By: Bertil Hjert
When it comes to dealing with diabetes, you need to understand that diet plays an important role. Most people simply love to eat out and indulging restaurant food occasionally.
It is not a sin for the diabetics to indulge in restaurant food once in a while. However, you need to take special care about certain kinds of things when it comes to eating food. Here are certain things you need to keep in mind.
a) Keep a check on your portion sizes
Most restaurants tend to use large portions. However, for diabetics the diet plan is based on a moderate portion size. In case, the restaurant you have chosen offers meals in many sizes, make sure that you choose the smallest portion. You may also get a bit creative.
Start ordering a lunch sized entrée for dinner or even a baby sized meal. You may even consider sharing your meals with a partner or even request for a take home container.
It would be a wise decision to ask the server to put half of the meal you have ordered, into a take-home container prior to it is served to you. This will help you have a moderate sized meal.
b) Make substitutions
Never ever settle for whatever comes in your way. Try to choose a diabetes friendly salad or a fruit bowl instead of fries. Fat-free or low-fat salad dressing is the best as compared to fries or finger chips served along with the sandwich or a certain meal.
Try ordering for salsa with burrito and not shredded cheese or sour cream. The dressings on the salad should be fat-free mayonnaise or barbecue sauce instead of ketchup or mustard. Several extras ordered with a sandwich or meal such as bacon bits, fried chips or croutons can destroy your nutrition plan. These foods tend to increase calorie as well as carbohydrate count.
You may also go for several healthy additions such as salsa, fat free mayonnaise, fat-free salad dressing or barbecue sauce. Try to enjoy up to three small serving of food. This way, you don't require adjusting your meal plan.
c) Have a chat with the chef
This will help you a lot in having the most nutritious food that's required for a diabetic. Ask the chef if he can provide you with some low cholesterol eggs, skinless chicken or whole grain bread.
The pizza you order should have a thin crust and consists of a lot of vegetables. All you require to do is to opt for a healthier plan in order to stay committed to your diabetes meal plan.
d) Keep tabs on what you drink
If you are having a large glass of soda, then you surely are going to overload your body with about hundreds of calories. Don't opt for shakes and ice cream as they have a lot of calories and saturated fat.
Ordering for a diet soda will be the right choice. You can even go for sugar free iced tea, mineral water or sparkling water. If your diabetes is under control, an occasional alcoholic drink is perfectly fine.
However, if your blood sugar levels are high, alcohol will add to empty calories to your meals. It can even aggravate complications such as eye disease or nerve damage. If you must drink alcohol, light beer and dry wines consists of fewer calories as compared to other alcoholic drinks. Sugar free mixed drinks are great options such as seltzer, club soda, diet soda or diet tonic.
e) Eat on time
Eating at same time will help you maintain steady blood sugar levels.
