Quick and Easy Meals for Diabetics

How many of us want to eat healthy food but don’t have the time or the ability to cook “good” meals? Well, I stumbled upon a cookbook recently that gives a lot of “down-to-earth” recipes but that are healthy and tasty at the same time. Chef Jennifer Bucko and Registered Dietitian Lara Rondinelli wrote a cookbook called “The Healthy Carb Diabetes Cookbook: Favorite Foods to Fit Your Meal Plan.”

Published by the American Diabetes Association, this book is meant for those of us who have diabetes and anyone who is looking to eat healthfully by watching sodium and fat content!

What I Liked About the Cookbook:

• Easy ingredients!! I didn’t have to go far to make a recipe–most of the ingredients were in my home or easy to find at the grocery store
• Simple recipes–the recipes were easy to follow and gave concise directions
• Variety of recipes–There are a variety of recipes (Asian, Mexican, Italian, “American”, “Soul Food”) to choose from. Examples include: Asian Beef Kabobs, Beef Taco Supreme, Bruschetta, Oven-Fried Chicken, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Baked Tilapia, Italian Wedding Soup, Blueberry Muffins….
• Cooking and Nutrition Tips–each recipe had either a cooking tip or a nutrition tip that tells you foods/ingredients that can be substituted and nutrition tidbits on ingredients (for example, the benefits of fish). These tips came in handy when I was using the cookbook.
• A Nutrition Label–every recipe had a nutrition label (which looked exactly like the ones you see on your food).

What I Thought They Could Do Better:

• The Nutrition Label–it was a great addition to the cookbook but did not give an explanation of the label in the front of the book. The cookbook assumed that you already have knowledge of how to read a nutrition label.
• The Diabetes Section–The cookbook also assumed that you already are knowledgeable about diabetes–if you are just diagnosed with diabetes and don’t exactly know what you should be eating, you would need to pair this cookbook with a general book on diabetes and nutrition.
• Photos–There are no color photos (and minimal photos if that). I assume this is to keep the cost of the book to a minimum, but this would help to see if the recipe looks appetizing or if what I made looks like it is “supposed to!”
• Format–Put it in a format that would be easy to lay down on a countertop while cooking. Again, they probably didn’t do this in order to keep the cost down.
• Desserts–The dessert section was “skimpy”, but then again, I guess that’s what the “Big Book of Holiday Desserts” cookbook is for!

Taste Test:

I tried the French Toast muffins, which were made with fat-free half-and-half, wheat bread, and egg substitute (besides a few other ingredients). Although my husband did not like them (but he doesn’t like wheat bread and french toast in general so he was not a good judge!), I thought it was a great morning meal, full of protein and whole grains (depending on the bread you used). It reheated well and filled me up for several hours afterwards.

Overall, I think it’s a good cookbook for those of you who like to cook simple, healthy meals! I am already planning my list of foods to cook this week based on this cookbook! Enjoy!

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