Good news for people suffering from diabetes or at the risk of it. As the number of people at risk of the disease is increasing, the age bracket of those suffering is decreasing. Food and beverage manufacturing companies at home and abroad are constantly working on introducing sugar-free and low carbohydrate pre and semi-cooked food and drinks in the market for those who still can’t compromise on their taste buds and do not mind experimenting with their menu plans.

Kanupriya Mahajan, a registered dietitician and nutritionist with Fortis La Femme says, “Nutritional management of diabetes is a lifestyle change, one has to learn balancing moderation and healthy food choices”.

Keeping the decreasing age bracket of the consumers and their food choices in mind, a lot of high-end hotels and food joints have started serving diabetes-friendly recipes and drinks to spice up their menu. The first in the list is bottled coconut water which seems to be the most popular drink that these places are stacking as substitutes to soft drinks and regular sweet juices. Besides this, Catch Clear and Delight , a sugar-free energy drink introduced by the makers of Sugar Free by Cadila Health Care are becoming quite popular.

As far as food is concerned, there is everything from appetisers to semi- cooked crispy vegetables. For appetisers, one can choose from a variety of fruit salads along with dips with low cal cheese and bacons and mushrooms.

Some restaurants offer foods lower in cholesterol, fat, and sodium, and higher in fiber. All restaurants offer low calorie sweeteners in blue, yellow or pink packets, and diet drinks. Many offer reduced-calorie salad dressings, low-fat or fat-free milk and salt substitutes. It’s easy to find salads, fish, vegetables, baked or broiled food, and whole-grain breads. Vegetables one can have regular portions of pulses and vegetables, as these are rich in proteins and high on nutrition value. Many restaurants have menu items that are “heart healthy.”  Ask for calorie and fat information on menu items. If you ask, chefs will often make low-fat entrees using low-cholesterol eggs or lean cuts of meat. You can ask for: skinless chicken, no butter on a particular dish, broiled instead of fried, and your sauces to be served on the side. 

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