Potluck Paradise or Pitfall

Summer is here and potlucks are popular everywhere, but they can be a carbohydrate mine field for diabetics --- potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans, rolls, jello, fresh fruit, cakes and cookies. So, here are some suggestions for dishes you can bring to the party which you and everyone around you can enjoy (some of them make great main dishes for summer suppers, too):

• Coleslaw


• Spinach salad (add strawberries, blueberries and nuts for extra taste)


• Crabmeat salad


• Greek salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, feta or mozzerella cheese with oil/vinegar dressing)


• Cobb salad (mixed greens, chicken, bacon, tomatoes, avocado, eggs, green onion, bleu cheese)


• Layered overnight salad (add any variety of veggies such as blanched green beans, peas, carrots, peppers, celery, tomatoes, cheese and bacon)


• Chicken or turkey salad (add celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, nuts, grapes --- use rotisserie chicken for great flavor and ease)


• Salad Nicoise (romaine, green beans, small red potatoes, tuna chunks, red onion, cucumber, tomatoes, Nicoise or black olives, eggs)


• Ceasar Salad (add chicken or shrimp, olives, red onions, grape tomatoes, etc.)


• Pea Salad (peas, celery, red onion with mayo/Ranch dressing)


• Broccoli salad (and for fun, make it with cauliflower, add peas, cheese, etc)


• Carrot-Raisin Slaw


• Asian Chicken Salad (mixed greens, chicken, green onion, mandarin oranges)


• Fresh vegetable tray with dip (for fun, serve dip in a hallowed out pepper or eggplant)


• Deviled eggs


• Pickled vegetables


• Grilled Vegetable Salad (grill 'em, chill'em and cover 'em with Italian salad dressing)

That should get you started. Just be creative, search your cookbooks and let your summer meals be new and healthy.

A Sad Day

Our neighbor's mother just passed away. Sister Packard was a wonderful little lady who accomplished a great deal in her life. She was as sweet as could be, but she suffered from diabetes for many years. Unfortunately, she didn't do well at keeping it under control and in the end, it contributed to her death.

Diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death in the US and the risk of death for diabetics is twice the normal death rate. Of all the diabetes factors which contribute to death, cardiovascular disease is the most common and most serious. In fact, 65% of all diabetes-related deaths are from heart attack and stroke.

However, with proper diet, good exercise and careful monitoring, we can live long and healthy lives. When I was first diagnosed my blood sugar was too high, my blood pressure was sky-rocketing and my cholestrol was out of whack. Now, my numbers are much more in line, I'm off blood pressure medication all together. I think it's really important that we watch these numbers and eat right and exercise in order to keep them under control.

Sister Packard's death reinforced, for me, the need to always be careful and always do the right things for my body. We cannot wait until we're old and sick to eat right and exercise. We have to do it now!

"Berrylicious" Smoothie

Most fruit smoothies are packed with sugar, fruit, yogurt or sherbet and loaded with calories and carbohydrates --- some as much as 99 grams of carbs per serving. Here's a recipe I found for a "berrylicious" smoothie which has only 28 grams and no added sugars:

1 container (6 oz) strawberry low-fat/sugar-free strawberry yogurt
1 single serve packet drink mix (Crystal Light or Sugar-Free Koolaid), strawberry or cherry flavored
6 strawberries
1 cup ice cubes

Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth. Makes 1 serving