Breakfast is believed by many health experts to be the most important meal of the day, and if you have diabetes, then your diabetic breakfast is crucial. This is because it is the one meal of the day that will likely determine whether your energy levels during the day will be sufficient to enable to you to carry out your daily activities flawlessly. For a diabetic, the blood sugar level needs to be given adequate attention to avoid any complications and emergencies. As such, having a plan for your diabetic breakfast would be a smart and necessary move.
Proteins
There are certain food types that must be included in the diabetic breakfast, including proteins. A healthy breakfast for a diabetic should include high protein portions, since proteins do not threaten your blood sugar levels. At the same time, proteins also help you to feel fuller for a longer period, so that you will not find yourself craving sugary foods in the course of your day. Turkey, bacon and eggs are popular options, but you should make sure that you pay attention to the calorie count so as to ensure that you take the right amount.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrate foods should always be taken with caution, as they can easily raise your blood sugar levels if you are not careful. For this reason, it is advisable that instead of going for processed foods and common carbohydrates, opt for complex carbohydrates like those that are found in grains. Whole grain bread, for instance, is a suitable option you’re your diabetic breakfast and you can combine this with protein-rich eggs. Whole grain bread will not raise you blood sugar levels too rapidly, and you still get enough energy to work steadily till your next meal.
Cooking
A diabetic breakfast should preferably be cooked as opposed to taking pre-packed convenience or fast foods. Breakfast is not a meal that requires you to commit a lot of your time to preparing it. On the contrary, you may only need to adjust yourself to wake up 15 minutes earlier and make a healthy breakfast to start your day off. Also note that the method of cooking is likely to affect the amount of calories that the meal will have. For instance, a fried egg is likely to have a significant amount of calories, while a poached egg has less; one serving of egg beaters will have even less, and one egg white omelet will have the least calorie count.
Other tips
When making a diabetic breakfast, there are some things that you should also pay attention to that will assist in preparing a healthy meal to start your day. Cooking with less fat by using nonstick pans and cooking sprays and healthy butter substitutes is advisable, as is choosing leans meats for your proteins. You should also aim for low-fat dairy foods in your diabetic breakfast, such as non-fat milk, fat-free yoghurt and low-fat cheese. You can also consult with your dietician to help create a healthy plan that will work for you.