Finding recipes that are tasty and healthy for kids with diabetes can be challenging. Although many adult recipes for those with sugar restrictions are plentiful, many contain sugar substitutes, something many parents don’t want for their kids. The trick is finding recipes that use natural ingredients, and perhaps a minimum of sugar, that come up with a taste that will satisfy your kid’s sweet tooth and snack attacks.
Banana Mini Muffins
You can serve these banana muffins, based on a recipe from ChildrenWithDiabetes.com. You can serve them for breakfast, tuck them in a lunch box or use them as an after-school snack. Each mini muffin will contain only ¼ tsp. sugar. Mash three bananas; add one egg, 1 cup canola oil, 2 tbsp. sugar and ½ cup unsweetened orange juice. Mix together 2 cups flour, 2 tsp. low-sodium baking powder and ½ tsp. each of baking soda and cinnamon. Stir into the banana mixture. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit in greased mini-muffin pans for 10 to 12 minutes or until done.
Instant Breakfasts
KidsHealth.org suggests portable breakfasts for kids with diabetes. Simply place 1/3 cup canned peaches (drained of their light syrup) in a plastic cup, spoon on ¾ cup fruit-flavored, fat-free yogurt, sprinkle on 1/3 cup oat bran and top it all off with 1 tbsp. dried cranberries. Provide your hungry child with a plastic spoon, and she’s good to go. Another quick and sweet breakfast children with diabetes can enjoy is a smoothie, made with fat-free yogurt, a banana or other fruit, 1 cup milk and 1 cup crushed ice; pour into a plastic glass and add a colorful straw.
Crunchy Trail Mix
The Crunchy Canyon Snack Mix Recipe from EasyDiabeticRecipes.com is intended for eight servings, but those servings will probably need to be measured out as it is difficult to stop eating this snack. Simply combine 2 to 3 cups of pretzel twists, cheese crackers, mini bagel chips and broken Italian breadsticks in a large bowl. Combine 1/3 cup melted butter with 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp. lemon juice, ½ tsp. garlic powder, ½ tsp. seasoned salt and ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper. Put the pretzel mixture into a large baking dish with sides. Drizzle the melted butter mixture over the top and bake for about 12 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
