Gestational Diabetes Lifestyle: Better Food

by Kim Neyer | More from this Blogger

28 May 2010 06:40 PM

A gestational diabetes diagnosis can really throw a wrench into an otherwise happy pregnancy. Suddenly you're no longer allowed to gleefully succumb to your cravings. Instead you're trapped by a strict diet plan. Writing up your grocery list becomes even more of a chore than it was before because you're trying to count carbs. You doubt your usual dinner repertoire is going to work this week and you struggle to come up with a new meal plan. When your family doesn't want to eat what's on your menu, it becomes even more frustrating. You're on a diet you didn't sign up for, and yet your health and your baby's health depends on it.

Fortunately there plenty of diabetic friendly recipes available that won't cause your blood sugar to spike or your family to strike. Websites like DiabeticRecipes.com offer plenty of meal options for diabetics. Also, many of your favorite recipes can be altered to make them healthier for you and your baby.

One of the easiest ways to alter a recipe to make it healthier is to increase the servings without increasing the total recipe, which in turn makes the serving size smaller. You can still enjoy your favorite foods when you have gestational diabetes if you limit your portions.

When your recipe calls for pasta or rice, use low carb and high fiber varieties. Whole grain pasta is better than the original. Brown rice is better than white. Some brands are offering healthier versions, like Barilla Plus.

One trick that I use when I'm trying to eat healthier is to fill up my plate with vegetables. I season them with herbs and spices and make sure to eat them first. I'm less likely to eat too much of the other foods on my plate that might not be as healthy. You can't go wrong when the bulk of your meal is veggies. The upside to this plan of attack is your family members are not required to take as many servings of vegetables as you.

Swapping healthy, lean cuts of meat for higher fat meats like ground beef or sausage is also a good way to make your favorite meals healthier. Most of the time, it will not affect the flavor of the recipe. Some people swear that tofu, if prepared correctly, can taste just like chicken. Personally, I love veggie burgers.

Finally, learn about herbs and seasonings. These don't affect how healthy your meal is, but they definitely add a lot of impact. Using more of these allows you to cut back on things like butter or salt.

Learn more about Kim Neyer

Kim is a freelance writer, photographer and stay at home mom to her one-year-old son, Micah. She has been married to her husband, Eric, since 2006.

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