TASTY ONION MEATLOAF

1 envelope (1-oz) Onion Soup and Recipe Mix

2 lbs ground beef

1 cup dry bread crumbs

1/2 cup quick-cook oats

2 eggs, lightly beaten

3/4 cup water

1/3 cup ketchup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the onion mix and ground beef until well mixed.  Add the bread crumbs and oats to the mixture.  Add the eggs, water, and ketchup.  Use hands to mix well.  In a large baking pan form the mixture into a loaf.  Bake approximately 1 hour until done.

CALIFORNIA BLEND VEGETABLE CASSEROLE

2 lbs frozen California Blend Vegetables

1 lb Velveeta Cheese

1 1/2 pkg Town House or Ritz crackers

1 1/2 sticks butter

Cook vegetables according to package directions.  Drain well.  Place vegetables in a 9×13-inch pan.  Cut cheese into cubes and spread over the vegetables.  Melt butter.  Crush crackers into fine crumbs; mix with butter and sprinkle over cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

BLACKBERRY CUPS

6 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed

nonstick cooking spray

1 pint fresh blackberries

2 tbsp Splenda

1 cup sugar-free Cool-Whip

1 carton (6-oz) lite custard-style peach yogurt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Get out 6 large custard cups.

Cut phyllo dough crosswise into 4 pieces.  Place 1 sheet phyllo dough on work surface keeping the remaining sheets covered with plastic wrap and a damp kitchen towel.  Lightly coat first piece of the sheet of phyllo dough with nonstick cooking spray and place in a large custard cup.  Place second piece of first sheet atop the piece in the cup, alternating corners; spray with cooking spray.  Repeat with the other two pieces, alternating corners.  Repeat this process with the other 5 sheets of dough into the remaining 5 custard cups.  Place custard cups on a baking sheet and bake approximately 15 minutes or until the pastry is golden.  Let cool to room temperature.

While phyllo cups bake, combine the blackberries and sugar in a small bowl and allow to stand for 15 minutes.  Mix the Cool Whip and yogurt in a medium bowl.  Reserve 1/2 cup of the blackberries for garnish.  Fold the remaining blackberries into the yogurt mixture.  Spoon mixture into the cooled phyllo cups.  Garnish with the reserved berries.

CarterSinclair Org announced that Choy Sum Food Company has signed on as a Program Sponsor to support Cartersinclair outreach program, Spoon Feeding.  It is a community-based outreach campaign that brings information about the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of a healthy lifestyle to the La Quinta community.

The Marketing officer will also tackle how to stay healthy and still enjoy Chinese food by planning ahead, choosing wisely and watching how much you eat.  Choosing traditional food dishes that are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals, and low in fat. Choosing beans, peas, tofu, bean sprouts and dark green vegetables such as Chinese broccoli, choy sum, watercress, Chinese chives, Chinese yard-long beans and amaranth also known as Chinese spinach.

Also pointed out other Chinese vegetables that are rich in iron like Chinese mushroom, seaweed and black fungus. Go for the mung beans (green gram beans), yellow bean and black bean dishes for soup or desserts with artificial sweetener. Sweet potatoes are also high in fiber and very nutritious . Whole wheat and rye bread and cornbread are good sources of fiber and are good for everyone.

As the sponsor, Choy Sum will support Carter Sinclair Org’s mission to prevent the onset of diabetes within La Quinta community and help those who are already living with the disease.  Support will emphasize importance of diabetes information from the CarterSinclair Org, including information about making better food choices.

“Food plays an important role in the prevention and management of diabetes,” said Mary Scott, MS, RD, a certified diabetes educator and nutritionist at La Quinta “Many of the behaviors needed to prevent type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications – behaviors such as meal planning and physical activity – are shaped by an individual’s culture and values.

Most people over the age of 20 have diabetes and are at raised risk for severe complications such as heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputations.  Cartersinclair Org wishes people to know that it is possible to enjoy Chinese food that is both delicious and good for everybody by making simple changes to ingredients and cooking methods.

Carter Sinclair Org is non-profit organization that helps monitor health status, inform and educate people about health issues. Research for new approach and modern solutions to health problems. For more information please visit cartersinclair.org  Email at info@cartersinclair.org

Food Type #1: Sugar Metabolizers

A critical step in beating diabetes is to restore the proper metabolism of blood sugar. Excess blood sugar initiates a cascade of dangerous reactions that destroy the body and ultimately lead to disease. Adding certain foods to your diet may help to restore normal sugar metabolism.

The following foods and spices are potent sugar metabolizers:

Cinnamon Basil Apples Green beans Broccoli Whole wheat bread Sprouted breads

Add 1-2 servings with each major meal.

Food Type #2: Promoters

The hallmark of type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance. Insulin directs the uptake of blood sugars by the cells throughout your body. Diabetics are resistant to insulin. Promoting better insulin sensitivity is the second critical step for beating diabetes.

The following foods are insulin promoters:

Collard greens Lean red meats (organ meats) Brewer’s yeast Cabbage

A meal consisting of 6-7 ounces of lean red meat with 2-3 servings of dark greens provide high doses of insulin promoters.

Food Type #3: Reducers

Excess blood sugar creates extreme levels of oxidative stress, one of the leading theories of aging. If not properly metabolized, blood sugar quickly transforms into highly reactive molecules that damage your body. Cells and tissues are destroyed faster than they can be replaced.

Reducers, also known as antioxidants, are foods that lower oxidative stress by mopping up reactive sugar metabolites. Eating a wide variety of antioxidants from a wide variety of sources is key step for beating diabetes.

The following foods are rich in reducers (antioxidants):

Red beans Blueberries Cranberries Artichokes Pomegranate Green & black tea Cocoa (dark chocolate) Tart cherries Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli)

Every meal should contain 2-3 servings of reducers (antioxidants). And if you got to snack, eat only foods rich in antioxidants.

Food Type #4: Protectors

It is crucial that diabetics understand the ways in which blood glucose causes damage. The most notorious process is glycation, the same process that causes food to brown in an oven.

Glycation (defined as sugar molecules reacting with proteins to produce nonfunctional structures in the body) is a key feature of diabetes-related complications because it compromises proteins throughout the body and is linked to nerve damage, heart attack, and blindness.

Protectors are foods that can minimize the effects of glycation:

Turkey Liver Tuna Chili peppers Lentils Chicken Lean red meat

Chili peppers added to marinades for chicken and fish is a great way to boost consumption of protectors and help diminish the rate of glycation.

Summary

I firmly believe that you can beat diabetes. If given the right tools, the human body can heal itself. And healing begins with eating the right foods. Add the metabolizers, promoters, reducers, and protectors into your diet today!

While the golden arches, etc. may be tempting, it is best to pass them by as often as possible.  However, there are always times we have to do what we have to do.  If you are out and absolutely must have something quick and you find yourself only in “fast food alley”, don’t despair.  Or perhaps you just have to give in to the little ones and go for it.  Fast food is an option when ordered properly.  Here are some tips to help you make good decisions once you step into that bastion of greasy fried food.

1. Be sure to order the small sizes.  Forget the “super size value” the cashier will tempt you with.  Remember it is not a “value” if you shouldn’t have it.

2. Avoid the deep fried foods.  You know you shouldn’t have them so forget it!  No french fries for you; order a small side salad instead.  And go easy on the dressing.  A drizzle won’t hurt you.  The whole package will!

3. When ordering your sandwich, go for the grilled chicken or the smallest size burger.  Then you need to stick with this  important step; ask that your sandwich be made without the dressing and mayo based sauces.  If you want something on your sandwich, ask for mustard, catsup, lettuce, tomato, pickle and/or onion.    If you get the small burger, break off the excess bun.  Many times the burger is almost lost in a big bun.  You know you shouldn’t have that extra bread!  Or you could remove the top of the bun, eliminating over half of the bread.

4. Drink water or unsweetened tea.  Yes, you can have that diet drink if you really must.  However, water is best for you with the unsweetened tea following in a close second.

5. Skip dessert.  You really don’t need a fried pie or cookies, etc.  If you really must partake of dessert, go for a fruit and yogurt parfait or a simple small ice cream cone.

As you can see, it really is possible to do fast food once in awhile without feeling guilty.  Just make it a rare occasion.  As diabetics, we simply cannot afford to be visiting “fast food joints” on a regular basis.

Overall, twelve million Americans have been diagnosed and another 5 million Americans have diabetes and don’t know it. And yet another 12 millions are on their way to type 2 diabetes because of impaired glucose levels. To reverse diabetes type 2 diet and exercise can benefit millions of suffering individuals battling the illness. Not knowing is the worst because risks of untreated diabetes type 1 puts a person at a terrible risk of complications including but not limited to blindness, amputations and ultimately death.

The stickler is, that type 2 diabetes is almost completely preventable. Doctor’ say eat less, eat better and exercise. The statistics confirm that there is an epidemic of overeating in America. Portions of food have significantly increased over the past 30 years so that daily caloric intake has risen dramatically. Ultimately, a healthy body weight means control of caloric intake. Using organic foods in the right combination is a natural diabetes treatment that can reverse the symptoms.

Statistically, people are now living longer, and it has been on the rise for years. But this will not continue if type 2 diabetes is not put under control. We are a gluttonous society and ultimately it is affecting how we live and how long we live. And unfortunately, the diabetes epidemic is not just a US problem. It is spreading worldwide with epidemic reports in Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

It is estimated that by 2025, the number of diabetics worldwide will rise to 380 million. And diabetes is now affecting more of the young and middle-aged population in developing countries between the ages of 40 and 59. To reverse diabetes type 2 through healthy eating and living style can be accomplished and is key in reversing this trend.

All too often we get sick but ignore the symptoms we may be feeling, shrugging them off to a cold, stress from work, or just not feeling well. There are certain symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored if they develop. These symptoms could lead to blindness, amputation of limbs, coma or even death.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes often come on suddenly and are severely dramatic. The extra stress of diabetes can lead to something called diabetic ketoacidosis. Symptoms of ketoacidosis may include nausea and vomiting, which may also lead to dehydration and serious problems with the blood levels of potassium. This could lead to a diabetic coma and ultimately death. Other symptoms of diabetes may include extreme fatigue. We all get tired at times, but diabetes triggers a more severe fatigue than normal. That is why it is essential to follow an appropriate type 2 diabetes diet.

People with diabetes also experience unexplained weight loss. This is because they are unable to process many of the calories they consume. Losing sugar and water in the urine also contributes to the weight loss. Extreme thirst is another symptom of diabetes. Diabetes develops high blood sugar levels and the body tries to compensate by diluting the blood, which translates to our brain that we are thirsty.

With this is also excessive urination. It is another way our bodies have of getting rid of the extra sugar in our system. But this can also lead to dehydration. This is why it is so important to get a healthy diet with an exercise program that can reverse the effects of these symptoms.

One of the hardest symptoms to deal with is poor wound healing. Wounds heal slowly, if at all when the carrier has diabetes. This along with infections that are not easily remedied can attribute to ulcers and loss of limbs. This is a very cruel aspect of severe diabetes. A type 2 diabetes diet can reverse diabetes with a consistent program of healthy diet with the right foods and increased exercise to help lose weight.

The ADA has “breads, grains, and other starches” at the base or foundation of its food pyramid. Then come fruits and vegetables on the next level. It isn’t until the third and fourth levels of their pyramid that we find dairy products, meat, fish, and so on. This makes carbohydrates the foundation of their nutrition plan.

Since diabetes is a disease of carbohydrate intolerance, this seems a bit strange, to say the least. Carbohydrates in the amounts the ADA suggests serve only to raise blood glucose levels and raise the necessity for more insulin to control those glucose levels. The ADA pyramid contributes to complications from diabetes, it doesn’t minimize or lessen them.

If, however, the ADA pyramid were turned on its head, it would be a pretty good diabetes diet plan. Make proteins the foundation: meat, fish, eggs and dairy. Add some vegetables at the next level, such as salad greens, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, gourds and squash. On the third level place slowly-digested starches such as kidney beans and lentils, and at the top of the pyramid leave room for a serving of alcohol or nuts.

Even the ADA has come around to admitting that the low-carb diet helps control diabetes, but can’t bring itself to actually “recommend” such a diet. They seem to think it is too difficult to maintain it for the “long term”.

Nevertheless there is a growing population of diabetics who are thriving on the low-carb, high protein diet. They have maintained it for years. It is not difficult, because cravings for carbohydrates decreases after the first few weeks. A high-carbohydrate diet perpetuates itself by creating cravings for more carbs. But the cravings pass when hunger is satisfied with a protein snack.

The upside-down ADA diet also lends itself to easier weight control. It isn’t always true that you are what you eat. Fat doesn’t make you fat as much as carbohydrates make you fat. A low-fat, high carbohydrate diet will make you fatter than a low-carbohydrate, high-protein (with its fats) diet.

If there were any commercial diet plan out there that we would recommend as “the diabetic diet”, it would be a low-carbohydrate, high protein diet. Lose weight, lose the carb cravings, and most important, control the carbohydrate-induced blood-sugar levels.

All this is a diabetic, anyway? A healthy food pyramid diet is the focus of diabetics. Diabetic recipes for a cookbook with diabetes driving and health prediabetics in their quest for a healthy food pyramid diet. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in 2007, 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes. This correct ponds 8% of the population. In addition, 5.7 million Meenjoy with diabetes do not even know. Therefore, if after a diabetes diet is important.

If you’re wondering what it looks like a diabetic, it’s a food pyramid for diabetics on the website of the American Diabetes Association. The diabetes food pyramid is easily accessible from the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. Diabetes Food Pyramid food groups according to their content of carbohydrates (and protein) content. Starchy vegetables  potatoes and corn, the grains are in a group. A difference is that the cheese-meat-dairy group. Diabetes food pyramid is a good guide for diabetics and diabetics have when planning a healthy meal from a cookbook.

If you do not have diabetes, diabetes, a system for diet is always a good way to a healthy diet. Diabetic-friendly recipes are not just for those who have diabetes and diabetes .A benefits from the healthy foods that are Diabetes following a food pyramid diet. And everything you need to make a diabetic, this article and a book of healthy recipes, such as diabetic-friendly recipes.

A healthy food pyramid diet, often from revenue Diabetic friendly, nothing extraordinary. Following a diabetes diet does not mean that you must be vegan or prohibit the food. A diabetic diet is about the choice of healthy food pyramid from  to help stabilize your blood sugar level, blood pressure and lowering your cholesterol, the maximization of the number.

Of course, a diabetic diet is also diabetic to achieve or maintain a healthy weight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends persons diabetes to lose weight if they need it. Take a healthy weight may be the onset of diabetes, and complete, in many case, the normalization in the blood. You can usually find diabetes-friendly recipes in a book of healthy food pyramid recipes for weight loss.

Basic food a diabetic can eat should be organically-based. What is the reason for this? Diabetics can only take so much synthetic food before their capillaries and kidneys start malfunctioning. Being a diabetic means the blood is more sluggish, and everything is threatened with the disease. Without proper treatment and the right kind of diet, a diabetic can go downhill fairly quickly.

Diabetic cookie recipes for one, offer the diabetic with a fairly tasty way to enjoy dessert minus the guilt and the fear that the sugar level in the blood, or the blood glucose level, would shoot up. The type of diabetic foods should include these kinds of food recipes, plus a healthy helping of the organic, raw stuff.

What are these organic, raw stuff? Since we have to take care of the diabetic’s skin, eyes, nails, and internal organs, we have to feed him or her the whole “rainbow” of fruits and vegetables. Yellow foods are often good for the eyes and skin, while the deep red ones facilitates the filtration of waste products and improve the human circulatory system.

A diet plan for diabetics should be proportional always- because too little of anything can also cause problems for diabetics. The lowdown is this- a diabetic can no longer completely self-regulate levels of blood glucose. This means that diabetic can either have very high blood sugar or very low blood sugar. The picture changes depending on the condition of the diabetic and the situation at hand.

Foods to lower blood sugar include garlic, bitter gourd and anything that is deep green in color. Bitter herbs and vegetables generally counteract sugar and make the blood less sluggish. Couple this kind of diet with vitamin E, tocopherol, and you would be saving the diabetic a world of problems.

What other considerations should be taken when feeding a diabetic? Water should be a constant in any meal. Water helps facilitate the removal of wastes, and a diabetic with too little water means that the body will suffer, especially if the diabetic has high glucose levels.

The type of food a diabetic can eat should always be balanced- and the foods should be cooked minus sugars and oils. Some oils are high in saturated fat; that’s what makes the oils a tasty additive to any meal. However, for now, saturated fat should be considered the number two enemy of diabetics, right next to sugary foods. The diabetic food diet should work if these facts are taken seriously.

COLORFUL CHICKEN RICE CASSEROLE

1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup small-curd cottage cheese

1 pkg (3 oz) low-fat cream cheese, cubed

3 cups cubed cooked chicken

3 cups cooked brown rice

1 1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies

1 can (2 1/4 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1/2 to 3/4 cup crushed corn chips

2 cups shredded lettuce

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

In a blender or food processor, combine the soup, sour cream, cottage cheese, and cream cheese; cover and process until smooth.  Transfer to a large mixing bowl.  Stir in the chicken, rice, cheese, chilies, olives, and garlic salt.  Spray a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.  Transfer mixture into prepared dish.  Bake, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bubbly, at 350 degrees.  Remove from oven and just before serving, sprinkle top with corn chips, lettuce and tomatoes in that order.

Yield 6 to 8 servings.

Note:  I adapted the above recipe from one I found in an old Taste of Home’s Quick Cooking magazine.

CHICKEN AND HAM CASSEROLE

1 pkg (6 oz) long grain and wild rice mix

2 cups cubed cooked chicken

1 cup cubed fully cooked ham

1 can (10 3/4 oz) low-sodium cream of chicken soup, undiluted

1 can (12 oz) evaporated skim milk

1 cup shredded Colby or Cheddar cheese

1/8 tsp pepper

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook rice mix according to package directions.  Transfer to a greased 2-quart baking dish.  Top with chicken and ham.  In a bowl, combine the soup, milk, cheese, and pepper; pour over chicken mixture.  Sprinkle with the Parmesan.  Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Serves 6

Enjoy!

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.