Thanksgiving is a time to unwind and indulge in foods that aren't part of your everyday diet. Thoughts of health and waistlines and blood sugar can fly out the window if you're not careful. But if you plan ahead, a diabetic can enjoy much of what everyone else is eating. A few tweaks may be required to keep everything in check, but you don't have to sacrifice anything in the way of taste.
Turkey
The classic Thanksgiving roast turkey can be part of a diabetic meal. Turkey is a lean source of protein, and while the skin can be quite fatty, it doesn't have to be consumed. Roast your turkey for 30 minutes per lb. at 375 degrees F. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey and when it reads 180 degrees F, the bird is done.
Roasted Vegetables
Vegetables are a big part of a healthy diabetic diet, and Thanksgiving is a great time to enjoy them. Fall vegetables such as squash, beets, parsnips, carrots and sweet potatoes are good choices for roasting. Cut the vegetables into a little larger than bite-sized pieces to speed up the roasting time. Toss them in olive oil, season with salt, pepper or any spice you like and place them on a sheet pan or in a shallow baking dish. You can roast them in the same 375-degree oven until a fork goes in easily.
Steamed Vegetables
Steaming is another healthy way to enjoy your Thanksgiving vegetables. Place a metal steaming basket over a pot of boiling water and add some broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, green beans or carrots. Add some orange juice or stock to the boiling water to add some new flavor to the vegetables, and try to keep a little texture so they don't get mushy.
Sides
If creamy, starchy mashed potatoes don't agree with your blood sugar, try some alternatives like wild rice, bulgar wheat or quinoa. All of these choices add to the meal without the blood sugar spike.
Desserts
Dessert is obviously the biggest challenge for most diabetics. The sugar content of most desserts is too high to be safe for most diabetics. Using a sugar substitute in place of the sugar in recipes may allow you to enjoy dessert too. Fruit-based crisps or pies with oats crumbled on top are good choices, as are poached fruit or sugar-free pudding.
Sample Menu
The fact that diabetics do better with whole, natural foods makes the creation of a delicious meal much less challenging. Your diabetic-friendly Thanksgiving menu could include roast turkey with pan gravy; mashed sweet potatoes; steamed broccoli and cauliflower; and classic pumpkin pie with sugar substitute.
