From juicy watermelons and tart limes to crisp cucumbers and summer squash, summer has some of the best seasonal produce of the year. It’s a great time to don your chef’s hat and try out some tasty new dishes – but as a diabetic, it can be a challenge to get creative in the kitchen. With hidden carbs and excess sugar lurking around every corner, you can quickly spend your summer fighting high blood sugar instead of that lazy afternoon nap. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with some of our favorite diabetes-friendly summer recipes.
DIABETES-FRIENDLY SUMMER RECIPES
Tomato Salad with Lemon-Basil Vinaigrette
This light summer salad is simple to make and highlights some great seasonal flavors with heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh basil. Perfect for pre-meal snacking!
Fresh Sweet Corn Salad
With fresh summer corn and orange bell pepper, this quick summer side is heart-healthy, low in calories, and completely delicious. Serve it warm or chilled!
Better-Than-Takeout Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries
Nothing says summer like a juicy burger on the grill! This diabetes-friendly take on the classic swaps mushrooms for some of the meat to save you on calories and saturated fat while delivering all of the taste. Pair it with sweet potato fries for a healthy summer staple!
Shrimp and Corn Stir-Fry
This seafood stir-fry is perfect for late summer, when veggies like corn, squash and tomatoes are at their peak. Serve it over brown rice for a quick and tasty supper!
Chicken Sausage with Peppers
Chicken sausage offers all the bold flavor of its pork counterpart with fewer calories and less fat. Pair it with sweet, crunchy summer bell peppers for a fast and healthy dinner.
Blueberry-Swirl Buttermilk Ice Cream
This gorgeous homemade ice cream looks almost as good as it tastes. With natural ingredients like Greek yogurt, buttermilk, and frozen blueberries, it’s one guilt-free pleasure you won’t want to miss this summer.
Mango Tiramisu
Make the most of summer mangoes with this healthy take on a classic Italian dessert. It’s made with ripe mangoes, agave syrup, nonfat yogurt, and crisp ladyfingers for the perfect blend of taste and texture.