Diabetic Cookbooks for Healthy Eating

Just because you've been diagnosed with diabetes doesn't mean you're condemned to a life of tasteless meals; there's a whole lot of diabetic cookbooks to prove you wrong.

There’s a theory that most people have a very limited diet with very little variety. You know what I mean, roasted chicken on Sunday, chili on Monday, roast beef on Tuesdays… week-after-week, with usually no deviation. The truth is, most people tend to stick with what they know and what’s easy to prepare. That is definitely the case for most diabetics and the number one reason for buying diabetic cookbooks. Let’s get some more variety into our menus… diabetic or not!

Often times newly diagnosed diabetics find a few foods that work for them and are then terrified to stray from those foods. As long as the food doesn’t spike their blood sugar, they’re happy to eat that food over and over again. But being diabetic, whether Type I or II, doesn’t mean a lifetime sentence of restrictive food choices and a couple of diabetic cookbooks may just be the answer.

Variety is the spice of life and for fortunately, there are hundreds great diabetic cookbooks to help diversify your food choices. But first, you need to know your food choices. There’s not a one-size-fit-all diabetic diet. Limiting carbohydrates is the one constant all diabetics face, but how low is something to be determined by you, your doctor and a good diabetic nutritionist.

When considering buying a diabetic cookbook, take into account the type of diabetic eating plan you’re on. Is it a food exchange plan with higher carbohydrate limits or is it strictly low-carbohydrates. Do you use insulin to cover your eating choices or to you eat to control your blood sugars? Buy the diabetic cookbook that gives you best choices for the way you eat. In the end, it will help you stay on your eating program and give you some great new healthy eating choices.

Here are some of the best diabetic cookbooks around that cover all types of eating plans, from the American Diabetics Association of recommended eating plans to low-carb.

You probably already have a Betty Crocker cookbook in your library. It’s generally one of the first books most of us start with. That’s because it’s been a trusted source. So it is with this new diabetic cookbook. Partnering with the International Diabetes Center, this cookbook is filled with 140 recipes that show the carbohydrates per serving plus information on how to live with diabetes. It’s one of the top choices on Amazon with a solid 4.5 star rating and it’s easy to see why with recipes like Smoked Salmon and Egg Wraps for breakfast to Parmesan-Dijon Chicken for dinner.

Not a diabetic cookbook per se, this low-carb cookbook by Fran McCullough has been my cooking “bible” for years. It’s full of low-carb and definitely diabetic-friendly recipes, from a mock “potato” salad using cauliflower (delicious, really) to “fried” chicken. McCullough also had a companion book, Living Low-Carb, talking about living the low-carb lifestyle long term. It’s definitely and interesting read for a diabetic who already knows she’s in it for life.

This is a great concept – a full year’s worth of diabetic dinner plans, including a shopping list for the week. But be aware, this book's recipes are based on the American Diabetes Association eating plan, so you won’t find a lot of low, low-carb recipes. But still, you will find some great ideas like Chicken Breast with Raspberry Balsamic Glaze and Citrus Honey Pork Chops.

Here’s good news, you don’t have to give up you crock pot to make healthy diabetic meals. Working with American Diabetes Association, this book is filled with easy to fix slow cooker recipes like Chicken in Mushroom Gravy and Lemon-Garlic Chicken. Many of the recipes of been modified from earlier Fix-It and Forget-It books to meet the ADA standards.

You may have heard about the Mediterranean diet. It’s good for everyone, including diabetics. It’s based on a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and healthy oils. And this diabetic-friendly cookbook proves that there’s more to a Mediterranean diet than just spaghetti and meatballs with tasty recipes like Moroccan Chicken with Lemon or Turkish Chicken with Tomatoes and Yogurt.

There are many choices when it comes to choosing a diabetic cookbook and don't let the word "diabetic" be your guide. Check out low-carb, low-glycemic and healthy eating cookbooks Here are a few great choices from Amazon.