By Kara Morris
HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Nov. 22, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Eating a Thanksgiving feast while maintaining healthy blood sugar levels may seem challenging if you have diabetes, but it’s possible, experts say.
Nearly 40 million Americans deal with this problem every day, and not just for holiday meals.
To start: Don’t skip breakfast or try to save calories and carbs for later in the day. This can make you hungrier and work against healthy eating later in the day, said experts at the MOLLY Center for Adult and Pediatric Diabetes Education and Management, part of Hackensack Meridian Health, in Maywood, NJ.
Instead, have a healthy breakfast like a frittata with lots of veggies or Greek yogurt with nuts.
Here are more recommendations:
- For the holiday meal, think ahead about what foods you’ll like most. Examine the entire table and decide what you will and will not eat.
- A smaller plate can make your plate look fuller while saving you some calories.
- Protein – in this case, turkey – will fill you up faster. Not only does this have a lesser impact on blood sugar, but it can reduce cravings for carbohydrates. Avoid fried turkey or added butter.
- Eat non-starchy vegetables, such as asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and celery, and avoid dips and gravies.
- Drinking water, tea, or sparkling water instead of sugar-laden drinks can help you stay on track.
- It’s okay to eat a small portion of your favorite dessert – just eat it slowly and enjoy it.
more information
The American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Food Center has more tips for eating on Thanksgiving.
Source: Hackensack University Medical Center news release, November 17, 2022
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