{"id":268,"date":"2023-11-07T12:23:48","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T12:23:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mydiabetes.health\/blog\/?p=268"},"modified":"2023-11-17T17:08:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T17:08:00","slug":"diabetic-easter-dinner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mydiabetes.health\/blog\/diabetic-easter-dinner\/","title":{"rendered":"Easter Dinner for People With Diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

It is common for families to enjoy a holiday dinner together on Easter. While an Easter dinner with family is an opportunity to get together and celebrate, typical Easter recipes do not always fit into the diabetic diet. If you live with diabetes, you may have to make changes to your recipes so that they are more diabetes friendly. With a few simple changes, you can have a healthy holiday dinner that tastes delicious and keeps blood sugar levels in check.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

Easter Recipes and Diabetes<\/h2>\r\n \r\n

When you imagine typical Easter recipes, you likely think about the rich flavor of glazed ham, paired with a side dish like bread or scalloped potatoes. Your family may serve pork or turkey as main dishes instead of ham, but Easter dinner generally includes a protein source combined with various side dishes, which typically aren’t low carb. In addition, Easter recipes tend to include meats wrapped in bacon, which adds a significant amount of saturated fat to these seasonal favorites.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

Traditional dishes may not be entirely diabetes friendly. For instance, nutrition experts recommend a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein sources, and low-fat milk and cheese. On the other hand, the diabetic diet should limit sweets<\/a>, beverages with added sugars, and foods that are fried or high in saturated fat. An Easter meal may include highly processed breads, sweet desserts, cheesy potatoes, and other dishes that can be high in calories and refined carbohydrates.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

Making Easter Dinner Fit Into the Diabetic Diet<\/h2>\r\n \r\n

If you have diabetes, you can make your Easter dinner fit into your diabetic diet. You might consider hosting the Easter meal so that you can ensure that the food served will fit within your eating plan. You can ask guests to bring side dishes that they want to enjoy, but you can make main dishes that fit within your eating plan, and have fruits and vegetables on hand for you to eat with your meal.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

On the other hand, if you don’t want to host Easter dinner, or another family member prefers to host, you can offer to bring some dishes that fit within your diabetes eating plan, or talk with the host about your dietary needs. Loved ones will often be willing to accommodate your needs so that you can still eat with everyone else.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

Regardless of the specific menu for your Easter dinner, it is also helpful to keep portion sizes in mind. Nutrition experts recommend using the plate method<\/a> when preparing meals. This involves filling half of your plate with a non-starchy vegetable, one-forth of your plate with a lean protein source like grilled chicken, and the remaining one-forth with a starch or grain like corn or a whole grain roll. Using this method assists with portion control and helps you to limit yourself to the appropriate serving size for each item.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

5 Easter Recipes to Try<\/h2>\r\n \r\n

Keeping diabetes friendly eating in mind, there are some fantastic Easter recipes that fit within your diet. Consider the recipes below for a healthy Easter meal.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

\"lemon<\/picture><\/h3>\r\n

Lemon Grilled Chicken<\/h3>\r\n \r\n

Chicken is a great source of protein, and when it’s grilled, it is low in fat and fits well within a diabetes eating plan<\/a>. Use this simple recipe as your main dish and pair it with a salad, topped with a sugar-free dressing. Prepare the chicken by marinating it in a combination of lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil, and then throw it on the grill to cook until it reaches a temperature of 160 degrees.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

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Low-Carb Cinnamon Bread<\/h3>\r\n \r\n

You can keep blood sugar levels in check and still enjoy Easter desserts. Sweetened with cinnamon, a low-carb dessert bread allows you to treat yourself while keeping your meal diabetes friendly. Kids will even enjoy this low-carb cinnamon bread.<\/p>\r\n \r\n

Follow the recipe below to prepare this dessert:<\/p>\r\n \r\n