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.