A diabetic smoothie seems like it should be a contradiction in terms. It is actually a really healthy way to start you day. There are tons of diabetic smoothie recipes out there to try. Some of the websites that host these types of recipes include:
- Food.com
- SmoothieWeb.com
- dLife.com
- DiabetesDaily.com
Fruits are a great way to get natural sugars into your diet and satisfy your sweet tooth. They are also loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They do contain carbohydrates however, so you do need to count them in your meal plan. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), fresh fruit is always best, but if you choose canned fruit you must be sure that there is no sugar added and that it is in light syrup.
Most fruits have a low glycemic index (GI). This is because of their fructose and fiber content. Melons and pineapple are normally higher in their GI values than other fruits, but overall fruit is a good choice for any type of snack or meal.
Creamy Strawberry Diabetic Smoothie
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup of skim milk
- 1 (8) oz. plain nonfat yogurt
- 3 packets of Equal sweetener
- 1 cup of crushed ice
- 3 cups of frozen strawberries
Instructions:
Combine the milk, sweetener, and yogurt in a blender. While the blender is running, add the strawberries slowly. Continue until all the ingredients are well-blended, and then begin adding ice cubes through the lid on the blender. Blend until it reaches your desired consistency.
Diabetic Friendly Peña Colada
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups of canned pineapple
- 1 tsp. non-alcoholic coconut extract or flavoring
- 1 cup light plain yogurt
- 1 cup crushed ice
- 1 cocktail umbrella
Instructions:
Insure that the pineapple is cut into bite-sized pieces, and then put all of the ingredients in a blender. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Garnish your drink with your umbrella and enjoy!
Blueberry Banana Diabetic Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 cup skim milk
- 8 oz. low-fat yogurt
- 1 small banana (4 oz.)
- ¾ cup blueberries
- 5 ice cubes
Instructions:
Combine all of the ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.
Note: You can also replace the blueberries with strawberry, mango, peach, or any combination of fruit, as long as you only use ¾ of a cup. Most fruits have a low glycemic index (GI). This is because of their fructose and fiber content. Melons and pineapple are normally higher in their GI values than other fruits, but overall fruit is a good choice for any type of snack or meal. Visit the websites listed above for other great diabetic smoothie recipes and ideas.