Best Food Choices for a Diabetic 

The best food choices for a diabetic are of course, foods low in sugar and high in nutrition. However, diabetics have much more to choose from today when it comes to foods their body's can handle. The frozen foods department in your grocery stores today have a number of very healthy meals that you simply heat and serve that are high in nutrition and low in salt and sugar, yet have plenty of flavor. Some of the most popular ones are, Healthy Choice, Weight Watchers and Select, just to name a few.

Fruits and vegetables should be an essential part of a diabetic's diet, but some fruits are extremely high in sugar such as citrus and pears. These fruits should be eaten sparingly. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, they each carry similar nutritional value and the key to getting the proper nutritional balance is in the color.

The different colors of fruits and vegetables represent different nutrition content. Making sure you eat a variety of different colored fruits and vegetables insures you of a healthy nutritional balance. Since it is recommended that diabetics eat several small meals a day, make sure you include a different color fruit or vegetable with each meal.

So What are the Best Food Choices for a Diabetic ?

Have you checked out the sugar free section of your supermarket lately? If you haven't you need to have a look as there is an embarrassment of riches lining the shelves from cookies and cakes to candy. Since diabetes is associated with obesity and with obesity becoming such a problem, food manufacturers are catering to the needs of the diabetic. There are delicious sugar free puddings and gelatin products available as well.

But as a diabetic, focus should be on making sure you get a balance of nutrition which includes:

* whole grains
* vegetables
* fruit
* dairy
* lean meats

Vegetables are an essential part of a diabetic's diet and the ones recommended most include:

* carrots: High in beta-carotene
* tomatoes: High in lycopene - a cancer fighter
* cabbage: Fat burner
* peppers: High in potassium
* broccoli: High in antioxidants

Cucumbers are very difficult for some to digest and are also low in nutritional value. Iceberg lettuce has very little nutrition and also doesn't digest well. Choose greener lettuce such as romaine mixed with kale.

Calcium is an important part of a healthy diet. Yogurt is high in calcium, but diabetics should be aware of the high carbohydrates in yogurt. Buy plain yogurt and add your own fruit such as berries, peaches, plums and apricots. It's a good source of calcium without the sugar and it's delicious.

In conclusion, being a diabetic doesn't mean you have to eat foods you don't enjoy. There are several options available to you. Be creative and construct several small meals that are high in nutrition and high in taste but low in sugar.