Chef Robert Lewis

On July’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast I interviewed Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ about grilling tips for the Summer. Our Divabetic Inspiration, P.M. Dawn’s frontman, Prince Be suffered multiple diabetes health-related complications including stroke, amputation and kidney disease before passing away at age 46 earlier this year.

People living with kidney disease are encouraged to follow specific dietary guidelines for optimum health including eating less protein. Since one of the biggest joys of Summer is using your backyard grill I asked Chef Robert to share some healthy summer grilling recipes that don’t include red meat.

After graduating from the Prestigios Culinary Institute of America in 1976. In 1998 Chef Robert was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Thus began his motivation to create great tasting dishes that are easy to prepare.

Chef Robert’s Salmon Skewers of Love Recipe

What’s in it?

2 medium-size fresh salmon filets

2 tablespoon fresh garlic

3 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2-3 large leafs of fresh basil

2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 red pepper

2 green peppers

1 red onion

1 large Portobello mushrooms

4 bamboo skewers

Let’s put it together

1. Skin salmon and cut it into 1-inch pieces if your fishmonger hasn’t already

done the job for you.

2. Mix garlic, oil, basil and lemon juice in a bowl. Combine

with salmon and refrigerate for 2 hours.

3. Place skewers in cold water for 10 minutes before building them. (This will

keep them from burning.)

4. Cut veggies into 1-inch pieces.

Alternate peppers, onions, mushrooms, and salmon on skewers. Place on a hot grill for 8 to 10 minutes, turning often, or place on a baking sheet in a 375-degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Serves 4.

Nutrition per serving: 226 calories, 26.5 grams fat, 9.31 grams carbohydrates and 40 grams protein.

Divabetic

Chef Robert has been selected buy Sanofi and Everyday Health to do consumer online cooking videos. He is a keynote speaker for Taking Control of Your Diabetes all across the USA. He has worked with Sanofi, Abbott, Accu-Check-Roche, American Diabetes Association, Lyons Club International, Rotary Clubs, University of Wisconsin, Genesis Hospitals, Hy-Vee Grocery Stores, Kroger stores, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Hill and Valley sugar free bakeries to name just a few!

His recipes celebrate great-tasting food that both diabetics and non-diabetics can enjoy. Robert’s cookbooks are filled with tips, tidbits, and humorous anecdotes that I hope will make cooking fun! You are not what you eat, you are how much you eat!

Visit Chef Robert’s ‘The Happy Diabetic’ website for recipes, cooking tips, and cookbooks.