Diabetic Desserts
"Does anyone have any good diabetic dessert recipes that can be made ahead and frozen? I'm having a party for a friend coming to visit that has just been diagnosed as diabetic and would like her to be able to enjoy one of the desserts."
"There isn't such a thing as diabetic desserts. In the past few years the whole area of sugar and people with diabetes has changed drastically and most of us with diabetes can eat sugar in the same way we eat other carbohydrates. Right now diabetic recipes are a marketing ploy. Your friend may want to know how many carbohydrates are in the meal so that she/he can adjust their insulin accordingly, or if they are watching their weight they may want a low calorie meal.
"I would suggest that you serve my favorite summer fruit dessert which is blueberries with fatfree vanilla yogurt poured over them. Or, you might want to serve sliced angel food cake with blueberries or strawberries or both on top. Fatfree cool whip or frozen yogurt could be added.
"If you serve strawberries then wash, cut, and refrigerate them about 8 hours in advance so that they break down a bit and become a little syrupy. There is no need to add sugar. A red/white/blue dessert is very appropriate in America as we approach the fourth of July."
FATFREE, The Low Fat Vegetarian Recipe Archive.
Book Review: Diabetic Desserts
"I had a great time spending my Christmas cash gifts last year, and one of my favorite treasures was DIABETIC DESSERTS, by Betty Wedman, PhD, RD.
"In Diabetic Desserts, Betty Wedman offers people with diabetes more than 80 delicious and easy-to-follow recipes for desserts that are good-tasting and health-conscious.
"I found myself in a full-faced grin as I read her dedication, 'To all those individuals with diabetes who thought I was unscientific when I told them to use sugar instead of sugar substitutes in their recipes.' She bases her statement position on the most recent ADA guideline which states that '... scientific evidence has shown that the use of sucrose as part of the meal plan does not impair blood glucose control in individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.'
"You can enjoy a wide variety of rich-tasting, delicious recipes for cookies, cakes, muffins and quick breads, pies, tarts and tortes, puddings and custards, crumbles and cream puffs, snacks, sauces and sorbets, as well as holiday favorites and dessert beverages in this neat little cookbook. Wouldn't you just love a taste of Cappuccino Pudding Cake, or a bite of a Macadamia White Chocolate Cookie? How about Cookies and Cream Cheesecake, Chocolate Swirl Brioche, Mud Pie or some Lemony Bread Pudding?
"Each recipe in Diabetic Desserts includes complete dietary information, and is based on the new American Diabetes Association recommendations and revised exchange lists. The recipes are low in sugar, fat, sodium and cholesterol—making these treats healthy as well as a sweet addition to your meals. If you have a sweet tooth as finely tuned as mine, don't miss this wonderful dessert book. I highly recommend it!"
Marilyn Helton, type 2 diabetic since 1993, is the publisher of CINNAMON HEARTS --The Art of Living A Winning Diabetic Lifestyle.
