Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY

RECIPES FOR DIABETICS

Good nutrition is important to maintaining good health. For people with diabetes, or those who wish to cut fat and sugar in their diets, good nutrition plays an even greater role. It's an important part of managing or even preventing complications.

During the holidays, eating well-balanced meals can be a challenge for anyone. When family and friends gather, it is usually around the table for a meal filled with special family recipes.

With a little rethinking, you can reduce the fat and simple sugars in your favorite dishes. These changes can help diabetics keep their blood glucose levels consistent and help non-diabetics manage their fat intake. We all can benefit from less fat and sugar in our diets.

Reducing fats in baked goods can be a challenge. Fat adds flavor and flakiness, as well as moisture to baked goods. To keep the desired texture, add moisture-holding substitutes such as yogurt, applesauce or pureed fruit. Vegetable cooking spray can take the place of shortening or butter when greasing pans or tins.

Cutting sugar from recipes is a simple process. You can usually reduce the sugar in a recipe by one-third without affecting taste or texture.

Sugar replacements, such as fruit juice and frozen juice concentrate can be used to sweeten and add flavor. Sugar-free jams and spreads are another good alternative.

You can also use artificial sweetener in place of sugar. However, not all artificial sweeteners can be used for baking. Use only those sweetener's whose label clearly states that it can be used for baking purposes. Read the product label and use accordingly.

All of these replacement or substitute products contain fructose, a form of sugar, and should not be used without first consulting with your physician.