Knowing what to eat when you have gestational diabetes is a challenge that many women in your same position deal with. It can be a little challenging to get the hang of a new diet at first, and figuring out which foods affect your blood sugar is a learning process. Sometimes learning the ropes of a condition like gestational diabetes is all about following a prescribed list of foods and a little bit of trial and error.
Learning what you can eat, instead of focusing solely on what you can’t have, is good for you for multiple reasons. First of all, it can really help on a mental level to hear something positive instead of just more restrictions. Second of all, it can really open up your horizons to new food possibilities. There are some foods that are consistently good for gestational diabetes. These foods can help regulate your blood sugar levels, keep you satisfied, and are delicious to boot. Try incorporating these foods into your gestational diabetes diet for healthy and diverse meals.
Beans
You know the jingle- beans are magical. There are also nearly endless varieties, so just about everyone can find a type of bean that they enjoy. Nutritionally, they really are almost a perfect food. They have tons of fiber, potassium, and protein. Beans are great for maintaining blood sugar levels and also for keeping you full and satisfied for a long time.
Try beans in a variety of different ways. For example, sprinkle them (hot or cold) over a salad. Or mix them into just about any soup, chili, or casserole dish that you can think of. Of course, you can just heat them up, season, and enjoy them all on their own.
Sweet Potatoes
Despite their sweet taste, these delicious potatoes are a great alternative to their starchy cousins. They pack a huge fiber punch, which helps you balance your blood sugar as well as keep you nice and full.
There are so many ways to enjoy sweet potatoes. You can bake them whole and eat them like regular baked potatoes, mash them, roast them… you name it. They are also a great addition to many recipes and require very little in the way of seasoning.
Nuts and Seeds
More foods that have a lot of variety, nuts and seeds are definitely gestational diabetes super-foods. A small handful provides you with healthy fats, fiber, and magnesium, among other health benefits. Seeds are typically full of omega 3’s and all sorts of goodness.
Nuts and seeds make a perfect on the go snack, and can also be worked into many recipes. Sprinkle them on just about everything from salads to deserts. Keep some nearby your work space as they make great snacks, especially when you need brain food.
These are just three excellent choices to consider adding to your regular gestational diabetes diet. Other great foods for gestational diabetes would include leafy greens, whole grains, berries, and lean fish. They are all quite versatile so they are easy to work in to different recipes to keep things interesting.
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