Managing dessert cravings may feel impossible at times, but the good news is that you can have dessert and maintain a healthy balance of sugar and carbohydrates. The American Diabetes Association recommends watching your total amount of carbs per meal instead of trying to eliminate sugar. Just exchange carb-heavy breads or cereal for a low-sugar, low-carb Jell-O dessert instead.
Sugar vs. Carbohydrates
You’re probably used to watching the sugar content of your food, but there’s a reason why carbohydrates are just as important. According to the American Diabetes Association, a low- or no-sugar food item can still have carbohydrates that will raise your glucose level. Before you make any Jell-O dessert, check the box for the “Total Carbohydrate” listing. This is a catch-all for sugars, starches, fiber and sugar alcohols. As a guideline, the ADA says most people do well with 45 to 60 g of carbohydrates per meal.
Fruit Salads
Whip up a tasty fruit salad with your favorite sugar-free Jell-O flavor. The Kraft Foods Jell-O website offers a comprehensive list of diabetic-friendly recipes, including several for these chilled salads. The basic technique remains the same: stir a package of sugar-free Jell-o gelatin into a boiling liquid, refrigerate until slightly thick, stir in the fruit and refrigerate again until the gelatin firms up. Jell-O suggests such flavor pairings as apple juice, lemon Jell-O, club soda and melon cubes for a melon salad, or try a Waldorf-style salad with cherry Jell-o, apple, celery and banana.
Fruit Cup
If you only have an hour to prep for company, try a Jell-O dessert fruit cup. You can make this with any flavor of sugar-free Jell-O, a complementary fruit juice and a few pieces of fruit. The Kraft Foods recipe uses orange gelatin with orange juice and canned mandarin oranges, prepared in individual portions using dessert glasses. Just mix the gelatin with boiling water and ice cubes, then put it in a blender to froth it up. Pour it over a bit of fruit in a dessert glass and refrigerate until the gelatin sets.
Sparkling Molds
You don’t even need a specialized mold to make this dessert--just use any large, shallow bowl. These types of recipes combine a boiling liquid such as water or fruit juice, sugar-free gelatin, club soda, and add-ins like alcohol, lemon juice and sliced fruit. The berry pear mold, for example, combines Sparkling Wild Berry sugar-free Jell-O with club soda, pears and raspberries or strawberries.
Yogurt Blend
Ready in less than an hour, Kraft Foods’ yogurt and Jell-O recipe makes a fruity, creamy dessert that you can serve in individual cups or glasses. The flavors are up to you--pick your favorite sugar-free Jell-O gelatin mix and stir it up with boiling water and ice cubes, according to package directions. Before you refrigerate the gelatin, stir in plain nonfat yogurt and vanilla. Pour the mixture into individual cups or bowls and refrigerate.
