Need low sugar, low carb recipes!

[Pat]

My daughter is expecting my first grandchild in November and recently was told she was borderline with gestational diabetes. She is controlling it with diet. She is visiting soon, and I would like to cook within her diet and not tempt her with foods that are "bad" for her at this time. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[bijoux22]

Hello Pat, I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant for my 2 year old son. I had to do finger pricks 4 times a day to test my levels. I kept them well within the acceptable range by eating some of the following:

Breakfast
1 scrambled egg (sometimes with a little 2%cottage cheese mixed it)
1 slice whole wheat toast
glass of milk
NO JUICE!! NO CEREAL!!

Snack
Yogurt or cheese crackers

Lunch
Ceasar salad with chicken or Chef salad

Snack
Peanut butter crackers

Dinner
Grilled chicken, steak, fish with vegetables or salad.

I used whole fat dressings - usually blue cheese which has less sugar. NO RICE, PASTA, POTATOES.

It is most important to have protein with your carbs. Never carbs alone. It is also important to have smaller meals but frequent snacks. I was told not to go the fat free route. I drank 2% milk and 2%cottage cheese etc.

[sneezles]

I too had gestational diabetes and was given a list of daily exchanges. I was told not to waste a fruit exchange on juice as it is absorbed too fast.Not to eat carbs on their own but with protein to keep the blood sugar level longer.
My carbs were restricted to 4 exchanges (each exchange is 15gm) so I did have rice, pasta and potatoes but each had to be measured. I also used the diet bread for sandwiches. I could even have a small dessert with a meal. I actually lost 16 pounds while I was on the diet and still gave birth to a 9 lb. 3 oz baby!

[mah]

here is a great low-carb chicken dish:

four to six chicken breasts
one cup mayo
one-quarter cup lemon
salt and pepper to taste
2 garlic cloves minced
2 scallions chopped including the firm green
several sprigs of fresh thyme, leaves only (i use dried if i have no fresh)

mix the ingredients together and spread the flavored mayo over the chicken, coating both sides, and let it marinate for two hours.

preheat the oven to 350 degrees. put the cutlets on a foil-lined baking sheet and baker for twenty to thirty minutes or until the outside is golden brown and crispy. if they are not crispy, run them under the broiler.

i have also used turkey cutlets for this recipe.

(this is from the low-carb cookbook by fran mccullough)

[mah]

here is another great recipe from the same cookbook as above:

one cup grated zucchini
salt

batter:

one large egg, lightly beaten
one teaspoon water
two tablespoons grated parm cheese
one tablespoon flour
lots of pepper
four basil leaves, snipped, optional

one tablespoon butter
one tablespoon oil

put the shredded zucchini in a colander in the sink and salt it lightly. mix in the salt with your hands and leave the zucchini to drain for thirty minutes. squeeze out all the juices and blot the squash dry with paper towels.

in a large bowl, combine the batter ingredients and whisk until smooth. mix in the zucchini.

melt the buter and oil together over medium heat until foaming..drop the batter by tablespoons onto the skillet or griddle and cook over medium-high heat until brown. turn and brown the other side. pile the pancakes on a platter and serve.

[Pat]

Thanks, everyone, for your help. I appreciate your sharing with me.