Kitchen Staples for Your Diabetes Diet

Natural (Kitchen)

 “What can I eat?” That’s one of the most frequently asked questions of newly diagnosed diabetes patients. It’s true, that a diabetes diagnosis likely will require a diet overhaul, but that doesn’t mean your meals need to be bland and boring In this month’s issue of Diabetes Forecast, the magazine of the American Diabetes Association, there’s a helpful feature for both newly diagnosed patients and long-time diabetics who are looking for some culinary inspiration.

Stock your pantry (and fridge and spice rack) with these diabetes-friendly foods and you’ll see that following a diabetic diet can be both healthy and delicious. Their list is divided into Brilliant Basics, Cold Comforts and Flavor Savers. Here are some of our favorites and the reasons why they’re such great choices for a diabetes diet:

Canned beans: High in fiber and protein, most varieties of canned beans are a great choice for diabetics. They’re an even better choice because of their versatility--eat them as a main dish or add them to soups and salads, there’s so many things you can do with beans. Check the nutrition label for sodium content, which sometimes can be high. Rise and drain the beans before using them to remove some of the added salt.

Natural (Kitchen)

Reduced-sodium broth: Whether you choose chicken or vegetable, broth is a great way to add flavor to soups and whole grains without too much salt. Diabetes Forecast adds, “Once opened, broth can be stored, sealed, in the refrigerator for about 1 to 2 weeks.”

Tomatoes: Fresh are best (and tomato season is just around the corner), but no-salt-added canned ones work well, too, for homemade tomato sauce, chili, soups, stews and other recipes.

Frozen vegetables: Again, fresh is best, but frozen vegetables offer a low-cost way to try a variety of good-for-you veggies.

Extra-virgin olive oil: If you’ve never tried extra virgin olive oil (many people call it EVOO), give it a try. It’s a heart-healthy fat and a true flavor booster. Few scents are as captivating as onions and garlic sauteed in a little bit of EVOO.

Natural (Kitchen)

Additional resources:

http://forecast.diabetes.org/magazine/features/cooking-101-building-perfect-pantry-system