Having diabetes doesn’t mean your senior loved one has to miss out on traditional Thanksgiving sweets. The entire family can enjoy these 4 healthful Thanksgiving treats, brought to you by the Roseville, CA, senior care experts at Home Care Assistance.
1. Baked Apples with Raisins
Warm, baked apples stuffed with raisins and cinnamon and topped with sugar-free whipped cream are the perfect ending to your family’s Thanksgiving feast. One small baked apple contains approximately 5 grams of fiber, which can help your loved one’s body process the carbohydrates in the dessert more slowly and keep his or her blood sugar levels stable.
2. Crustless Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie is by far one of the most popular choices to end a Thanksgiving meal. However, pie crusts are high in carbohydrates, which can send your loved one’s blood sugar levels soaring. Fortunately, the pumpkin pie filling is a healthy option full of vitamin A, vitamin B, and fiber. Reduce your loved one’s carbohydrate intake by baking the pumpkin pie in a well-greased pie pan without the crust. The carbohydrate levels can be cut back even further by replacing the sugar in the recipe with a sugar-free baking substitute. Serve each slice or scoop with sugar-free whipped cream for a delicious treat.
3. Cranberry Apple Crisp
Topping warm apples and cranberries with fiber-rich oatmeal is a great way to keep blood sugar levels from rising too high after dinner. Add chopped walnuts or pecans to the crisp for a delicious crunch and healthful fats that can aid in keeping your loved one’s blood sugar levels stable.
4. Pumpkin Cheesecake
The cream cheese in pumpkin cheesecake has both protein and fat, which slow the digestion process and reduce spikes in blood sugar levels. Mixed with canned pumpkin and spices, pumpkin cheesecake is a decadent dessert that isn’t overly sweet. To further reduce the carbohydrate count in the cheesecake, try replacing the traditional graham cracker crust with ground up walnuts.
If your loved one has diabetes or another condition with dietary restrictions, there are still plenty of healthy and tasty foods he or she can eat all year long. At Roseville Home Care Assistance, our caregivers can prepare nutritious meals based on your loved one’s diet, and they can also take care of grocery shopping and other errands. For more information on the live-in and respite home care Roseville, Rocklin, and Lincoln seniors rely on, call (916) 226-3737 to speak with one of our friendly Care Managers.