Diabetes Direction

Today will be a day that many American people enjoy getting together with family and friends to celebrate the 4th of July, Independence Day. There will be many picnics and BBQs, and a lot of good foods. It will be difficult to resist the cravings to eat it all! Sometimes when we go to family get-togethers I feel like I could eat every desert in sight! It is a real struggle for me so I try to bring something that I love, and that loves me back. There are many things that you can do with sugar free jello gelatin or try sugar free pudding with some homemade whipped cream dobbed on top.

Meat is fine, but make sure the sauce isn’t too sugary. Many marinades and sauces have hidden carbs. Be sure that you are choosing your carbohydrates carefully. It is ok to splurge a little, but don’t splurge with everything. You will regret it later when checking your blood! Choose which treat you will like best, and go for a small amount. If you think it will start a bad eating cycle, then best to skip it totally.

Salads can be sneaky little devils as well, with sugar or corn syrup in them. ick! There are lots of great salad dressings that don’t have, or are low in, carbs. We love to try the oil and vinegar choices that are available, or just make our own mix. Leave the pasta salad behind. If you are unsure of any dish, ask the person that made it.

Stick with unsweetened or diet drinks as well. There are many hidden calories and carbs in drinks! Even things that seem like they would be good for us sometimes aren’t, like fruit juice. Many of the “off the shelf” fruit juices available have very little real juice in them. Read the labels and be shocked yourselves! Plus juice gives us natural sugars in a concentrated liquid. It is much better for us to eat the fruit that will provide fiber and other important things in the fruit that you lose out on with juice.

Most of all, have a wonderful holiday spending time with those you love, and be safe.