Diabetic Diet Recipes and Menus

Featured Recipes

Sausage, Mushroom & Spinach Lasagna

This cheesy lasagna is full of spicy Italian turkey sausage, whole-wheat noodles, mushrooms and spinach. A serving of this version has about one-third the fat and saturated fat, and only half the calories of the original. Use soy-based sausage for a hearty vegetarian variation.

» Sausage, Mushroom & Spinach Lasagna

Asian Tofu Salad

The best thing about tofu - besides its nutritional value - is the way it carries other flavors, such as the tanginess of this sesame dressing. Serve this warm salad with crunchy breadsticks and a tall glass of iced jasmine tea.

» Asian Tofu Salad

Fennel-Crusted Salmon on White Beans

Delicious warm white beans and fennel are topped with succulent fennel-seed-crusted salmon for a double hit of flavor. For an extra-fresh look, set aside some additional chopped fennel fronds to use as a garnish.

» Fennel-Crusted Salmon on White Beans

Mustard-Maple Pork Tenderloin

Pork tenderloin is about as lean as it comes so it's a great healthy option, but it shouldn't be overcooked as it can dry out. Maple and mustard make a sweet-and-savory mahogany-colored sauce. A delicate note of sage gives it a wintery touch. Fresh thyme or rosemary also work if you prefer. Serve with barley, roasted squash and a Pinot Noir.

» Mustard-Maple Pork Tenderloin

Flemish Beef Stew

For this slow-cooker interpretation of Carbonnades Flamandes, a Flemish stew made with beer, if you can't find a brown ale, use a strong, dark beer (but not a stout).

» Flemish Beef Stew

Vegetable Lover's Chicken Soup

Classic comfort food is yours, in just slightly more than half an hour. Serve with some crusty whole-grain bread and top with grated Romano or Parmesan cheese.

» Vegetable Lover's Chicken Soup

Red Curry with Vegetables

Red Thai curry paste, which flavors this dish, is a convenient blend of chile peppers, garlic, lemongrass and galanga (a root that's similar in flavor to ginger). It can pack a lot of heat, so be sure to taste as you go. Look for the curry paste in jars or cans in the Asian section of the supermarket or specialty store. Make it a Meal: Ladle the stew over rice to soak up every bit of the delicious sauce.

» Red Curry with Vegetables


Options abound in this collection of diabetes-appropriate recipes.

“It’s time to debunk the myth of the ‘diabetic diet,’” says EatingWell nutrition editor and author Joyce Hendley. If you have diabetes, you don’t have to eat special foods or be excluded from what “everyone else” is eating. Current guidelines for diabetes are, in fact, the same as those for the population at large. “Everyone else,” says Hendley, “should be taking their cue from what’s on your plate.”

Most of our diabetes-appropriate recipes are low in calories (and between 1 to 2 1/2 carbohydrate servings), but any EatingWell recipe can fit into your diet. That’s because they are based on core principles:

* No food is a magic bullet or forbidden fruit
* Variety and sensible portions are key
* Whole foods trump processed foods
* Plant foods should be embraced, along with low-fat dairy, fish, lean meats and poultry
* Unsaturated “good fats” and interesting seasonings keep food tasty and healthy; saturated and trans fats weigh it down

Enjoy these delicious diabetes-appropriate recipes and menus. For further exploration, see our EatingWell Diabetes Cookbook.

Diabetic Diet Main Dishes

The best thing about tofu - besides its nutritional value - is the way it carries...
Dry white wine and Gruyère cheese give this fish casserole a rich flavor that hides...
One of the Test Kitchen's favorites, this quick sauté pairs wine and grapes in...
Give chicken thighs a quick saute and finish them with a tarragon-scented sauce....
Here's an old-fashioned meat-and-cheese lasagna made lighter. Whole-wheat...
These quesadillas have an irresistibly creamy filling. They also make great...
Whole-wheat pasta bolsters fiber and nutrients in this popular Asian noodle salad....
Delicious warm white beans and fennel are topped with succulent fennel-seed-crusted...
For this slow-cooker interpretation of Carbonnades Flamandes, a Flemish stew made...
Kids love this combination of refried white beans and chicken tenders. If you'...
A vibrant herb paste brings robust flavor to a delicate fish.
Even if you're only feeding four, it is a good idea to roast two chickens at...
Lamb with mint jelly is a tried-and-true combination and this recipe takes the idea...
This cheesy lasagna is full of spicy Italian turkey sausage, whole-wheat noodles,...
Pork tenderloin is about as lean as it comes so it's a great healthy option,...
Round out this lovely autumn meal with barley and pureed winter squash (for added...
A snappy pan sauce made with shallots, port and fruity blackberry nectar transforms...
Red Thai curry paste, which flavors this dish, is a convenient blend of chile...
Here we make a low-fat shrimp and vegetable chili (which is quite tasty on its own)...
Meaty mushrooms and tender sirloin are a perfect pair in this richly flavored stew....
This juicy spice-crusted steak gets finished with a dynamite sauce made with an...
Nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains, Mary's Restaurant is an...
Making everyone their own individual meatloaf turns an everyday food into an easy,...
Classic comfort food is yours, in just slightly more than half an hour. Serve with...

Diabetic Diet Sides

The bold taste of black bean-garlic sauce mellows into a rich and warming glaze in...
Here we dress steamed Brussels sprouts with a delicate vinaigrette flavored with...
For this simple sautéed chard, flavored with rich-tasting pancetta and walnuts, we...
Our savory cauliflower puree makes a perfect low-carb stand-in for mashed potatoes....
We cook then cool the beans in advance so they can be heated up and seasoned moments...
Enjoy this crunchy, refreshing alternative to mayonnaise-based coleslaw on a taco or...
The flavors of fresh mint and feta enliven this instant brown rice. Toss any...
The trinity of North African seasonings, cumin, coriander and paprika, lends exotic...
Roasting is one of the easiest and tastiest ways to cook asparagus. Here we give it...
Sizzling green beans in a little oil helps to bring out their natural sweetness....

Diabetic Diet Salads

Whirring this champagne vinaigrette in the blender gives it a creamy consistency. If...
Crisp pears are tossed with Cheddar cheese and pecans in this delicious salad. For...
Carrots are great keepers, so this makes a handy, refreshing salad when you haven...
For a sophisticated starter, try this colorful salad, which marries fresh berries,...
Bitter, sweet and peppery flavors marry well in this confetti-like salad of wintery...
Light mayonnaise makes a velvety base for this zesty dressing, which can easily be...
Reader Jennifer Sanders contributed this salad, which offers a wealth of color and...
In this salad, saucy, lemony beans stand in for a warm dressing, coating the arugula...

Diabetic Diet Desserts

Blending vanilla yogurt and reduced-fat cream cheese creates a topping that's...
When you have a craving for a comforting dessert, try this pudding cake, which forms...
How simple and delicious are berries topped with a rich custard and baked into a...
These oatmeal chocolate chip cookies have the familiar flavors of brown sugar and...
These brownies are a high-energy treat you can pack in your lunch bag or tuck into...
Luscious tropical fruit topped with creamy coconut milk and crunchy pistachios is a...

Diabetic Diet Snacks & Appetizers

A classic Japanese preparation.
Lots of freshly chopped herbs add zing to our white bean dip. Serve with assorted...
Marinating precooked shrimp in garlic- and lemon-infused oil is a simple yet elegant...
This cheese sauce, which can make almost anything taste better, is made with a...
Humble limas are transformed into a sensational Mediterranean spread that is vibrant...
Keep a batch of this on hand for a fiber- and iron-rich snack.
Roasting tomatoes brings out their inherent sweetness.
Finding tasty, healthy, whole-grain dinner rolls in the supermarket or even at a...
Almonds get a kick from cumin and cayenne.
In this deconstructed version of hot spinach-artichoke dip, we stuff artichoke...

All Recipe Collections

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