10 Diabetes Friendly Bowl Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What meals can diabetics eat freely? ›

You limit dairy products, red meat, sweets, added sugars, sodium (salt), and highly processed foods. Some additional guidelines include focusing on seasonal produce and reading food labels to help you avoid added sodium and sugar.

Non-starchy vegetables are typically one food choice you can eat in unlimited amounts. Load up when you can to help to keep you full. Sweets: The American Heart Association suggests that the max amount of added sugars per day be limited to: Men: 150 cal per day (37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons).

Water is the best all-round drink. If your family likes flavoured waters, make your own by adding a squeeze of lemon or lime, or strawberries.

Nuts and nut butter

Research has shown that eating nuts may be an effective way to help regulate blood sugar levels. In a small study of 25 people with type 2 diabetes, consuming both peanuts and almonds throughout the day as part of a low carb diet reduced fasting and postmeal blood sugar levels ( 21 ).

Drinking plenty of water helps your kidneys flush out excess sugar. One study found that people who drink more water lower their risk for developing high blood sugar levels. And remember, water is the best. Sugary drinks elevate blood sugar by raising it even more.

Because processed and sugary foods are unhealthy carbs, limit them in your diet, says Massey. That includes soda, candy, and packaged or processed snacks, such as corn chips and potato chips.

The Plate Method

Fill half with nonstarchy vegetables, such as salad, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and carrots. Fill one quarter with a lean protein, such as chicken, turkey, beans, tofu, or eggs. Fill one quarter with carb foods.

What should a diabetic eat all day? ›

Natural peanut butter is considered safe for people with diabetes. It's best to avoid the “low-fat” varieties of peanut butter. They sound healthy—but most brands simply add more sugar to make up for less fat. This can spike blood sugar levels and leads to more daily carbohydrates.

How should a person with diabetes start the day? Eat a big breakfast. Eating a large meal in the morning and smaller meals for lunch and dinner may promote weight loss, lower glucose levels, and decrease daily insulin dose in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to a 2022 review.

Fill one quarter with a lean protein, such as chicken, turkey, beans, tofu, or eggs. Fill one quarter with carb foods. Foods that are higher in carbs include grains, starchy vegetables (such as potatoes and peas), rice, pasta, beans, fruit, and yogurt. A cup of milk also counts as a carb food.

If you're feeling hungry after dinner, try drinking a glass of water first. Sometimes thirst mimics hunger. If you're still feeling hungry, your best bet is a low-carbohydrate, low-calorie snack, preferably one that's high in protein or fiber, such as Greek yogurt or a small handful of nuts.