How to Make the Most of the Holidays with Diabetes or a Low-Carb Diet

National Diabetes Awareness Month falls at the beginning of the holiday season (November), and one might think the holidays are not conducive to eating healthy, following a low-carb diet, or managing diabetes.

But United Supermarkets' Corporate Dietician Brenda Garcia has a bunch of tips for staying on track while enjoying those family dinners and celebrations:

1) Let the protein be the star of the show. Whether you're doing ham or turkey, let that protein be a good portion of your plate. It will be that much easier to minimize your helping of potatoes and pie if you have a filling protein.

2) Think about portion sizes. Garcia points to the My Plate balance: About half your plate should be fruits and veggies, and the other half should be grains and proteins. "When you combine foods from the grains, fruits, or vegetable groups with a protein it will allow for slower digestion of the carbs and may help to prevent spikes in your blood glucose levels," according to Happy + Nourished, the blog by Garcia's team.

3) Make smart compromises. Garcia suggests strategies such as: mixing your mashed potatoes with mashed cauliflower, skipping the crust on the pumpkin pie, or using a sugar substitute when making your desserts.

As you're planning your holiday meals, remember Happy + Nourished is stuffed with recipes, nutrition ideas, and product recommendations. If you scroll to the bottom of their main page, you can sign up for their newsletter, which sends you helpful tips and ideas right to your inbox!