Holidays provide an opportunity to enjoy your family’s favorite foods. Managing diabetes can be a challenge when presented with such an abundance of tasty treats. Don’t worry, with proper planning, you can still enjoy a holiday dinner while also keeping your blood sugar in check! Here are a few tips to help you manage your day:

• Holiday meals are often large and consumed at different times of the day. Your meal may not fall at your normal meal time. You may need to consume a snack at your normal meal time to avoid a low blood sugar reading. Try a Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Snack Bar!
   
• Keep the carbohydrate contents of your meals and snacks the same as your current diabetes management plan.
   
• Portion control is the key! If you cannot pass up on your aunt’s famous dinner rolls, the green bean casserole your sister brought or your grandmother’s pecan pie, take a small portion of each instead of a full serving.
   
• Bring a diabetes-friendly dish with you. If you have healthy options to include along with your family favorites, you may be more apt to make good choices.
  
  
  • Take along a steamed vegetable dish such as steamed green beans or baked squash. Healthy vegetable options can fill your plate, and your belly, without all the extra sugary carbohydrates and unhealthy fats.
     
  • If you enjoy cranberry sauce on your turkey, better options are fresh cranberries or a mixture of fresh berries. Mash the berries and add a small amount of water and no-calorie sweetener for a delicious sauce. This will still give you the great berry flavor without all the extra carbohydrates of standard cranberry sauce.
     
  • Don’t forget the dessert! Even with diabetes, you can enjoy your favorite treat. Select a small portion of your favorite piece of pie or cookie. 1/16th of an 8-inch pumpkin pie or two small cookies contain about 15 grams of carbohydrates. You can also bring a dessert made with no-calorie sweetener instead of sugar. Light whipped cream can be a tasty topper without adding too many extra carbohydrates.
• If you find that your family munches all day on their favorite fare, ask if dinner can be put away in a timely manner to spare this extra temptation. Family support can make the day smoother for someone trying to make good choices and stick to their diabetes management plan. If this is not an option, bring along your favorite diabetes-friendly treat to enjoy!
   
• If you do overindulge, get moving! Adding a little extra physical activity can help you keep your blood sugar under control.

When planning ahead and striving to keep your carbohydrate intake similar to a regular day, you can take less time managing diabetes and spend more time enjoying the day with your family.