When it comes to dinner parties, it’s always the more, the merrier. However, hosting a dinner party is an uphill task, becoming more difficult the more guests are invited. Not only do you have to consider your guests’ food preferences as well as allergies, but you also have to consider any preexisting medical conditions they have as well. For example, with how common diabetes in seniors is, you may have an older relative with diabetes that can feel insecure about participating in a dinner party due to all of the different dietary restrictions they have. With Thanksgiving coming up, meal planning and preparation can be agonizing. Thankfully, you can host a diabetes-friendly dinner by considering the following.
Main Course
Of course, every dinner party host wants to serve up a grand, wholesome main course. By choosing the right main course, you don’t have to worry about diabetes stopping your loved ones from enjoying the meal. Thankfully, if you already had your heart set on serving turkey and stuffing as your main course for the night, you’re already on the right track. Turkey is a naturally lean type of meat, which contains zero carbs, giving your guests the opportunity to enjoy a hearty portion guilt-free!
Unfortunately, traditional stuffing may not be the best option for those with diabetes, due to its components being high in carbs such as heavy white bread. If you’re reluctant to skip the stuffing, you can consider some viable alternatives. Thanks to the popularization of keto diets, there are many low-carb Thanksgiving turkey stuffing recipes using whole-grain bread, walnuts, and cranberries available online that promise the same flavor with significantly fewer carbs. Alternatively, if you’re eager to experiment with different meat types besides turkey, you can consider serving a herb-rubbed rack of lamb, roast beef, or pork loin.
Side Dishes
We can’t forget about those delectable side dishes either! If you’re planning on a more traditional Thanksgiving dinner, some of the more traditional sides such as sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and green beans are already healthy enough to be served to be considered diabetes-friendly. However, watch out for certain sides such as mashed potatoes that are high in carbohydrates, which can raise a diabetes patient’s blood sugar. You can always consider making mashed cauliflower instead, which makes for a great substitute for potatoes. If you’re interested in deviating from traditional Thanksgiving fare, you can serve a variety of dishes such as roasted squash and fall salads.
Dessert
Sugar is notoriously associated with diabetes, being one of the main substances diabetics are advised to avoid. Hence, when hosting a dinner party with diabetics, you may feel hesitant about what dessert to serve. Thankfully, you don’t have to skip on seasonal desserts like apple and pumpkin pie, as long as you use sugar substitutes and go light on the whipped cream. We also recommend adding more fruits and nuts to increase the nutritional value of your desserts.
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