Three Quick and Creative Recipes for a Child with Diabetes

It can be difficult to please a child who is a picky eater, especially if the child has diabetes.

When trying to come up with a diet plan or creative snacks for a diabetic child, it is important to know how certain foods will affect his or her blood sugar level.

Healthy Tips

Try to implement vegetables and fruits into meals and snacks. Look for non-starchy vegetables such as spinach, carrots, broccoli and green beans. When making a pasta dish or stir fry, opt for whole-wheat pasta or brown rice. If you are making dinner with meat, choose lean meats like cuts of beef and pork that end in “loin.” Remember to remove the skin from chicken and turkey if you are going to add poultry to a meal.

Yogurt and milk can be incorporated into meals or eaten as snacks, but choose low-fat or non-fat versions of these products for your child. Although it may be difficult for your child, always choose water over anything that has added sugar like soda or fruit juice. Remember to limit snacks and sweets that your child eats, such as chips, cookies, cakes and full-fat ice cream. He or she can indulge in a little treat every now and then, but always make sure you keep a close watch on your child's blood sugar levels.

Fun Food Ideas

Here are a few healthy and delicious meals that even picky eaters can enjoy.

• Breakfast burrito. This breakfast favorite is quick to make in the mornings instead of the usual cereal and milk. You can make this by scrambling an egg and an extra egg white in a frying pan, then adding chopped vegetables like onions, bell peppers and tomatoes. Feel free to add a little low-fat cheddar cheese. Place the contents on a whole-grain tortilla. Depending on your child's diet, you may choose an egg substitute and a low-carb tortilla, both of which can be found in grocery stores. As a final touch, pour a spoonful of salsa over the eggs and veggies.
• Macaroni and cheese. This is a very popular food among children, but one which is usually high in fat and carbohydrate content. Many old favorites can be changed and reworked by simply doing a bit of swapping. For example, when making macaroni and cheese, use whole-wheat macaroni, 1-percent or skim milk and low-fat cheese. If you'd like to make it a little more fun, you can also add panko breadcrumbs to create a breaded macaroni and cheese casserole.
• Chicken bake. This can be a great alternative to chicken nuggets or fried chicken. Start your chicken bake by removing the skin from four chicken breasts and then placing them in a casserole dish. Drizzle the chicken with a cup of low-sodium chicken broth and a cup of low-sodium cream of mushroom soup. If you have any fresh veggies in the fridge, such as carrots, broccoli, zucchini, tomatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers or onions, toss them into this dish. Add a can of pinto beans and season with fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme. Sprinkle panko breadcrumbs and bake it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.

Sources: Diabetes.org, HealthyBasis.com