Before my diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, my biggest passion was cooking. Most
of the diabetic cookbooks available at that time presented dull and
tasteless recipes. You can imagine my elation when the ADA revised the nutritional
guidelines for diabetics in 1994, following the 10-year DCCT (Diabetes
Control and Complications Trial) results. These guidelines for nutrition
management now allow sugar as part of a healthful eating plan, and this new
change is explained in the Introduction of the next book.
"The New Family Cookbook for People With Diabetes," prepared jointly by the
American Diabetes Association and The American Dietetic Association, offers
more than 375 recipes for easy-to-prepare delicious meals that the whole
family can enjoy. The recipes use lower-fat ingredients wherever possible,
unsaturated fats whenever possible, and most recipes use sugar instead of
sugar substitutes. They provide a choice of fresh or dried herbs, and each
has a nutrient analysis including the portion size, dietary exchanges, and
sodium content in bold type whenever the serving size has more than 400mg of
sodium per serving.
Being passionate about cooking, I enjoy the description of each recipe,
found just under the title. For example, you can really get a "mouth-feel" for
"Chicken In Mole Sauce" with this description: "Mole is a deep, dark sauce
that's a Mexican specialty. Its unique flavor and reddish brown color
results from blending onions, garlic, and chilies with--surprise--a small amount of
cocoa powder or chocolate, which adds richness without sweetness."
In addition to the mouth-watering recipes, there are good hints and tips at
the beginning of each food section, and an extensive Exchange Lists for Meal
Planning Appendix. This is another winner; highly recommended.
Reviewed by: Marilyn Helton
