Diabetic Recipes: Main Entrees
Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken and dumplings is one of the great comfort foods. It can be used as a soup, appetizer, or main entrée. Add vegetables to the recipe to add more nutrition and bulk to the meal.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb chicken pieces
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/3 cup chopped celery
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp vegetable shortening
- 1/2 cup skim milk
Directions
Remove skin from chicken pieces. Place chicken pieces in a large saucepan. Add water, celery, onion, and salt. Simmer, covered, 1 hour or until meat is tender. While simmering, prepare dumplings by combining flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Cut in shortening. Add milk until dough is stiff. Prepare a lightly floured surface and roll dough out to about 1/8-inch thickness. Cut dough into 1-inch strips or squares. Remove chicken from bone and return chicken to chicken stock. Bring chicken and stock to a boil; add rolled dumplings. Cover and boil gently 8 to 10 minutes.
Serving and Nutrition Information
Makes 6 servings.
Diabetic exchanges per ¾ cup serving: 2 Medium Fat Meat, 1 Starch.
Stuffed Burgers
For a great new twist on an old favorite, try stuffing your hamburger with one of the fillings listed below. This recipe is great if you’re looking for a starch-free meal. However, most people do like to use a hamburger bun. A great low-carb way to enjoy the bun is to buy “light” hamburger rolls. Regular buns are worth two starch exchanges, but the light buns are worth only one, and they have more fiber.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb lean ground sirloin
- 2 Tbsp ice water
- 1 tsp fresh ground pepper and salt to taste
- Ideas for filling (all 1 Tbsp):
- Salsa
- Parmesan cheese
- Chili sauce
- Minced jalapeño peppers
- Bleu cheese
- Teriyaki sauce
- Marinara sauce
- Minced sautéed mushrooms
- Hoisin sauce
- Minced smoked ham
- Minced roasted red pepper
- Feta cheese
Directions
In a bowl, mix the ground sirloin with the water, pepper, and salt; form into 12 small patties. Place 1 tablespoon of desired filling in the center of each of six patties. Place a second patty on top of each patty with filling and seal the edges to secure the filling inside. Grill, bake or fry with nonstick cooking spray until patties are browned.
Serving and Nutrition Information
Makes 6 servings
Diabetic exchanges per serving: 4 Very Lean Meat, 1/2 Fat
Angel Hair Pasta with Tomato Seafood Cream Sauce
Many diabetics shy away from pasta because of the high carbohydrate content. But there is no reason pasta can’t be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet. This recipe includes scallops, but any lean meat can be used.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup tomatoes, cooked, seeded, finely diced
- 1 ½ cups evaporated skim milk
- 1 tsp marjoram
- Fresh ground pepper, to taste
- ¾ lb sea scallops
- 4 ¼ cups cooked angel hair pasta
Directions
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the tomato and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the evaporated milk and stir constantly over medium heat until thickened. Add the marjoram and pepper. Add the scallops and cook for 2 minutes until the scallops turn opaque. Pour the scallops and sauce over the angel hair pasta and serve.
Serving and Nutrition Information
Makes 6 servings.
Diabetic exchanges: 2 Starches, ½ Milk, ½ Vegetable, ½ Fat, 1 Very Lean Meat
Adapted from: Diabetic Meals in 30 Minutes or Less by the American Diabetes Association
1400 Calorie Diabetic Diet
If you’re looking for the perfect 1400 calorie diabetic diet there are certainly handy sample plans to try, but remember; each person is an individual and because of this a specific diet may work better for one person than another. You can try any 1400 sample plan but personalized adjustments may be necessary.
Why A 1400 Calorie Diabetic Diet
If you have diabetes and your doctor recommends that you try a 1400 calorie diet plan it could be for a number of reasons.
- A diet plan with 1400 calories offers enough calories to meet nutritional needs when planned in a well-balanced manner, and still is low enough in calories to assist an individual who needs to lose weight. Even with minimal exercising effort it’s likely that someone eating 1400 calories will lose weight.
- If your current diet is not working you may be on the path of needing medication to help control your diabetes. A much easier plan is that you control your diabetes with diet and exercise if possible. Many doctors suggest that a patient (who is not in dire need of medication) attempt to control their diabetes with diet and exercise before moving on the medications.
- 1200 – 1800 is a typical healthy caloric intake range with 1400 calories being lower than what the normal American eats but a good goal to shoot for. Each person should consume calories needed based on personal body size combined with personal energy expenditure. However, it’s difficult to offer sample diet plans based on obscure calorie amounts like 1234, 1457, or 1603. It’s much simpler for a doctor or health guide to offer suggestions for a 1200, 1400 or 1600 calorie plan. This is one major reason people are often directed to say, a 1400 calorie diet plan, because they’re easy to find and easy to plan.
Find Sample Plans
The first place to find plans for a good 1400 calorie diabetic diet plan will be with your doctor. Better yet you are also working with a nutrition specialist. If not have your doctor refer your to one. The importance of personalized support and planning for your experience with diabetes cannot be understated. People with superior support plans and a team of helpers to back them up succeed at managing their diabetes far better than someone trying to plan their diet and care on their own. That said it’s highly suggested that you work closely with your support team to plan a diet that’s right for you.
However, if you are already working with a team and need fresh ideas for your 1400 calorie diabetic diet then these resources may help:
- First you’ll want to do some pre-planning and this handy guide from the Mayo Clinic; Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan can help. This will direct you as to what parts of your diet to concentrate on such as carbohydrate counting and also offers ideas on the the diabetic exchange system, consistency and diet variation.
- The National Diabetes Education Program offers a wealth of diet planning support including a sample diabetic diet planmeals for a day, nutrition information, some handy thoughts about the diabetic food pyramid, and more.
- Many of the healthier online 1400 calorie diet plans are not specifically related to a diabetic plan. That doesn’t mean they won’t work for you though. The following plans offer ideas about what to eat to add up to 1400 calories. Free dieting 1400 plan, Weight loss resources’ 1400 calorie plan in the UK, and one more 1400 calorie diet variation.
- Once you have a good idea of what belongs on a 1400 calorie diet plan skip back over to the Mayo Clinic for some amazing recipes. The clinic’s healthy diabetic recipe section not only offers seriously delicious food choices but a complete calorie, carbohydrate, protein, and more breakdown of the recipe so you can be sure you’re getting the right amount of calories and nutrients. If that doesn’t convince you, listen to some of these recipes; southwestern potato skins, blackberry iced tea with cinnamon and ginger, cookies and cream milkshake, barbecue chicken pizza, and many more. A diabetic diet can be fun… or at least tastier than you thought.
- You also may be interested in diabetic cookbooks, diabetic food list, and learning about the basics of the diabetic diet.
Don’t forget to always run any sort of diet plan or diet changes past your health care provider before you start..
Recipes
Pasta with Broccoli and Chicken
Ingredients:
4 ounces whole wheat spaghetti or 2 cups ziti 2 cups broccoli florets, coarsely chopped 1 cup sliced cooked chicken breast 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 4 teaspoons olive oil Pinch of red-pepper flakes (optional) Instructions:
Prepare the pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the liquid. Return the liquid to the pot. Place the pasta in a bowl and cover to keep warm. Bring the liquid to a boil. Add the broccoli, cover, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until soft, but not soggy. Add the pasta, chicken, cheese, oil, and pepper flakes (if using). Toss well.
Diet Plan 1 |
Diet Plan 2 |
| Breakfast | Breakfast |
| Cantaloupe - 1 cup Scrambled Eggs - (1/2 cup egg substitute or 1 egg and 1 egg white 1 teaspoon butter). English Muffin (dry, whole-wheat) |
Fat-Free Milk - 1 cup Strawberries - 1/2 cup English Muffin (with butter and jam) - wholewheat or oatbran + 1 teaspoon butter |
| Snack | Snack |
| Mug of Granola (2 tbsp. granola + 1/4 cup fat-free milk) | Graham Crackers (1) Chocolate Milk - 1 cup fat-free milk + 2 tbsp chocolate syrup. |
| Lunch | Lunch |
| Fat-Free Milk - 1 cup Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich (2 tbsp peanut butter 2 tbsp jelly or jam 2 slices whole wheat bread) Celery Sticks (1/2 cup) and Baby Carrots (1/2 cup) |
Small Roll - 2 1/2 inches in size. Satisfying Veggie Salad - (1 cup mixed greens 1/3 cup carrots 1/3 cup tomatoes 1/3 cup cucumbers 1/2 cup canned chickpeas 2 tablespoons chopped eggs 2 tablespoons reduced-calorie dressing) |
| Dinner | Dinner |
| Mixed Greens (2 cups + 1 tbsp reduced-calorie dressing) Spaghetti (1 cup whole wheat spaghetti 1/4 cup meatless pasta sauce 2 tablespoons Parmesan 2 teaspoons chopped basil) |
Pasta with Broccoli and Chicken (see below) |
| Treat | Treat |
| Ginger Snaps (3) | Frozen Fruit Bar - no more than 80 calories. |
Ensure you drink plenty of water - aim for 8-10 glasses per day.