We love snacks as much as anyone. My husband is a diabetic and has Congestive Heart Failure as well. In 2003 he was given 2 years to live, so I took his diet into my own hands. It was the cause of many arguments for many years, but, finally, he sees the wisdom and benefits of eating more healthy!
I don't use white flour for anything, period. I have a grain grinder and grind our own flour. I use a variety of grains we use, wheat, oats, barley, spelt, and now have added quiona to the list. I grind what I need just before using it.
I also do not use artificial sweeteners. They are not heart healthy! I was using sucanat, and have now discovered Coconut Sugar! It is wonderful and only raises my husband's blood sugars a maximum of 25 points over a 2 hour period. Stevia is another good one, not Truvea, Stevia leaves, the herb itself, not the artificial product disguised as a healthy product. My husband just happens to not like the taste of stevia. However, I am growing some to see if the fresh picked, freslhy dried leaves make a difference for him. If so, stevia will take over in place of Coconut sugar. Herbs are always our friend!
I make cookies and add healthy ingredients as I remove the white flour, and sugar. I use coconut oil for the shortening as well. This all adds up to a bonus with weight loss and blood sugar control.View Thread
Salads are a great way to help us out in our food intake. Vegetable salads are so healthy and can have such a great range in vegetables in each one. Example, when I make a vegetable salad, I begin with red leaf lettuce, chop up onions, chop very fine, garlic, grate ginger, grate some radishes, chop very fine, some celery, grate carrots, parsnips, zucchini, slice thin cucumbers, and often add much more. Then I also add thawed green peas if I cannot get fresh peas. This gives a very good variety of vegetables. Remember, it is a wide variety that will provide the phytochemicals, micro and macro nutrients we need for optimum health. Fruit salads can be done the same way.
For dressings, we use on vegetable salads, fresh squeezed lemon juice or we take Nancy's Plain Lowfat Yogurt and add herbs we like, garlic, onion, parsley, cayenne, rosemary, either as a blend of singly how ever we feel at the moment.View Thread