Cutting Down on Sugar
As much as we may not realize it, eating is a habit as much as it is a necessity. When we get hungry, we eat. But sometimes we tend to fall into easy, bad habits. It’s easier to pop open a bag of chips than it is to make a balanced meal complete with proteins, complex carbohydrates, and unsaturated fats. Doing that for every meal is the right idea, but there are some small steps we can build on to get to that point, and one of them is cutting down on sugar. Everyone could probably afford to cut back on the sugar. However, for a diabetic, it is particularly important to watch the amount of sugar and fats being consumed. If you suffer from diabetes, then it is vital you keep your blood sugar in check. Anyone having a difficult time cutting back on the sweet stuff should follow these tips.
Make Your Own Tomato Sauce
Spaghetti and pizza are staples for many people’s diets. It can be tempting to simply purchase tomato sauce in a jar from the grocery store, but many of these products contain an alarming amount of added sugar. It can be healthier, and more fun, to make your own sauce at home so that you can control the amount of sugar in the product.
Avoid Processed Foods
Most processed foods you find have a ton of sugar added. Chips, cereal and anything else you get in a bag or box can be filled with several different types of sugar. When in doubt, always read the nutrition label to know what you are getting.
Eat Fruit as a Snack
Juice drinks and snacks labeled as “fruit flavored” might seem like healthy alternatives to chips and similar products, but they are still packed with sugar. If you are craving a quick bite to eat, then have a whole piece of fruit. An apple or a banana will quell you appetite without giving you a bunch of empty calories.
Eliminate Candy
This is absolutely imperative. Candy needs to be avoided by every diabetic. The best thing you can do is keep it completely out of your home and place of work. A few pieces of candy might not seem like much, but even a little bit can spike your blood sugar levels a lot.
Cut Back on Soda
Think of soda as liquid candy. Soda is filled with chemicals, and one can contains a ton of sugar. Eliminate soda entirely from your diet. If you want something sweet to drink, then you should try squeezing a lemon or lime slice into a glass of water.
Wean Off Sugar Gradually
Drastically cutting back on the amount of sugar you eat can be stressful and fluctuate your energy levels if you try to do it all at once. Instead, wean yourself off it steadily. Perhaps you start by eliminating soda but still have a small dessert after dinner. After a week or so, you can get rid of the dessert. It might seem like a lot, but you will benefit greatly by cutting back on sugar and unhealthy fats in your diet. The blood sugar level for a diabetic can be a fickle thing, so talk with your doctor for further advice on how to start eating healthier.
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