How To Easily Shop For Food On A Diabetic Diet
Many people are under the misconception that when they are diagnosed with diabetes, that they must go on a special diet that excludes all the foods they love, requires all the foods they hate, and calls for a regime that they simply can not follow for a long period of time. This, however, is not true because if you simply learn how to shop for your food, you can still enjoy the same foods you love to eat by just learning to eat different brands.
The simple truth of the matter is that diets don’t work because people are forced to eat foods that they do not normally eat. I can show you how you can still eat the meals you normally eat simply by showing you how to shop. Here I will explain 5 ways in which you can shop for a “diabetic diet” without compromising the foods you normally eat and love.
One way is to watch the total carbohydrates that are in the foods you are purchasing. Many people who start on a diabetic diet think that sugar is the only thing that will raise your blood sugar level, but that is not true. Starchy foods can also increase your blood sugar level which is why you also need to keep a close eye on the carbohydrates you eat as well. A good thing to look for is products that have 10 grams of total carbohydrates or less because it only takes 1 gram of carbohydrate to raise your blood sugar level by 5 points. The fewer carbohydrates that are in a product, the better it is for your health.
A second way is to focus on foods that are high in fiber. Fiber works great at lowering your blood sugar level and keeping it at a normal level. Your body does not actually absorb the fiber even though it is a type of a carbohydrate, which is why this is good for your diabetic diet. You should try to look for products that have at least 5 grams of dietary fiber.
A third way is to look for products that have as little sugar as possible. Many people feel that a sugar free label means that they can eat that product on a diabetic diet, but you have to be very careful and read the label. Some sugar free products compromise by adding more carbohydrates which eventually raise your blood sugar level. The overall total carbohydrates still needs to be 10 grams or less and the sugar should be around 5 grams or less.
A fourth way is to stock up on what the experts call free foods for diabetics. These are foods that have less than 20 total calories and have less than 5 grams of total carbohydrates per serving. Just because they are labeled free food does not mean you can eat them all day long. All it means is you can eat them up to 3 servings per day. Also be sure to spread them throughout the day as eating them all at one time will make your blood sugar rise too high. Some examples of free foods are decaf coffee, a dill pickle (which also helps lower your blood sugar), sugar free drink mixes, sugar free gelatin, diet soda, lettuce, and water.
A fifth way is to watch what kind of meat products you buy at the grocery store. You need to select low-fat cuts that have no fat visible to your eye. You should choose meats with 7 percent fat content or less. Again, the lower the percentage of fat, the better it will be for your health. Some good meats you can purchase are fish, shellfish, and skinless poultry.
As you can see, it is possible to go on a diabetic diet and still enjoy the foods and meals you are accustomed to eating. All you have to learn to do is read the food labels a little more carefully and purchase the products that have fewer carbohydrates, more fiber, less sugar, more free foods, and better quality meats. Once you start implementing these food purchasing habits into your meal planning, your meals that you and your family love will become healthier you will enjoy them more knowing that it is now a diabetic diet meal.
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