. Use a self basting bird to ensure moist meat rather than basting with butter. Cover the bird with foil and shape like a tent at the beginning of roasting. Remove the foil an hour before the turkey is done to brown the skin.

2. Use a can of reduced sodium chicken broth and a spoonful of lour, then thicken on the range top, instead of gravy from fatty meat drippings.

3. Use whole grain bread in your stuffing or switch to a wild rice stuffing to increase fiber. Moisten the stuffing with reduced sodium chicken broth instead of butter.

4. If you make mash potatoes leave the peel on for that extra bit of fiber. Use fat free milk instead of whole milk.

5. Substitute plain yogurt for butter or sour cream.

6. Top your sweet potatoes with apple cider thickened with a little corn starch instead or marshmallows and brown sugar.

7. Try a fresh green bean casserole or steamed green beans and onions instead of the traditional green bean casserole.

8. Use whole grain breads.

9. Use spreadable fruits instead of jellies and jams. It contains less sugar and is 100 percent fruit.

10. Find recipes for your sweet potato pies that uses egg produces and low fat evaporated milk instead of cream.

11. Try a pumpkin custard instead of pumpkin pie to skip the pie crust.

12. Try apples slices that you saute instead of the high carb apple pie. Serve the apple slices in a little butter and cinnamon and serve them over vanilla frozen yogurt.

If you follow these tips you are in for a delicious, diabetic smart meal.