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D.R.I.T.S.

Diabetics Raised in the South

In the south, food is a way of life. It's how we connect with one another, how we celebrate, how we express ourselves. Folks gathering around the dinner table supports and sustains relationships with one another by allowing communication and expression of emotions (Beverly, Ritholz, Wray, Chiu, & Suhl, 2017, p. 2). That being said, being a diabetic in the south can sometimes be a challenge. Read on to find out more about how to conquer these obstacles in south.

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Updated: Oct 16, 2018

The diagnosis of diabetes comes with a complete lifestyle change, including changing what you eat. What you may have eaten up to this point may not fit your diabetic diet any longer. Here are some things to keep in mind when planning out what you're going to eat or cook, along with some helpful resources.



Not Your Mother's Diet

Khatri (2017) offers 10 tips to eat well with diabetes:


1. Whole Grains

Use brown rice and whole wheat pasta. Look for 100% whole wheat flour and breads, along with other whole grains like oat and barley. In a hurry? Keep microwavable instant brown rice on hand.



2. Fill up with Fiber

Try peas, beans, oats, barley, apples, pears, berries, citrus, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, broccoli, carrots, and beets. Remember, this is not your mother's diet, so try to refrain from adding a cup of bacon grease or butter to your healthy choices. Aim for 8g of fiber per meal.












3. Thats Some Good Fat!

Monounsaturated fats are the goal. This includes nuts, avocados, olive oil, and canola oil. These actually help to lower your blood sugar, but be sure to not over do it!










4. No Spikes Please

Choose foods that won't spike your blood sugar, and will help balance the foods you eat that contain carbs. This includes lean meat, poultry, fish, avocados, salad vegetables, and eggs.




5. Go Lean

Choose recipes with low amounts of saturated fat. Skip the cream sauce and look for lean meats, skim or low-fat dairy, and vegetable based sources of protein such as beans, lentils, or nuts.





6. Check the Fine Print

When choosing a recipe, be sure it spills all the details and includes the amount of calories, carbs, fat, and fiber. Be sure to note the serving size!









7. Plant Fat

Choose fats that have heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids such as canola oil or olive oil. Remember, we gave up the bacon grease and butter in point number 2!







8. Salads

Remember to get your greens in and make it easy on yourself. Go ahead and chop up your ingredients and store in an air tight container without dressing. Easy access makes for fewer mistakes!





9. Dessert Time

Cut up a beautiful fruit salad for dessert. Be sure to drizzle with lemon or orange juice over the top to prevent browning and give an extra boost of Vitamin C. Other dessert ideas, check out the resources at the end of this blog!












10. Drink it Up

Watch the calories and sugar in alcohol. Aim for water, but when that doesn't appeal, other choices include unsweetened carbonated water, or no-calorie tea or coffee.





Here are some additional resources for diabetic recipes:


https://diabetesstrong.com/recipes/


http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/17899/health-condition/diabetic/


https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/type-2-diabetes-care/budget-friendly-foods/


More information about what foods to avoid:


http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/



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