Though there is no one best diet for blood sugar control, it is possible to take good care of yourself and your diabetes with an overall healthy diet. Managing type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise is often the first recommended step after the initial diagnosis of diabetes.
Trying new recipes is a great way to incorporate new foods and dishes. New recipes can keep a fresh variety of foods in your diet and keep you from becoming bored and returning to less healthy eating habits. Good recipes for type 2 diabetes include many nutritional components, like produce, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein.
Must-Haves for Type 2 Diabetes Recipes
Healthy recipe choices for people with type 2 diabetes should include items from the categories of whole grains, produce, lean proteins, and healthy fats. These components are listed below with example foods in each group.
Whole grains
- Quinoa
- Brown rice
- Whole-wheat flour
- Barley
- Oats
Healthy fats
- Olive oil
- Canola oil
- Avocado
- Nuts and seeds
Fruits
- Berries, like blackberries, blueberries, raspberries
- Apples
- Kiwi
- Bananas
- Pineapple
Non-starchy vegetables
- Green beans
- Tomatoes
- Squash, like zucchini or yellow squash
- Snap peas
- Greens, like collards, spinach, kale
- Carrots
- Celery
- Onions
Lean proteins
- White meat turkey or chicken
- Lean cuts of pork, like pork loin
- Lean types of beef, like flank steak or 93% lean ground beef
- Fish
- Tofu
- Beans
- Tempeh
Keep an eye on the suggested serving size and the number of servings per recipe. Eating multiple servings of even a healthy food or recipe can cause problems with your diet management.
Foods To Avoid
- High-fat foods, such as fried foods, high-fat meats, and full-fat dairy products
- Trans fats usually found in vegetable shortening, hydrogenated oils, or shelf-stable baked goods
- Sugary-sweet foods, like cakes, cookies, and candy
- Sugar-sweetened beverages, like sweet tea, regular soda, or fruit juices
- Highly processed foods, like packaged meats or packaged snack and meal foods
How To Find a Great Recipe for Managing Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes recipes should contain healthy ingredients but can also be delicious. Healthy diabetes recipes include a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. National organizations like the American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association have many cookbooks available, and their websites also have suggested recipes. A local library is excellent for checking out cookbooks or browsing different recipes. Try cookbooks that focus on healthier eating, like vegetarian, vegan, heart-healthy, or whole-grain cooking.
Helpful Cooking Tools for Managing Diabetes
Multicooker (example: instant pot): Multicookers containing a pressure cooker component can save much time in the kitchen. Multicookers can save time in these ways: cooking a big batch of whole grains to eat