10 Spices & Seasonings to flavor your Diabetes Diet
Introduction:
Many people feel that a diabetes patient should follow a strict and bland diet. No form of sugar should enter the body. Even though the later fact is true, it’s not necessary that you should be eating a bland diet. You can also have a scrumptious and tasty diet with the help of some spices and ingredients which are good for a diabetes patient. One can eat tomato ketchup or mayonnaise only when one understands how much is suitable for their body. These accompaniments should be kept as an accompaniment and should not become the main dish. Hence understanding the proportions of how much to eat is important, only then your food will become tasty and lip smacking. Let us see some spices and accompaniments which can be included in a diabetes patient’s diet.
1. Tomato ketchup:
If you have diabetes type 2, then many will tell you to stop eating ketchup. This is not correct as ketchup actually enhances the taste of a particular dish that you are eating. However the quantity should be restrained to just one table spoon. This does no harm. If this amount exceeds then it is not good as it contains hidden sugar and salt.
2. Creamy mayonnaise:
Mayonnaise is another culprit which people ask a diabetes patient to avoid. However you can eat it only if the quantity is measured and restricted to a spoonful. Another option for this is using skimmed or fat free mayo. You can easily get this variety and it’s healthy as well. Another type of mayo is the one made from olive oil, which is healthy and gives your body the essential fats.
3. Mustard sauce:
The paste form or the sauce form of mustard is an excellent option for a diabetes patient to spice up his food. You can use it in a burger, sandwich or even with a salad. It contains very less fats and carbohydrates. When following a diabetic diet, include mustard as the most essential spice.
4. Hot chilly or pepper sauce:
This is another tongue tantalizing sauce which one can consume in small quantities even when they have diabetes. It is known that when one consumes such a spicy and hot sauce, one tends to lose appetite and hence ending up eating less. This is what is required in a diabetes patient and hence helps lose weight. Make sure you consume only a table spoon and not more with every meal.
5. Salsa sauce:
This is the most tasty and most easily relished accompaniment with any meal. To make salsa you need hot pepper, tomatoes, garlic, onions and some salt to taste. Make a blend of this and use it over various meat and fish dishes to enhance the taste. Diabetic patients can have it with a salad or lean meat roast. Again do not go overboard eating it. Restrict it to 2-3 tablespoons only.
6. Vinegar dressing:
There are various varieties of vinegar available in the market which a diabetes patient can savor with various salads and dishes. It is low in sans fats and sodium. Balsamic vinegar gives taste to a salad or a vegetable dish. You can mix it with soya sauce and use it as a dip for appetizers. Vinegar makes a great sauce ingredient for diabetes patients.
7. Less calorie dressings:
There are several low calorie dressings available in the market. They do not taste that good. You can add a dash of some mixed herbs to these dressings and make delicious salads, sandwiches and much more. Use them as marinates for lean meat and fish. They make tasty barbeque food.
8. Cinnamon sprinkling:
Cinnamon is a spice which adds its own sweetness when added to a dish. Low sugar pies, cookies, ciders and puddings can be sprinkled with cinnamon powder to enhance their taste. Hence it can be used by diabetes patients when they need to spice up their bland food.
9. Horseradish dressing:
Horseradish acts as a great accompaniment when roast beef is served, however for diabetes patients it can be used in adding flavor to low calorie dips and mayo. Less fat sauces and marination can be made using a small quantity of horseradish.
10. Sweet pickle relish:
This is another spread one can relish and use it with bread, tuna sandwiches, hot dogs and much more, meant for diabetes patients. It gives you only 5 gm of carbohydrates in one tablespoon. Use it to accompany a bland dish.
Source: Medicine2life
