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. This is the last of the listed 15 foods to avoid. 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.


#15 Restaurant Pizza

Pizza from a restaurant or take-out spot is just as bad as the frozen stuff. Here's a tip: Cut sodium, fat, and calories by choosing a thin-crust pizza with veggies or lean meats like ham or chicken, and resist extra cheese.

Here's a breakdown of one slice of hand-tossed 14-inch (large) cheese pizza:

Domino's Pizza*
248 calories
3 g saturated fat
490 mg sodium
34 g carbohydrate

Papa John's*
280 calories
3 g saturated fat
700 mg sodium
38 g carbohydrate

Pizza Hut*
320 calories
6 g saturated fat
820 mg sodium
38 g carbohydrate

*Nutrition information from restaurants' Web sites

A healthy alternative:
Chicken Taco Pizzas
In the mood for pizza? Try this slimmed-down version. It replaces regular pizza crust with pita bread rounds, high-fat sausage or pepperoni with chicken, and regular cheese with reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese. The Light Sour Cream Drizzle adds the richness of sour cream without the fat and calories.
SERVINGS: 4 servings
CARB GRAMS PER SERVING: 22

2      whole wheat pita bread rounds, split horizontally
1     teaspoon olive oil or canola oil
2     5-ounce cans no-salt-added chunk chicken breast, drained
1/4     cup bottled salsa
1     cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack and/or cheddar cheese (4 ounces)
1-1/2     cups shredded lettuce
2/3     cup halved grape tomatoes or chopped tomato
1     recipe Light Sour Cream Drizzle

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place pita bread pieces, cut sides up, on an ungreased baking sheet. Lightly brush cut sides of each piece with oil. Bake about 4 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp.

2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together drained chicken and salsa. Evenly spoon chicken mixture over pita bread pieces. Sprinkle with cheese.

3. Bake about 5 minutes more or until chicken is heated through and cheese melts.

4. To serve, top with lettuce and sprinkle with grape tomatoes. Drizzle with Light Sour Cream Drizzle.

Light Sour Cream Drizzle: In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup light sour cream and 1 to 2 teaspoons fat-free milk. If desired, transfer mixture to a small resealable plastic bag. Snip off one corner and squeeze onto pizzas.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving:

    * Servings: 4 servings
    * Calories248
    * Total Fat (g)9
    * Saturated Fat (g)4
    * Monounsaturated Fat (g)1
    * Polyunsaturated Fat (g)1
    * Cholesterol (mg)69
    * Sodium (mg)483
    * Carbohydrate (g)22
    * Total Sugar (g)2
    * Fiber (g)3
    * Protein (g)23
    * Vitamin C (DV%)8
    * Calcium (DV%)18
    * Iron (DV%)6
      Diabetic Exchanges
    * Starch (d.e.)1.5
    * Vegetables (d.e.).5
    * Lean Meat (d.e.)2.5
    * Fat (d.e.).5

http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/recipe/chicken/chicken-taco-pizzas/