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  6. 25 Diabetes-Friendly Recipes That Can Help You Lose Weight

25 Diabetes-Friendly Recipes That Can Help You Lose Weight

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Danielle DeAngelis Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD August 18, 2022
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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Meal-Prep Chili-Lime Chicken Bowls

These tasty recipes are lower in calories and high in fiber, a combination that can help you stay full and satisfying and promote weight loss, if that is your goal. They're also lower in saturated fat and sodium and focus on complex carbs like whole grains, legumes and produce, so you can easily fit these dishes into a diabetes-friendly eating pattern. Savory recipes like our Meal-Prep Chili-Lime Chicken Bowls and Winter Kale & Quinoa Salad with Avocado are perfect for lunch or dinner. And if you're looking for something sweeter, we've included recipes like our Baked Banana Nut Oatmeal Cups and Strawberry Nice Cream that cut down on the added sugar without sparing any flavor. Whatever you're in the mood for, there's something on this list that's sure to satisfy while helping you meet your nutritional goals.

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Meal-Prep Chili-Lime Chicken Bowls

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Skip takeout and whip up these equally delicious, and easy-to-make burrito bowls at home. They're great for a fast and easy dinner or as meal-prep lunches to pack for work throughout the week.

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Baked Banana-Nut Oatmeal Cups

a wire rack with Baked Banana-Nut Oatmeal Cups
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Muffins meet oatmeal in these moist and tasty grab-and-go oatmeal cups. Feel free to swap out the pecans for any other nut--walnuts would be great--or omit them altogether. Make a batch on the weekend and keep them in your fridge or freezer for quick and easy breakfasts all week. Reheat in the microwave for about 40 seconds.

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Winter Kale & Quinoa Salad with Avocado

Winter Kale & Quinoa Salad with Avocado
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Precooked quinoa helps keep this healthy salad recipe quick and simple. Loaded with black beans, kale, and avocado, this recipe is as filling as it is nutritious. You can also make the sweet potatoes and dressing ahead.

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Classic Sesame Noodles with Chicken

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Sesame noodles become a satisfying meal with lean chicken and tons of veggies in this quick, healthy noodle recipe. Be sure to rinse the spaghetti until it's cold, then give it a good shake in the colander until it's well drained. Are you a spiralizing pro? Swap 5 cups of raw zucchini, carrot or other veggie "noodles" for the cooked pasta.

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Fresh Sweet Corn Salad

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We love fresh summer corn when it's in season, but frozen corn makes a great year-round substitute in this quick and easy side dish.

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Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls

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Skip the tortillas in favor of this warm fajita salad, which features a nutritious medley of chicken with roasted kale, bell peppers and black beans. The chicken, beans and vegetables are all cooked on the same pan, so this healthy dinner is easy to make and the cleanup is easy too.

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Blueberry Almond Chia Pudding

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Switch up your morning oatmeal routine with this so-easy chia pudding recipe. It's made just like overnight oats--combine chia and your milk of choice, let soak overnight, then top with juicy blueberries and crunchy almonds and dig in!

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Vegetable Weight-Loss Soup

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A big bowl of this vegetable soup will leave you satisfied for hours without consuming a lot of calories, which is helpful when trying to lose weight. Plus, it's an easy way to boost your vegetable servings for the day—something all of us could benefit from. Top with a dollop of pesto before devouring this delicious vegetable soup and consider serving with a hunk of toasted whole-wheat bread to help round out the meal.

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Salmon-Stuffed Avocados

Salmon-Stuffed Avocados
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Canned salmon is a valuable pantry staple and a practical way to include heart-healthy omega-3-rich fish in your diet. Here, we combine it with avocados in an easy no-cook meal.

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Really Green Smoothie

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The combination of kale and avocado makes this healthy smoothie recipe extra green. Chia seeds lend this creamy smoothie a heart-healthy punch of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.

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Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes

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This healthy copycat recipe of the comfort food classic trades beans for some of the meat to bump up fiber by 7 grams. We also cut back on the sugar and ketchup in this Sloppy Joe recipe makeover to save you 12 grams of added sugar.

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Strawberry Nice Cream

overhead shot of two white bowls filled with scoops of strawberry nice cream
Credit: Jennifer Causey
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This luscious strawberry nice cream is a wonderful healthy ice cream alternative. It's all fruit, dairy-free, vegan and contains no added sugar, but is bursting with sweet berry flavor. And it takes just minutes to whip up this easy healthy dessert in a food processor if you freeze the fruit ahead. While you'll get the best flavor from fresh berries, if you don't have them on hand, feel free to use store-bought frozen fruit in this recipe. Serve the nice cream on its own or top it with more fresh berries for a refreshing summer treat.

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Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls

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A bold, smoky marinade elevates roasted cauliflower in this meal-prep version of our popular Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Tacos (see Associated Recipes). To cut down on prep time, look for precut cauliflower in the produce department. You can also save time by using microwaveable quinoa pouches (you'll need one 8-ounce pouch for this recipe) instead of cooking quinoa.

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Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage

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Though traditional stuffed cabbage recipes are made with meat, here Savoy cabbage leaves are stuffed with a combination of rice, mushrooms, onions, garlic and herbs for a healthy vegetarian stuffed cabbage recipe. The stuffed cabbage leaves gently bake in a simple tomato sauce. This easy stuffed cabbage recipe can be made ahead of time and baked just before serving.

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Avocado Hummus

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This vibrant green hummus recipe couldn't be easier--just toss a few ingredients in the food processor and whir away! Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) and avocado make this healthy dip extra smooth and creamy. Serve with veggie chips, pita chips or crudités.

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Strawberry-Pineapple Smoothie

Strawberry-Pineapple Smoothie
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Blend almond milk, strawberry and pineapple for a smoothie that's so easy you can make it on busy mornings. A bit of almond butter adds richness and filling protein. Freeze some of the almond milk for an extra-icy texture.

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Chicken Chili Verde

Chicken Chili Verde
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Prepared salsa verde adds tang to this fast weeknight chili recipe and pairs beautifully with the rich caramelized chicken and creamy beans. Don't shy away from the poblano peppers. They offer a mild heat but deliver a depth of flavor you can't find in regular green bell peppers.

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Chickpea & Potato Curry

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This fast Indian-style curry comes together with ingredients you most likely have on hand, like frozen peas and canned tomatoes and chickpeas. Plus, using these spices shows how simple it is to make a curry sauce for an easy vegetarian recipe. Serve with whole-wheat naan to sop it all up.

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Spinach Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, White Beans & Basil

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Roasted sweet potatoes are paired with spinach, cabbage and white beans and tossed together with a bright basil dressing in this healthy main dish salad.

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Mango-Almond Smoothie Bowl

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For this healthy smoothie bowl recipe, be sure to use frozen fruit (not fresh) to keep the texture thick, creamy and frosty.

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Avocado, Tomato & Chicken Sandwich

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In this healthy chicken sandwich recipe, the avocado is mashed to create a healthy creamy spread.

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No-Sugar-Added Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

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Soft, chewy and no added sugar! Sweeten these classic oatmeal cookies with ripe bananas and raisins or dates. Plus, a touch of nut butter adds lots of flavor and holds the cookies together while keeping them vegan and gluten-free.

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Beer-Battered Fish Tacos with Tomato & Avocado Salsa

Beer-Battered Fish Tacos with Tomato & Avocado Salsa
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Lovers of fried fish get the taste without all the calories, and the salsa adds a fresh, clean note. To complete the Baja theme, serve with black beans, some diced mango and a bit of light sour cream.

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10-Minute Tuna Melt

10-Minute Tuna Melt
Credit: Joy Howard
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This variation of a classic sandwich uses mayonnaise, but not where you think! Mayo is brushed on the outside of the sandwich in place of butter to make the sandwich golden and crispy as it heats in a skillet. Plain Greek yogurt takes mayo's place in the salad—along with crunchy celery, roasted red bell peppers and scallions—for a satisfying lunch with less saturated fat.

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Loaded Sweet Potato Nacho Fries

a cast iron skillet with sweet potatoes and various toppings
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Bump up the vitamin A and fiber when you swap tortilla chips for sweet potatoes in this healthy recipe. Serve as an appetizer at your next party or turn it into dinner by adding chicken, tofu, shrimp or more beans for protein.

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 25 Meal-Prep Chili-Lime Chicken Bowls
    2 of 25 Baked Banana-Nut Oatmeal Cups
    3 of 25 Winter Kale & Quinoa Salad with Avocado
    4 of 25 Classic Sesame Noodles with Chicken
    5 of 25 Fresh Sweet Corn Salad
    6 of 25 Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls
    7 of 25 Blueberry Almond Chia Pudding
    8 of 25 Vegetable Weight-Loss Soup
    9 of 25 Salmon-Stuffed Avocados
    10 of 25 Really Green Smoothie
    11 of 25 Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes
    12 of 25 Strawberry Nice Cream
    13 of 25 Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls
    14 of 25 Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage
    15 of 25 Avocado Hummus
    16 of 25 Strawberry-Pineapple Smoothie
    17 of 25 Chicken Chili Verde
    18 of 25 Chickpea & Potato Curry
    19 of 25 Spinach Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, White Beans & Basil
    20 of 25 Mango-Almond Smoothie Bowl
    21 of 25 Avocado, Tomato & Chicken Sandwich
    22 of 25 No-Sugar-Added Vegan Oatmeal Cookies
    23 of 25 Beer-Battered Fish Tacos with Tomato & Avocado Salsa
    24 of 25 10-Minute Tuna Melt
    25 of 25 Loaded Sweet Potato Nacho Fries

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    25 Diabetes-Friendly Recipes That Can Help You Lose Weight
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