I recently talked with a woman who had been diagnosed with diabetes and was struggling to adjust her diet. She wasn’t sure what to eat so she wasn’t eating much at all.
I encouraged her to register for our Dining with Diabetes series from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 8, 15, 22 and 29 at Wooster Community Hospital Outpatient Pavilion. The series is a nutrition education program designed for people with diabetes and their family members or caregivers.
The OSU Extension program is offered in partnership with the hospital. Rita Abboud, a registered dietitian from the hospital, is a presenter and hospital chefs use Dining with Diabetes recipes to prepare the meal served to participants each evening. The cost is $25 per person plus $10 for a family member or support person.
The program strives to provide not only delicious recipes but also informative sessions on managing diabetes through proper nutrition. Participants learn what it means to eat well with diabetes, focusing on a different aspect of choosing a healthy diabetic meal plan each week.
Recipes, support and new friends - what more can you ask
“When you live with diabetes, food is medicine,” is a statement on the American Diabetes website. It is crucial that diabetics find out how to eat well to support their diabetes management.
Even people who have had diabetes for many years can grow weary of trying to keep blood glucose numbers in their target range. Attending classes like Dining with Diabetes can provide some support, new recipes, new friends, and reinforce the importance of staying diligent with diabetes management.
As a starting point, the ADA recommends focusing on one meal at a time and making changes that help you enjoy the eating experience. Once you have a routine in place and know how eating decisions impact your blood glucose (blood sugar), you can continue to expand your skills and food experiences.
The Idaho Plate Method for planning
During Dining with Diabetes, we discuss The Idaho Plate Method that was designed to assist in meal planning for people with diabetes. The Plate Method differs from MyPlate because this plate is half full of vegetables, specifically non-starchy vegetables and the fruit is outside the plate. If you’re wondering how, you can eat that many vegetables, you can try a mixed green salad or substitute spaghetti squash for spaghetti. Filling half your plate with non-starchy vegetables can also lower the caloric content of your meal and may lead to weight loss.
OSU Extension recently updated the Dining with Diabetes program curriculum and added a number of new recipes. Recipes include main and side dishes and yes, desserts. We explain the substitutions that make the recipes healthier. We also send home the recipes with participants, along with informational handouts.
To register for Dining with Diabetes, call the hospital at 330-263-8196 or go to the hospital’s website – woosterhospital.org/dining-with-diabetes.
Laurie Sidle is an Ohio State University Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H program assistant and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or sidle.31@osu.edu
CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu
This article was previously published in The Daily Record.