Think Before You Eat: 15 Foods to Avoid with Diabetes

I'll be showing 1 of the 15 foods to avoid along with an healthier alternative recipe. Another of many great articles and recipes from one of my favorite web sites, Diabetic Living On Line.

Think Before You Eat: 15 Foods to Avoid with Diabetes

By Lori Brookhart-Schervish
These top food offenders contain high amounts of fat, sodium, carbohydrate, and calories that may increase your risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, uncontrolled blood glucose, and weight gain. The good news is you can indulge in your favorite foods and still eat healthfully with our satisfying and delicious alternatives.

#11 Purchased Smoothies

Filled with fruit and sold at colorful, fresh-looking hot spots, smoothies seem like great snacks or lunch choices. Unfortunately, what's hiding is added sugar and an extra-large portion size.

For example, the Mango Mantra Jamba Juice Light Smoothie* has 33 grams of sugar, 170 calories, and 36 grams of carbohydrate in a 16-ounce serving. Although it's low in fat and gives you 90 percent of your daily value of vitamin C, the cons outweigh the pros for this "light" fruit smoothie.

*Nutrition information from company's Web site

There are plenty of simple ways to make smoothies at home that are just as refreshing but lower in carbs and calories:

Just Peachy Smoothies
Peach, blue berry, or red berry smoothies can become pops.
SERVINGS: 4 (1-cup servings)
CARB GRAMS PER SERVING: 16

2     cups sliced fresh peaches, nectarines, and/or apricots
1     cup fat-free milk
1     6-ounce carton peach fat-free yogurt with no-calorie sweetener
1     cup small ice cubes or crushed ice

1. In a blender, combine fruit, milk, and yogurt. Cover and blend until smooth.

2. Gradually add ice through hole in lid, blending until almost smooth. If desired, garnish each serving with fresh fruit. Makes 4 (1-cup) servings.

Double Blue Berry Smoothies: Prepare Just Peachy Smoothies as directed through Step 2, except substitute blueberry yogurt for peach yogurt and 1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries and 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blackberries for peaches.

Double Red Berry Smoothies: Prepare Just Peachy Smoothies as directed through Step 2, except substitute strawberry yogurt for peach yogurt and 1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen sliced strawberries and 1/2 cup fresh or frozen red raspberries for peaches.

Fruit Smoothie Pops: Prepare peach, blue berry, or red berry mixtures as directed through Step 1. Omit ice. Pour mixture into 14 compartments of freezer pop molds. (Or pour into 3-ounce paper or plastic cups. Cover with foil. Make a slit in the foil of each. Add sticks.) Freeze for 4 to 6 hours or until firm. Makes 14 pops.

< Make-Ahead Directions for Pops: Prepare pops as directed; freeze for up to 1 week.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving:

    * Servings: 4 (1-cup servings)
    * Calories78
    * Total Fat (g)0
    * Saturated Fat (g)0
    * Cholesterol (mg)2
    * Sodium (mg)52
    * Carbohydrate (g)16
    * Fiber (g)2
    * Protein (g)4
    * Vitamin A (DV%)0
    * Vitamin C (DV%)0
    * Calcium (DV%)0
    * Iron (DV%)0

http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/food-to-eat/nutrition/foods-to-avoid-with-diabetes/?page=12