How to Adapt Main Dish Recipes for Diabetics

If someone in your family has been diagnosed with diabetes, one of the challenges you will face as a cook will be to prepare healthy and appealing main dishes. Making the switch from fried, sauce-laden and starchy meals to ones featuring whole grains, lean meats, poultry, seafood and vegetables won't be easy, but the payoff will be a boost in energy and a return to health. Here are suggestions on how to adapt some favorite main dishes into diabetic-friendly meals.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 bag frozen chicken breasts
• 1 bottle Italian dressing
• 3 new (red) potatoes
• 1 baking potato
• sour cream
• 1 bag ready-made salad
• 1/3 lb. roast beef, from deli
• 1 pkg. Rye Krisp
• 1 pkg. frozen whole-grain waffles
• Strawberry low-sugar jam
• 1 pkg. whole-grain rotini pasta
• 1 jar pasta sauce
• 1/2 gallon no-sugar-added ice cream
• 1 pkg. sugar-free Jell-O, any flavor
• 1 carton whipping cream
• Mixing bowl
• Electric mixer
• Wax paper
• Aluminum foil

How to Adapt Main Dishes for Diabetics

1. Instead of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and cream gravy, try this:Chicken breasts marinated in Italian dressing, then broiled, served with roasted new potatoes and green salad.Scrub three new potatoes, wrap in foil, cut 1-2 slits to let steam escape, and roast at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, marinate one chicken breast in 1/2 cup of dressing for 30 minutes. Broil in oven for 15 minutes. Serve with green salad (use leftover Italian dressing).

2. Instead of sirloin steak, baked potato with butter and French bread, try this:6 oz. lean roast beef, baked potato with 1 tbsp. sour cream and Rye Krisp.Purchase roast beef from deli. Scrub baking potato and wrap loosely in wax paper. Microwave 4-5 minutes on high. Serve with sour cream and Rye Krisp.

3. Instead of French toast with syrup and butter, try this:2 whole-grain waffles with 2 tbsp. low-sugar jam.Pop frozen whole-grain waffles in toaster. Spread with strawberry low-sugar jam.

4. Instead of a hot fudge sundae, try this:1 cup no-sugar-added ice cream (or)1 cup sugar-free Jell-O with 2 tbsp. real whipped creamPrepare Jell-O as directed on package. While it sets, pour one container of whipped cream into mixing bowl, and use electric mixer to beat until whipped cream forms. Turn into smaller bowl, cover and use as needed.

5. Instead of spaghetti with clam sauce and bread sticks, try this:Whole-grain rotini pasta with red sauce, green salad and Rye Krisp.Prepare 8 oz. whole grain rotini as directed on package. Heat 1 cup of spaghetti sauce from jar. Drain pasta and pour sauce over. Serve with green salad and Rye Krisp.

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