I love pasta, rice and bread. Unfortunately, as a diabetic, I must pay close attention to the amount of carbohydrates I eat. When I’m craving something carb-heavy, I’ll look for ways to cut some of the carbs by substituting veggies instead. Here are a few tasty ways I’ve found to make that happen.
Zucchini – Instead of pasta, try zucchini ‘noodles’. You can either buy them or make them yourself with a kitchen tool, which are sold in many stores. You have the option of eating them raw, or cooking them. You may be surprised at how much they remind you of actual noodles, especially when you add your favorite sauce on top.
Cauliflower – If you’re craving rice or mashed potatoes, perhaps try cauliflower instead. The vegetable is considered a great source of natural antioxidants. You can make cauliflower ‘rice’ or mashed cauliflower, and if it’s done right, you won’t even miss the carb-heavy original.
Lettuce or Leafy Greens – Does a burger or sandwich always sound good to you? Instead of a bun or sliced bread, try putting your patty or filling in between sturdy leaves of lettuce. Choices can include Bibb or romaine as a good alternative, and a way to save yourself some significant carbs and calories.
Take baby steps at first and make sure you’re realistic about which carbs you can sub. Keep in mind, it may take some time before you perfect some of the alternatives – as far as taste and texture.