Food and Nutrition – Page 7

11/18/2021

Sugar-Free Sour Cream Banana Bread Recipe by the Diabetic Pastry Chef

Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef captured the hearts and the taste buds of our attendees on Divabetic’s free Baking Party in September. She will be returning to demonstrate how to make sugar-free Linzer tarts on December’s Divabetic Baking Party on Zoom.

After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Stacey Harris (The Diabetic Pastry Chef) taught herself how to make pound cake, pecan rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods with about half the carbs you’d get from traditional bakery items.

Sugar-Free Sour Cream Banana Bread Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Ingredients

1- 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup sugar substitute, your favorite

2 eggs

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt

2 medium ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.

Combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a mixing bowl.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine melted butter, sugar substitute, eggs, and vanilla extract. Next, fold in sour cream or yogurt, nuts, and bananas.

Combine the two mixtures and stir, combining well, or use an electric mixer, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.

Spread batter in a loaf pan and bake for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool bread in pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool.

Note: The sugar substitutes that The Diabetic Pastry used were a mixture of half Splenda and half Whey Low D Granular. She doubled the recipe and baked it in a large Pullman loaf pan. She also sprinkled the nuts on top of the loaf instead of mixing them into the batter.

Now people with diabetes, “Divabetics”, can have their cake and eat it too thanks to Stacey Harris aka The Diabetes Pastry Chef and her simple four-part substitution system that turns any decadent dessert into a diabetic-friendly delight. Visit: http://www.diabeticpastrychef.com/ Find out more about this book

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hosts this free, fun Virtual Holiday-themed Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, December 9, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

REGISTER – FREE REGISTRATION

11/17/202111/17/2021

Acorn Squash Recipe

MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR shared her Discover Winter Squash presentation on Divabetic’s recent Once In A Blue Moon program on Zoom.

During the presentation, MaryAnn shared nutrition information about winter squashes including acorn, butternut, spaghetti, and pumpkin as well as cooking suggestions.

The health benefits of Winter squash include vitamins, minerals, and fiber and can promote heart and eyes health. Winter squashes lower the risks of some cancers, and help with high blood pressure, protect eyes, and supports a healthy immune system.

I always feel inspired to step out of my food rut and try new foods and flavors after MaryAnn’s Zoom presentations. This past Sunday, feeling motivated by MaryAnn’s suggestion, I purchased acorn squash.

MaryAnn demonstrated how to cut an acorn squash and easy ways to prepare it for cooking. She managed to make winter squash much more accessible to me.

What Does Acorn Squash Taste Like?

Acorn squash tastes mildly sweet and nutty. Its flavor is not as bold as other winter squash varieties, which makes it wonderful for stuffing with other ingredients.

How to Cut Acorn Squash

The easiest way to cut acorn squash is from stem to end.

Lay your squash on its side, and use a sharp knife to make a cut on one side between two of the ridges. Continue cutting on the same line, repositioning and flipping your squash over as needed, until you’ve cut all the way through around the bottom of the squash on both sides.

Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe By Erin Clarke

Ingredients (Partial List):

2 acorn squash halved through from the stem to the base and seeds removed
4 teaspoons olive oil
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
1/2 tablespoon olive oil

Click here for the full recipe. Erin Clarke is fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that’s affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. She is the author and recipe developer at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

REGISTER – FREE REGISTRATION

11/12/2021

Once In A Blue Moon Program Recap & Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic presented Divabetic’s Once In a Blue Moon program on Zoom. This free, fun-filled, informative hour of diabetes outreach featured presentations from Maryann Nicolay MEd, NDTR, Wendy Satin Rapaport LCSW, PsyD, and Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller.

Wendy Satin Rapaport, aka The Diabetes Psyche, shared strategies to help us overcome negative feelings related to judgment and stigma. Dr. Wendy encourages us to use a technique called positive reframing. Positive reframing involves thinking about an adverse or challenging situation in a more positive way. Rather than contemplating feelings of frustration and helplessness, look at your situation with fresh eyes. For example, instead of saying, “I’d did something bad,” when looking at the number on your glucose meter, say, “Oh, this is helpful information.” Suppose you’re in a situation you truly can’t change. In that case, you can reframe your thoughts and change how you feel about it by finding benefits in the situation you face. She also encouraged us to find humor in our daily diabetes lives. When you’re looking for benefits, it doesn’t mean you gloss over negatives; you simply notice positives as well and focus on them.

MaryAnn Nicolay spotlighted the benefits of adding winter squashes (butternut, acorn, pumpkin, and spaghetti) to your meal plan. Winter squashes contain LOTS of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. In addition, they can promote heart and eyes health, lower risks of some cancers, and help with high blood pressure.

Below is the Creamy Butternut Squash Soup recipe from MaryAnn Nicolay’s presentation.

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup Recipe from Robin Blair-Ackinson MPH

Ingredients

2 Butternut Squash, medium

2 Granny Smith Apples

2 cups Vanilla Almond Milk (or Soy Milk)

½ tsp Salt

1 tsp Ground Nutmeg

2 tsp Ground Cinnamon

½ tsp Ground Ginger (optional)

Directions:

Peel and dice squash and apples
Season squash with a little cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt
Roast squash and apples on a roasting pan for 40-45 minutes in a 425-degree oven
Heat milk to just below boiling
Place squash and apples in a blender. Slowly add milk. If the soup is too thick, thin it with a little vegetable stock.
Return to pot and add spices. Simmer until hot

Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller helped us to determine which style and type of blue jeans work with our figures. The blue circle is a symbol for World Diabetes Day, November 14, 2021. In addition, the blue circle signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes pandemic.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hosts this free, fun Virtual Holiday-themed Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, December 9, 2021, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

During this virtual Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef will prepare a holiday Sugar-Free Dessert recipe and share expert baking tips for substituting sugar substitutes and flours in your favorite holiday recipes.

Over 120 people registered for our last Divabetic Baking Party so don’t miss out!

After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Stacey Harris (The Diabetic Pastry Chef) taught herself how to make pound cake, pecan rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods with about half the carbs you’d get from traditional bakery items.

REGISTER NOW – FREE REGISTRATION

11/01/2021

Easy Meal Planning for Blood Sugar Control with Jill Weisenberger

One of our favorite educators, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND is offering an Easy Meal Planning for Blood Sugar Control program on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at 6:00 PM, EST.

Jill is excited to invite you to this program, specifically to recognize Diabetes Awareness Month. It’s sponsored by Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI). NEBPI is a subcontractor to the Beef Checkoff Program and is funded by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers.

And it’s going to be great, whether you have diabetes, prediabetes, or simply want to learn more about easy meal planning. By the end of this short program, you’ll

know the simple 3-step formula to crafting a balanced meal to manage your blood sugar
learn cooking techniques to boost your portion of food but not your blood sugar or weight
have a new, delicious beef recipe to prepare lickety-split
know where to access resources for more recipes, tips, and insights

Plus, Jill Weisenberger promises tons of fun, a chance to win prizes, and the opportunity to cook along with her. We’ll get you the ingredients list if you’d like to have dinner ready by the end of the program.

We’re talking about how to get over the fear and anxiety about speaking publically about your diabetes and related health issues (including depression and sleep apnea) on this Divabetic podcast with music from Carly Simon.

Grammy winner Carly Simon has recorded over 30 albums, won two Grammies, and an Academy Award. Carly Simon managed to accomplish her dreams by overcoming severe stuttering and painful migraines to achieve her success. When I was a young child,” Carly Simon has revealed, “I had a stammer. And the only time it went away was when I sang. One day, my mother said to me, ‘Don’t speak it, sing it.’ And that’s what I did.”

Leading advocates share their journeys and tools that help them: FreeStyle Libre 2 App, CPAP machines, and a new line of baked good mixes, TruEats.

The FreeStyle Libre system measures glucose levels through a small sensor applied to the back of your upper arm. It provides real-time glucose readings for up to 10 days, both day and night.
Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have sleep apnea.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. A CPAP machine uses a hose and mask or nosepiece to deliver constant and steady air pressure.

Guests include the Director of Content of the sleep sites of Pillar4 Media, Marten Carlson, and Plus-Size Fashion and Tavel Blogger, LGBTQ+ Influencer, Alysse Dalessandro Santiago.

October’s Divabetic podcast features music from Carly Simon’s Coming Around Again album courtesy of SONY Music.

10/30/2021

Prosecco & Pumpkins Party

After lying low during the pandemic, my friends were getting restless for Halloween. So for the past few years, I have hosted an adult pumpkin carving party that I like to call ‘Prosecco & Pumpkins’. It’s the perfect way to kick off fall and get excited about the upcoming holidays. Even better, it’s a low-key, easy kind of party to throw, busy schedule and all.

Of course, I had to decorate my apartment to get everyone in the mood. I made this gigantic tarantula! It was easy! I used my co-workers black tights and a hefty garbage bag, stuffed with assorted paper and plastic grocery bags.

This year I bought smaller-sized pumpkins because I’ve learned that larger-size pumpkins translate into more post-party cleanup. And smaller-sized pumpkins require less time to carve and design, so it’s not a super late night for your guests.

My party started with cocktail hour. I made my first charcuterie board using tips from Brenda Novak‘s online Book Club party and YouTube. We also had some excellent Gotham Volleyball Sangria Showdown-worthy Sangria made by my friend, Jeannie. If you’re living with diabetes and enjoy an occasional cocktail check out this Divabetic podcast featuring expert advice on the subject.

I made Chef Robert Lewis, aka The Happy Diabetic‘s Iowa- Style Apricot and Onion Pork Chops, a big hit for dinner! My sides included roasted Brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes.

Then, we got down to the main event, Prosecco and Pumpkin carving. Again, everyone was quiet, sipping on bubbly as they focused on their designs.

Here’s my pumpkin design! Judging by the smile on my pumpkin’s face, you can tell I was in a good mood after spending time with friends and celebrating again!

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic plays his newest nutrition game, ‘Serve, Taste or Trash’ with everyday people at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, PA.

Here’s how you play: Mr. Divabetic lists 3 fruits and vegetables. Among the three choices, you have to choose which one you’d serve, which one you’d taste, and which one you’d be willing to trash. Your options are cantaloupe, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts.

Get inspired to eat more fruits and vegetables. Mr. Divabetic is the host of the free monthly podcast, Diva TalkRadio: Diabetes Roundtable. Diva TalkRadio is Divabetic’s dynamic free online and mobile podcast channel where tens of thousands of fans, followers, and listeners turn to laugh a little and learn a lot. The channel features a line-up of live and archived programs and specials. Guests include health care professionals, beauty, image/style, and fitness experts, entertainment industry leaders, and VIPs: women and men living with, at risk of, and affected by diabetes.

10/20/2021

What’s Eating You?

It happens to most of us now and then, or at least on Thanksgiving. We eat way too much and wind up feeling overly stuffed, bloated, and sleepy.

If you regularly feel these uncomfortable symptoms after an average meal, you may be overeating.

Overeating may occur when food becomes the constant emotional crutch and support. As a result, some of us turn away food during a time of great stress or sadness or use it as a source of comfort.

Mindless eating can be a culprit too. For example, suppose you’re dining while browsing your social media feed. In that case, you could be disconnected from hunger and fullness cues and fullness cues. This type of mindless eating ends in overeating.

Recognize why you overeat – get in touch with your past and handle the feelings that trigger your eating problems. Seek help. We believe in you!

Have you noticed that you reach for food when you’re feeling stressed, bored, lonely, mad, or sad?

When your habit is to use food instead of paying attention to what these emotions are trying to tell you about your underlying needs, those needs go unmet. And of course, those unmet needs will continue to drive emotional eating!

Dr. Michelle May is a doctor, mindful eating expert, and author who helps people to overcome cycles of senseless yo-yo dieting and resolve mindless and emotional eating.

Listen to Dr. Michelle May, author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes on Divabetic’s Annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast.

Other guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, R & B Singer Alyson Williams, ‘Here & Now’ Songwriter and Entertainer Terry Steele, Seveda Williams, Luther Vandross Historian Leon Petrossian, and Luther Superfan John Price.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring selected songs from the album entitled ‘Busy Body’ courtesy of SONY Music. On ‘Busy Body’, Luther Vandross’ third album features ‘Superstar’, ‘For the Sweetness Of Your Love’, and the duet with Dionne Warwick entitled ‘ How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye’.

10/17/202110/17/2021

Mr. Divabetic Raises Awareness for Diabetes At The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic visits the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, CA.to raise awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way. At Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Mr. Divabetic talks to some of the world’s most famous celebrities and plays his new food game, Serve, Taste or Trash.

Which food would you serve, which food would you taste and which food would you trash if your choices were: mushrooms, mangos, and broccoli?

The Chinese Theatre in Hollywood is the most famous movie theatre in the world. Millions of visitors flock here each year, most of them drawn by its legendary forecourt with its footprints of the stars. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre opened over 70 years ago, with the 1927 debut of the original silent version of “King of Kings,” produced by Cecil B. DeMille. Since then, the Chinese Theatre has been the site of more gala Hollywood movie premieres than any other movie theater.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic presents its Once In a Blue Moon program. This free, fun-filled, informative hour of diabetes outreach is intended to rejuvenate and reignite your attitude. The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, Maryann Nicolay MEd, NDTR, Wendy Satin Rapaport LCSW, PsyD, and Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller share expert ways to expand food choices, add sparkle, and boost spirits.

So have some fun spending time with us during our Once in A Blue Moon program on Thursday, November 11, 2021, 7 – 8 PM EST on Zoom.

REGISTER NOW – FREE PROGRAM

10/10/202110/10/2021

The Happy Diabetic’s Iowa- Style Apricot and Onion Pork Chops Recipe

Several years ago, I met Chef Robert Lewis, aka the Happy Diabetic, at a Taking Control Of Your Diabetes (TCOYD) Expo. His upbeat attitude and friendly demeanor drew me to him immediately as he showed a captive audience how to make healthy meals at home. He has appeared on numerous Divabetic podcasts, including this year’s Divabetic Mysteries: A Christmas Peril.

Chef Robert was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after a vacation in Colorado in 1998. When he was traveling back home, he felt super tired and sluggish, very thirsty, and had to urinate at almost every rest stop. Chef Robert knew something was wrong. He just wasn’t sure exactly what it was. So a few weeks later, he visited his doctor, and that’s when he was diagnosed with diabetes.

” I was in denial for at least six months, and things were not going well for me,” he said in an interview with Beyond Type 2 diabetes. “Once I took ownership in it, really, then some amazing things started to happen – I started to focus. I was able to seek out people with the right information. And I just slowly started making some lifestyle changes.”

From there, Chef Robert started attending diabetes education classes and putting his culinary degree to work, creating recipes that tasted good and were actually healthy.

He adds, “I started creating some recipes and worked with some really good dietitians who helped me with some of the nutritional components.”

Iowa- Style Apricot and Onion Pork Chops Recipe By The Happy Diabetic

Ingredients

4 5oz 1/4 inch bone-in pork chops

1/s cup of whole dried apricots and or apples peeled and sliced

1/2 cup of sliced white or yellow onions

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon chopped garlic

pinch of rosemary

Fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat the sauté pan. Place 1 T olive oil in the pan and heat to medium. Place the seasoned pork chops (seasoned with salt and pepper) and cook for 2-3 min. Add the garlic, onions and the whole dried apricots and or apples peeled and sliced. cook of 4-6 minutes covered. spoon the apples and or apricots and onions over the pork chops. Cook covered until the internal temp is between 155-165 degrees.

Serves 4

Nutrition Information: Cal: 290, Total fat:12.67g, Total Carbs: 29.83, Protein: 17.29

We’re talking about how to get over the fear and anxiety about speaking publically about your diabetes and related health issues (including depression and sleep apnea) with musical inspiration from Carly Simon.

Leading advocates share their journeys and tools that help them: FreeStyle Libre 2 App, CPAP machines, and a new line of baked good mixes, TruEats.

The FreeStyle Libre system measures glucose levels through a small sensor applied to the back of your upper arm. It provides real-time glucose readings for up to 10 days, both day and night.

Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have sleep apnea.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. A CPAP machine uses a hose and mask or nosepiece to deliver constant and steady air pressure.

TruEats Baking Mixes have 1g of Sugar or Less + Complex (Good) Carbs for great-tasting, steady energy that’s diabetic friendly. Guests include Marten Carlson, Alysse Dalessandro Santiago, Surinder and Daven Kumar, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES.

October’s Divabetic podcast features music from Carly Simon’s Coming Around Again album courtesy of SONY Music.

10/06/2021

No Sugar Added Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

One of Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef‘s professional baking tips is to make your own homemade vanilla extract. It’s easy! You only need two ingredients for homemade vanilla extract: vanilla beans and vodka. Let the vanilla beans infuse the vodka for as little as 8 weeks, but for optimal flavor, wait at least 6-12 months before using.

No Sugar Added Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Ingredients

1 1/2 pints no sugar added vanilla ice cream, room temp

3 eggs, room temp

1 3/4 cup pure pumpkin puree

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup Splenda or Whey Low D Granular

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

2 9-inch unbaked pie shells

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs and add remaining ingredients combining well. Pour into unbaked pie shells. Bake 15 minutes and lower oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bake an additional 30 to 45 minutes, or until the filling is set. Filling may rise and puff while baking but should deflate when removed from the oven.

Yield: 2 pies

Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ has created a simple four-part substitution system that turns any decadent dessert into a diabetic-friendly delight. Learn more about The Diabetic Pastry Chef‘s Book available on Amazon.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

REGISTER NOW

10/03/202110/03/2021

Sugar-Free Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

If you’re like me, you buy pumpkins to carve, not to eat. However, pumpkin is low in calories and rich in beta carotene (a powerful antioxidant), making it a great addition to your breakfast menu!

Enjoy this sugar-free pumpkin pancake recipe from our good colleague and special guest on December’s Baking Party on Zoom, Stacey Harris, aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef.’

Sugar-Free Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup white whole wheat flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp cardamom

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

3 Tbsp dry sugar substitute

1 1/2 cup + 1 Tbsp unsweetened almond milk

2 large eggs

1 cup pure pumpkin puree

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

2 Tbsp vinegar

1 tsp molasses

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients.

In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine wet ingredients.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients. Whisk the ingredients together until well combined.

Drop batter onto a hot greased griddle or skillet. Flip pancakes when the edges turn brown. Serve with canola butter or butter and top with sugar-free syrup.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?